Journal of Forensic Medicine

Enhancement of the PCR with the Trace Element

Abstract

Katsuya Honda, Hisanori Muramatsu and Yukiko Sugano

For the forensic DNA testing, we must often perform DNA analysis from a very small amount of samples with poor quality. As a result, it becomes often non-testable without succeeding in PCR. To overcome this problem, we looking for a trace element with catalytic effect for PCR. 13 kinds of the following element were examined, Si, Pb, V, Zn, Cu, Cd, Ca, Bi, Tl, Sn, Hg, Se. As. The concentration of trace element to final PCR solution was in the range of 1 ppb~10 ppm, respectively, and compared it with the additive-free control PCR. We showed an acceleration effect of the PCR to vanadium and copper. The addition of vanadium and copper showed the highest acceleration effect by the concentration of 10 ppm from 1 ppm in final mixture. The combination of vanadium 10 ppm and copper 1 ppm was highest rate of detection using PPY23 for personal identification, and showed the amplification was accelerate at least 4 cycles (equivalent to 32 times increase in quantity) rather than control PCR.