UV–visible spectral identification of the solution-phase and solid-phase permanganate oxidation reactions of thymine acetic acid

Rapid photometric detection of thymine residues partially flipped out of double helix as a method for direct scanning of point mutations and apurinic DNA sites

A spectroscopic assay for detection of extrahelical thymine residues in DNA heteroduplexes under their modification by potassium permanganate has been developed. The assay is based on increase in absorbance at 420 nm due to accumulation of thymidine oxidation intermediates and soluble manganese dioxide. The analysis was carried out using a set of 19-bp DNA duplexes containing unpaired thymidines opposite tetrahydrofuranyl derivatives mimicking a widespread DNA damage (apurinic (AP) sites) and a library of 50-bp DNA duplexes containing all types of base mismatches in different surroundings. The relation between the selectivity of unpaired T oxidation and the thermal stability of DNA double helix was investigated. The method described here was shown to discriminate between DNA duplexes with one or two AP sites and to reveal thymine-containing mismatches and all noncanonical base pairs in AT-surroundings. Comparative results of CCM analysis and the rapid photometric assay for mismatch detection are demonstrated for the first time in the same model system. The chemical reactivity of target thymines was shown to correlate with local disturbance of double helix at the mismatch site. As the spectroscopic assay does not require the DNA cleavage reaction and gel electrophoresis, it can be easily automated and used for primary screening of somatic mutations.

Detection of 100% of mutations in 124 individuals using a standard UV/Vis microplate reader: a novel concept for mutation scanning

We report the development of a simple and inexpensive assay for the detection of DNA polymorphisms and mutations that is based on the modification of mismatched bases by potassium permanganate. Unlike the chemical cleavage of mismatch assay, which also exploits the reactivity of potassium permanganate to detect genomic variants, the assay we describe here does not require a cleavage manipulation and therefore does not require expensive or toxic chemicals or a separation step, as mismatches are detected using direct optical methods in a microplate format. Studies with individual deoxynucleotides demonstrated that the reactivity with potassium permanganate resulted in a specific colour change. Furthermore, studies with synthetic oligonucleotide heteroduplexes demonstrated that this colour change phenomenon could be applied to detect mismatched bases spectrophotometrically. A collection of plasmids carrying single point mutations in the mouse beta-globin promoter region was used as a model system to develop a functional mutation detection assay. Finally, the assay was validated as 100% effective in detecting mismatches in a blinded manner using DNA from patients previously screened for mutations using established techniques, such as sequencing, SSCP and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) analysis in DNA fragments up to 300 bp in length.