Transposon-Based Tagging In Silico Using FastPCR Software

A Guide to Using FASTPCR Software for PCR, In Silico PCR, and Oligonucleotide Analysis

The FastPCR software is an integrated tool environment for PCR primer and probe design and for prediction of oligonucleotide properties. The software provides comprehensive tools for designing primers for most PCR and perspective applications, including standard, multiplex, long-distance, inverse, real-time with TaqMan probe, Xtreme Chain Reaction (XCR), group-specific, overlap extension PCR for multifragment assembling cloning, and isothermal amplification (Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification). A program is available to design specific oligonucleotide sets for long sequence assembly by ligase chain reaction and to design multiplexed of overlapping and nonoverlapping DNA amplicons that tile across a region(s) of interest for targeted next-generation sequencing, competitive allele-specific PCR (KASP)-based genotyping assay for single-nucleotide polymorphisms and insertions and deletions at specific loci, among other features. The in silico PCR primer or probe search includes comprehensive analyses of individual primers and primer pairs. FastPCR includes various bioinformatics tools for analysis and searching of sequences, restriction I-II-III-type enzyme endonuclease analysis, and pattern searching. The program also supports the assembly of a set of contiguous sequences, consensus sequence generation, and sequence similarity and conservancy analysis. FastPCR performs efficient and complete detection of various repeat types with visual display. FastPCR allows for sequence file batch processing that is essential for automation. The software is available for download at https://primerdigital.com/fastpcr.html and online version at https://primerdigital.com/tools/pcr.html .

Primer Binding Site (PBS) Profiling of Genetic Diversity of Natural Populations of Endemic Species Allium ledebourianum Schult

Endemic species are especially vulnerable to biodiversity loss caused by isolation or habitat specificity, small population size, and anthropogenic factors. Endemic species biodiversity analysis has a critically important global value for the development of conservation strategies. The rare onion Allium ledebourianum is a narrow-lined endemic species, with natural populations located in the extreme climatic conditions of the Kazakh Altai. A. ledebourianum populations are decreasing everywhere due to anthropogenic impact, and therefore, this species requires preservation and protection. Conservation of this rare species is associated with monitoring studies to investigate the genetic diversity of natural populations. Fundamental components of eukaryote genome include multiple classes of interspersed repeats. Various PCR-based DNA fingerprinting methods are used to detect chromosomal changes related to recombination processes of these interspersed elements. These methods are based on interspersed repeat sequences and are an effective approach for assessing the biological diversity of plants and their variability. We applied DNA profiling approaches based on conservative sequences of interspersed repeats to assess the genetic diversity of natural A. ledebourianum populations located in the territory of Kazakhstan Altai. The analysis of natural A. ledebourianum populations, carried out using the DNA profiling approach, allowed the effective differentiation of the populations and assessment of their genetic diversity. We used conservative sequences of tRNA primer binding sites (PBS) of the long-terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons as PCR primers. Amplification using the three most effective PBS primers generated 628 PCR amplicons, with an average of 209 amplicons. The average polymorphism level varied from 34% to 40% for all studied samples. Resolution analysis of the PBS primers showed all of them to have high or medium polymorphism levels, which varied from 0.763 to 0.965. Results of the molecular analysis of variance showed that the general biodiversity of A. ledebourianum populations is due to interpopulation (67%) and intrapopulation (33%) differences. The revealed genetic diversity was higher in the most distant population of A. ledebourianum LD64, located on the Sarymsakty ridge of Southern Altai. This is the first genetic diversity study of the endemic species A. ledebourianum using DNA profiling approaches. This work allowed us to collect new genetic data on the structure of A. ledebourianum populations in the Altai for subsequent development of preservation strategies to enhance the reproduction of this relict species. The results will be useful for the conservation and exploitation of this species, serving as the basis for further studies of its evolution and ecology.