Measurement of DNA copy number at microsatellite loci using quantitative PCR analysis

This report describes the development and validation of quantitative micros atellite analysis (QuMA) for rapid measurement of relative DNA sequence cop y number. In QuMA, the copy number of a test locus relative to a pooled ref erence is assessed using quantitative, real-time PCR amplification of loci carrying simple sequence repeats, Use of simple sequence repeats is advanta geous because of the large numbers that are mapped precisely, In addition, all markers are informative because QuMA does not require that they be poly morphic. The utility of QuMA is demonstrated in assessment of the extent of deletions of chromosome 2 in leukemias arising in radiation-sensitive inbr ed SJL mice and in analysis of the association of increased copy number of the putative oncogene ZNF217 with reduced survival duration in ovarian canc er patients.