title: Assessment of DNA encapsulation, a new room-temperature DNA storage method.
abstract: A new procedure for room-temperature storage of DNA was evaluated whereby DNA samples from human tissue, bacteria, and plants were stored under an anoxic and anhydrous atmosphere in small glass vials fitted in stainless-steel, laser-sealed capsules (DNAshells(®)). Samples were stored in DNAshells(®) at room temperature for various periods of time to assess any degradation and compare it to frozen control samples and those stored in GenTegra™ tubes. The study included analysis of the effect of accelerated aging by using a high temperature (76°C) at 50% relative humidity. No detectable DNA degradation was seen in samples stored in DNAshells(®) at room temperature for 18 months. Polymerase chain reaction experiments, pulsed field gel electrophoresis, and amplified fragment length polymorphism analyses also demonstrated that the protective properties of DNAshells(®) are not affected by storage under extreme conditions (76°C, 50% humidity) for 30 hours, guaranteeing 100 years without DNA sample degradation. However, after 30 hours of storage at 76°C, it was necessary to include adjustments to the process in order to avoid DNA loss. Successful protection of DNA was obtained for 1 week and even 1 month of storage at high temperature by adding trehalose, which provides a protective matrix. This study demonstrates the many advantages of using DNAshells(®) for room-temperature storage, particularly in terms of long-term stability, safety, transport, and applications for molecular biology research.
authors: 1 Institut Pasteur, Collection de l'Institut Pasteur , Département de Microbiologie, Paris, France .
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Clermont
authors: Sylvain
authors: S
authors: Santoni
authors: Safa
authors: S
authors: Saker
authors: Maite
authors: M
authors: Gomard
authors: Eliane
authors: E
authors: Gardais
authors: Chantal
authors: C
authors: Bizet
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D011309:Preservation, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014199:Trehalose / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D020011:Protective Agents; D004247:DNA; D014199:Trehalose