ALLELIC DISCRIMINATION BY NICK-TRANSLATION PCR WITH FLUOROGENIC PROBES

Nick-translation PCR was performed with fluorogenic probes. Two probes were used: one complementary to a sequence containing the F508 codon of the normal human cystic fibrosis (CF) gene (wt DNA) and one complementary to a sequence containing the DELTAF508 three base pair deletion (mut DNA). Each probe contained a unique and spectrally resolvable fluorescent indicator dye at the 5' end and a common quencher dye attached to the seventh nucleotide from the 5' end. The F508/DELTAF508 site was located between the indicator and quencher. The probes were added at the start of a PCR containing mut DNA, wt DNA or heterozygous DNA and were degraded during thermal cycling. Although both probes were degraded, each probe generated fluorescence from its indicator dye only when the sequence between the indicator and quencher dyes was perfectly complementary to target. The identity of the target DNA could be determined from the post-PCR fluorescence emission spectrum.