Analysis of microsatellite DNA using a non-radioactive method: blotting from polyacrylamide gel to nylon membrane using a gel dryer with subsequent hybridization to digoxigenin-labelled (dCdA)8 oligonucleotide probes

Abstract

A non-radioactive method for the analysis of microsatellite DNA polymorphisms (mainly (CA)n-repeats) is described. Variation in length of (CA)n and (GT)n blocks was demonstrated directly by amplification of DNA from within and immediately flanking the repeat blocks using the polymerase chain reaction. The amplified DNA was resolved on a denaturing polyacrylamide gel, transfered to a nylon membrane using a gel dryer, and subsequently hybridized with digoxigenin-labelled (dCdA)8 oligonucleotide probes. This method enables easy and rapid analysis of polymorphic microsatellite DNA.