title: Differential pre-amplification of STR loci for fragmented forensic DNA profiling.
abstract: DNA profiling of short tandem repeats (STR) has been successfully used for the identification of individuals in forensic samples, accidents and natural disasters. However, STR profiling of DNA isolated from old crime scenes and damaged biological samples is difficult due to DNA degradation and fragmentation. Here, we show that pre-amplification of STR loci using biotinylated primers for the STR loci is an efficient strategy to obtain STR profiling results from fragmented forensic samples. Analysis of STR loci with longer amplicon sizes is generally hampered, since these relatively long loci are vulnerable to DNA fragmentation. This problem was overcome by using reduced or increased primer concentrations for loci with shorter or longer amplicon sizes, respectively, in our pre-amplification strategy. In addition, pre-amplification of STR loci into two groups of short or long amplicon size increases the efficiency of STR profiling from highly fragmented forensic DNA samples. Therefore, differential pre-amplification of STR loci is an effective way to obtain DNA profiling results from fragmented forensic samples.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors: Seon-Kyu
authors: SK
authors: Ham
authors: DNA Analysis Laboratory, Division of Forensic DNA, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Se-Yong
authors: SY
authors: Kim
authors: DNA Analysis Laboratory, Division of Forensic DNA, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Bo Young
authors: BY
authors: Seo
authors: DNA Analysis Laboratory, Division of Forensic DNA, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kwang-Man
authors: KM
authors: Woo
authors: DNA Analysis Laboratory, Division of Forensic DNA, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Seung-Hwan
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors: Cheol Yong
authors: CY
authors: Choi
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D053803:Forensic Genetics / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: Differential amplification; Fragmented DNA; Magnetic bead; STR locus pre-amplification