Jornal de Biomarcadores Moleculares e Diagnóstico

PowerPlex Y23 System: A Fast, Sensitive and Reliable Y-STR Multiplex System for Forensic and Population Genetic Purpose

Abstract

Toshi Jain, Pankaj Shrivastava, Bansal DD, Dash HR and Veena Ben Trivedi

Y-STR genotyping is an excellent tool for the identification of male DNA masked by female DNA, particularly in sexual assault cases where, more often the male and female components cannot be separated completely. Resultant, the female component could exist prominently even in the male component after separation. When the "male DNA sample mixed with female DNA” undergoes PCR by using autosomal STR multiplex amplification process, the female DNA component is also amplified, mostly masking the male DNA. Recently launched Y-STR kit, PowerPlex Y23 (PP Y23) System is a 5-dye multiplex genotyping kit that analyzes 17 Y-STR loci, commonly available in other Y-STR multiplex kits (DYS19, DYS385a/b, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, and Y-GATA-H4) along with that 6 new Y-STR loci (DYS481, DYS533, DYS549, DYS570, DYS576, and DYS643). The addition of 6 new markers has made the Y-STR analysis more discriminating. The purpose of the present study is to show the amplification of male DNA from a wide variety of forensic samples using half the manufacturer’s recommended reaction volume. Also the present study validates the kit for its use in Forensic casework. The results demonstrate that the PPY23 System is a robust and sensitive multiplex system, capable of giving reliable and consistent amplification results from a wide variety of forensic casework samples. Even the presence of high concentration of commonly encountered inhibitors such as hematin (from Blood) and humic acid (from soil), male/female DNA mixtures and low amounts of DNA template (15.62 pg) could not hamper the process of amplification.