DETECTING SINGLE-BASE SUBSTITUTIONS, MISMATCHES AND BULGES IN DNA BY TEMPERATURE-GRADIENT GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS AND RELATED METHODS

Temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) and related methods ca n separate DNA fragments that differ by a single base pair or defect. This article describes the basic features of TGGE, and reviews the the oretical model of DNA unwinding and its ability to predict DNA mobilit y in a temperature gradient gel. Recent applications of TGGE and relat ed methods that were directed at detecting point mutations, and evalua ting the effects of single site defects are also reported. (C) 1998 El sevier Science B.V.