Effect of materials for micro-electro-mechanical systems on PCR yield.

In this study we analyzed the surface properties of different silicon-based materials used for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) production, such as thermally grown silicon oxide, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)-treated silicon oxide, reactive-ion etch (RIE)-treated silicon oxide, and Pyrex. Substrates were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to define the surface chemical and morphological properties, and by fluorescence microscopy to directly assess the absorption of the different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) components. By using microchips fabricated with the same materials we investigated their compatibility with PCR reactions, exploiting the use of different enzymes and reagents or proper surface treatments. We established the best conditions for DNA amplification in silicon/Pyrex microdevices depending on the type of device and fabrication method used and the quality of reagents, rather than on the passivation treatment or increment in standard Taq polymerase concentration.

Profound inhibition of the PCR step of CF V3 multiplex PCR/OLA assay by the use of UV-irradiated plastic reaction tubes.

Supplies, such as bags of plastic reaction tubes, are sometimes left in the laminar flow hoods unintentionally while the ultraviolet (UV) lamp is illuminated overnight. In addition, UV irradiation is used for sterilization and amplicon inactivation to avoid contamination. The oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) is a unique approach to mutation detection of point mutations, small deletions, and small insertions. Recently, we encountered problems with this assay and peak heights were much lower or disappeared. After going through systemic trouble-shooting, we found that profound inhibition of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) step of CF V3 multiplex PCR/OLA assay by the use of UV-irradiated plastic reaction tubes. When UV-irradiated tubes used throughout the assay, tubes exposed for 8 weeks at 0.7 m from the UV source gave a reduction of 60% and 67% in the assay products on the basis of sum of peak heights. Tubes exposed for 3 weeks at 0.1 m from the UV source totally eliminated assay product yielding no peaks. Further experiments showed that the inhibition happened mostly in the PCR step. Burgess and Hall had reported that inhibition of PCR of human glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase transcripts after UV irradiating the tubes. This showed that the inhibition was not assay-specific. The reason that the inhibition of PCR was more profound could be due to a multiplex PCR assay and small reaction volume. The mechanism of PCR inhibition by UV irradiation is not clear. In conclusion, plastic reaction tubes intended for PCR/OLA assays should not be exposed to UV.

Comparison of different decontamination methods for reagents to detect low concentrations of bacterial 16S DNA by real-time-PCR.

Contamination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reagents continues to be a major problem when consensus primers are used for detection of low concentrations of bacterial DNA. We designed a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for quantification of bacterial DNA by using consensus primers that bind specifically to the 16S region of bacterial DNA. We have tested four different methods of decontamination of PCR reagents in a project aimed at detecting bacterial DNA at low concentrations: deoxyribonuclease (DNAse) treatment, restriction endonuclease digestion, UV irradiation, and 8-methoxypsoralen in combination with long-wave UV light to intercalate contaminating DNA into double-stranded DNA. All four methods result in inhibition of the PCR reaction, and most of the decontamination procedures failed to eliminate the contaminating bacterial DNA. Only the DNAse decontamination proved to be efficient in eliminating contaminating DNA while conserving PCR efficiency. All four decontamination methods are time consuming and have the possibility of carrying new contamination into the reaction mixture. However, decontamination with DNAse may help, together with the use of highly purified PCR reagents, in detecting small amounts of bacterial DNA in clinical specimens.

Contamination and sensitivity issues with a real-time universal 16S rRNA PCR.

A set of universal oligonucleotide primers specific for the conserved regions of the eubacterial 16S rRNA gene was designed for use with the real-time PCR Applied Biosystems 7700 (TaqMan) system. During the development of this PCR, problems were noted with the use of this gene as an amplification target. Contamination of reagents with bacterial DNA was a major problem exacerbated by the highly sensitive nature of the real-time PCR chemistry. This was compounded by the use of a small amplicon of approximately 100 bases, as is necessary with TaqMan chemistry. In an attempt to overcome this problem, several methodologies were applied. Certain treatments were more effective than others in eliminating the contaminating DNA; however, to achieve this there was a decrease in sensitivity. With UV irradiation there was a 4-log reduction in PCR sensitivity, with 8-methoxypsoralen activity facilitated by UV there was between a 5- and a 7-log reduction, and with DNase alone and in combination with restriction digestion there was a 1.66-log reduction. Restriction endonuclease treatment singly and together did not reduce the level of contaminating DNA. Without the development of ultrapure Taq DNA polymerase, ultrapure reagents, and plasticware guaranteed to be free of DNA, the implementation of a PCR for detection of eubacterial 16S rRNA with the TaqMan system will continue to be problematical.

Use of UV irradiation to reduce false positivity in polymerase chain reaction.

UV irradiation provides a simple and efficient way to minimize contamination or false positivity which often occurs in laboratories performing routine PCR tests. Here, we characterize several parameters of the effect of UV irradiation on DNA template, primers, deoxynucleoside triphosphate and Taq polymerase. UV irradiation of DNA results in the formation of pyrimidine dimers and thus prevents them from being effective templates in subsequent PCR. Reduction of the HIV DNA templates in polypropylene microcentrifuge tubes by more than 1000-fold can be achieved by UV irradiation. The sensitivity of the primers is sequence- and concentration-dependent. Oligonucleotides with neighboring thymine bases are more susceptible to UV than those without. Taq polymerase is highly UV sensitive, whereas deoxynucleotide triphosphate is relatively UV resistant.