The occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in Taq polymerases and a decontamination method applied to the detection of genetically modified crops.
Different antibiotic resistance (AR) genes, such as Bla, Tet and NPTII, contaminate commercially available Taq polymerases. The specificity of the AR gene PCR can be increased when using a restriction enzyme-based decontamination of polymerase. The elimination of Taq polymerase contamination allows the use of PCR tests to screen seeds (corn) and processed food for the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMO) based on the detection of AR genes. Without a decontamination procedure for AR genes, PCR screening tests should be interpreted with caution.
Perron
André
A
St-Hyacinthe Laboratory, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Casavant Blvd West, J2S 8E3 3400, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.
Raymond
Philippe
P
Simard
Robin
R
D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D019914:Taq Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*
D019914:Taq Polymerase