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Gudmundsson B, Thormar HG, Sigurdsson A, Dankers W, Steinarsdottir M, Hermanowicz S, Sigurdsson S, Olafsson D, Halldorsdottir AM, Meyn S, Jonsson JJ. Northern lights assay: a versatile method for comprehensive detection of DNA damage. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:e118. [PMID: 30053193 PMCID: PMC6237810 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage assays have various limitations in types of lesions detected, sensitivity, specificity and samples that can be analyzed. The Northern Lights Assay (NLA) is based on 2D Strandness-Dependent Electrophoresis (2D-SDE), a technique that separates nucleic acids based on length, strandness, structure and conformation changes induced by damage. NLA is run on a microgel platform in 20-25 min. Each specimen is analyzed in pairs of non-digested DNA to detect single- and double-stranded breaks (DSBs) and Mbo I-digested DNA to detect other lesions. We used NLA to evaluate DNA in solution and isolated from human cells treated with various genotoxic agents. NLA detected and distinguished between single- and DSBs, interstrand and intrastrand DNA crosslinks, and denatured single-stranded DNA. NLA was sufficiently sensitive to detect biologically relevant amount of DNA damage. NLA is a versatile, sensitive and simple method for comprehensive and simultaneous analysis of multiple types of damage, both in purified DNA and in DNA isolated from cells and body fluids. NLA can be used to evaluate DNA quality in biosamples, monitor complex molecular procedures, assess genotoxicity, diagnose genome instability, facilitate cancer theranostics and in basic nucleic acids research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjarki Gudmundsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Landspitali–National University Hospital, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
- Lifeind ehf., Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
| | - Hans G Thormar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
- Lifeind ehf., Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
| | - Albert Sigurdsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
| | - Wendy Dankers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
| | - Margret Steinarsdottir
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Landspitali–National University Hospital, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
| | - Stefan Hermanowicz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
| | - Stefan Sigurdsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
| | - David Olafsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
- The Blood Bank, Landspitali–National University Hospital, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
| | | | - Stephen Meyn
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA
| | - Jon J Jonsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Landspitali–National University Hospital, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland
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