A RAPID METHOD FOR PCR AMPLIFICATION OF DNA DIRECTLY FROM CELLS FIXEDIN CARNOYS FIXATIVE

We describe a method for rapid and efficient polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of specific target DNA sequences directly from ce lls fixed in 3:1 methanol-acetic acid (Carnoy's fixative) for routine cytogenetic analysis. The fixed cells used had been stored at -20 degr ees C from a few weeks up to 6 years. Primer sets used correspond to l oci on an autosome (retinoblastoma, RE1), as well as the X (Duchenne m uscular dystrophy, DMD) and Y (sex-determining region of the Y, SRY) c hromosomes. Sizes of amplified products were the expected 400, 251 and 609 bps, respectively. No differences in quality of amplification pro ducts were found between PCR templates obtained from fresh tissues or from cells fixed for varying lengths of time in Carnoy's fixative. Thi s technique has following advantages: (1) it retrospective studies of genetic disorders from archived specimens; (2) it requires only a limi ted number of cells; (3) it is rapid and simple; and (4) it avoids mul tistep procedures required in extraction of the DNA. (C) 1995 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.