Multiplex DNA methylation profiling by ARMS-PCR for body fluid identification

Abstract

A set of CpG sites were detected and evaluated to identify body fluids based on DNA methylation using the amplification refractory mutation system-PCR (ARMS-PCR). In this research, two multiplex DNA methylation reactions composed of four promising CpG sites were used for the identification of forensic regular body fluids. ARMS-specific primers were used to amplify the CpG sites and the methylation values of each CpG site were detected by capillary electrophoresis. The DNA methylation profiling of four highly informative candidate CpG sites was consistent with previously reported results. It is the first time to apply the ARMS-PCR to detect DNA methylation in forensic science, which provides a new method for forensic body fluid identification. We proved this method will have great potential in detection of the methylation profiling at molecular level.