DNA Isolation and Restriction Enzyme Analysis

DNA extraction is the removal and purification of DNA from cells. First, cells are lysed - broken open - usually though a combination of physical disruption and treatment with chemicals, such a detergent which dissolves the cell and nuclear membranes. SDS or sodium dodecyl sulfate is a commonly use detergent that works by solubilizing the proteins and lipids that make up these membranes. The contents can then float freely into the surrounding solution.

Next, DNA must be separated from the other molecules present. Proteinase K added to the reaction will break down peptide bonds and digest contaminating proteins. Salt is then added to the sample, which stabilizes the negatively charged phosphate groups in the backbone of the DNA and, after the addition of ice cold alcohol, precipitates the DNA out of solution. The white precipitate is collected by spinning it in a centrifuge where it settles to the bottom of the tube. After washing and resuspending it in a buffer solution, the extracted DNA can finally be used in research or biotechnology applications.

Some biotechnology applications, like DNA fingerprinting, which can identify novel patterns in DNA specific to an individual or individuals, involve the use of restriction enzymes. Restriction enzymes are molecules which interact with DNA and recognize specific sequences. Once their specific site is identified, they cut the DNA. This will result in the strand being cut into one or more linear pieces. If the DNA extracted was a plasmid, a circular piece of DNA most often found in bacteria, any cuts will result in the DNA forming a linear fragment or fragments. Different restriction enzymes recognize different DNA sequences, so using a combination of these can result in distinct fragments being produced.

In DNA fingerprinting, we can then examine these fragments using a technique called DNA or gel electrophoresis. To prepare gels, powdered agarose is mixed with a buffer and heated until dissolved. A nucleotide stain is then added to the warm mixture and then this solution is poured into the casting mold. A comb is inserted to form the wells. When solidified, the gel is transferred to a gel box filled with buffer and the comb is removed. A reference mixture of dyed DNA fragments of known lengths, the DNA ladder, is added to one well and the dyed DNA samples of interest are loaded into the remaining wells. The box is connected to a power source and switching the power on induces the migration of the negatively charged phosphate groups in DNA nucleotides through the gel towards the anode, the positive end. Smaller pieces move more quickly than the larger fragments, which migrate with difficulty.

When the run is complete the gel is exposed to ultra violet light to visualize the nucleotide stain in the DNA samples. Their presence can be confirmed based on their relative location to the ladder bands. Because DNA with different sequences will have cut sites at different locations, this can produce novel band patterns, or fingerprints, which can be used to distinguish individuals or variant DNA profiles.

In this lab you will perform DNA extractions using a buffer with and without SDS to assess the importance of detergents in DNA isolation and then digest plasmid DNA with different restriction enzymes to examine the resulting DNA profiles.