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Yolk Sac DNA PCR

Each embryo or yolk sac is digested O/N at 50-55°C in 100 µl of PCR Lysis Buffer containing 100 µg/ml proteinase K (either with continuous gentle agitation, or with a brief vortex in the morning followed by 1-2 hours more digestion). Digested samples can be stored at room temperature.

PCR Lysis Buffer (aliquots containing ProK can be stored at -20°C)

50 mM KCl

10 mM Tris pH 8.3

2 mM MgCl2

0.1 mg/ml gelatin

0.45% NP-40

0.45% Tween-20

Use 4 µl of each DNA sample with 8 µl of water in each PCR reaction. Denature at 95°C for 10 minutes in the PCR machine. At 85°C add 8 µl of the cocktail (freshly made and premixed; can be added through the oil.)

Cocktail

per reaction

100 ng/µl primer 1

1.2 µl

100 ng/µl primer 2

1.2 µl

100 ng/µl primer 3

1.2 µl

10X PCR buffer

2.0 µl

12.5 mM MgCl2

2.0 µl

10 mM dNTPs

0.4 µl

5 U/µl Taq

0.2 µl

 

Cycle conditions

94°C

1 min

62°C

2 min

72°C

4 min with 3 second autoextend

40 cycles

 

 

Run the whole sample on an agarose gel with markers, a no DNA negative control, and positive controls. The primers are in massive excess and will make a low molecular weight smear on the gel. The most typical problem with the procedure is a failure of the reaction due to too much DNA, especially if tissue is taken from a big tail cut etc. This results in a DNA smear from 100 bp to several kb.

A Conlon Lab Protocol

pdf file for this protocol