title: Genotyping of simple sequence repeats--factors implicated in shadow band generation revisited.
abstract: PCR amplification of microsatellite sequences generates, besides the main product corresponding to allele size, also additional, undesired products usually shorter by multiples of the repeated unit. These extra products known as shadow bands or stutter products may complicate genotyping. The mechanism by which these artifacts are formed is not well understood and so no effective remedy has been found to cope with these spurious products. In this study, using the DNA templates containing the CAG/CTG repeats flanked by gene-specific sequences and universal priming sites, we analyzed the effects of many PCR variables on the shadow band generation. The most important result was that at the decreased temperature of the denaturation step during PCR cycling the shadow bands were either not formed or were strongly suppressed. Several possible sources of this effect are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olejniczak
authors.forename: Wlodzimierz J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Krzyzosiak
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*; D019914:Taq Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013698:Templates, Genetic
chemical_list: D019914:Taq Polymerase; D008274:Magnesium; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide