APPLICATION OF THE P-32 POSTLABELING ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF DNA-ADDUCTS - FALSE POSITIVES AND ARTIFACTS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL BIOMONITORING

The potential application of the P-31-postlabelling assay for the dete ction of DNA adducts as biomarkers of environmental contamination was evaluated in the marine mussel Mytilus edulis and the flatfish Limanda limanda. The studies revealed the existence of a range of artefacts a ssociated with (1) the enhancement and radioactive labelling stages of the P-32-postlabelling assay and (2) the methods of DNA extraction us ed for preparation of the samples. Such artefacts were ultimately elim inated by appropriate assay design and application. The possible origi ns of these artefacts are discussed and a series of control measures a re proposed that should be taken before entering into an environmental biomonitoring study. These measures would result in the production of a negative control capable of detecting the entire range of these art efacts, thereby ensuring accurate data interpretation in future studie s. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.