Sensitive SNP genotyping system

DNA, RNA, protein, and PCR products supplier Flowgen has just launched a fast, simple and reliable method for genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

This highly sensitive system can successfully genotype using reactions containing only 400pg of genomic DNA.

SNPs are single-base variations in the genetic code that are found about every 1000 bases in the human genome.

As genetic variation plays a significant role in both an individual's susceptibility to disease and also response to drug therapy, they are important markers for geneticists who are continuing to build the correlation between phenotype and genotype.

Flowgen's new method, called Amplifluor, is designed to speed up this work.

It uses an exclusive dual signal process with two fluorescently-labelled Amplifluor primers to distinguish between heterozygous and homozygous alleles. Discrimination of alleles in a single closed tube is achieved with a pair of allele-specific primers with different tail sequences.

Depending on the genotype of the sample, a mixed signal of fluorescein (FAM) and sulphorhodamine (SR) fluorescence is observed for a heterozygote, while a single signal from either is observed for a homozygote.

Two Amplifluor kits are available. One, Assay Development, is aimed at new users and can carry out 100 reactions.

The other, High-Throughput Screening, can carry out 500 reactions and is designed for investigators who are already familiar with the Amplifluor UniPrimer system and SNP genotyping technology.

Among other key features associated with this new technology is the requirement for only one reaction per SNP, elimination of the need for a unique fluorescent probe or primer set for each SNP, and suitability for high-throughput, automated screening.

Flowgen is the UK distributor of Amplifluor SNP Genotyping Systems together with a wide variety of other molecular biology products.