A common disinfectant used in condom processing inhibits endonuclease digestion of sperm DNA.
DNA recovered from a condom found at a crime scene appeared undigestible with restriction enzymes, preventing characterization by Southern blot and polymorphic probe hybridization. Several chemical substances used in the processing and treatment of condoms were tested for inhibitory action of restriction enzymes. In particular dibenzalkonium chloride appeared to promote enzyme inhibition at very low concentrations. The effectiveness of treatments to restore cleavage of sample DNA in the presence of such contaminants is discussed.
Fadda
S
S
Istituto di Clinica Neurologica, Università di Bologna, Italy.
Pelotti
S
S
Pappalardo
G
G
D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000592:standards; D001769:Blood; D015139:Blotting, Southern / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D003275:Contraceptive Devices, Male / Q000592:standards*; D003956:Dialysis; D004143:Dioctyl Sulfosuccinic Acid / Q000592:standards; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012661:Semen; D013455:Sulfur / Q000592:standards
D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D004202:Disinfectants; D004143:Dioctyl Sulfosuccinic Acid; D013455:Sulfur