DNA storage under extreme temperature conditions does not affect performance in HLA genotyping via next-generation sequencing Shana L McDevitt1 SLM: [email protected] Michael E Hogan2 MEH:[email protected] Derek J Pappas1 DJP: [email protected] Lily Y Wong2 LYW: [email protected] Janelle A Noble1, § JAN: [email protected] 1 Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California, USA 2 GenTegra LLC, Pleasanton, California, USA § Corresponding author -1- Abstract Background Stable dry-state storage DNA is desirable not only to minimize required storage space but also to reduce electrical and shipping costs. DNA purified from various commercially available dry-state stabilization matrices has been used successfully in downstream molecular applications, e.g., quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microarrray, and sequence-based genotyping. However, standard DNA storage conditions in most laboratories still include freezing of liquid DNA. Broad implementation of dry-state, longterm DNA storage requires enhancement of such dry-state DNA stabilization products to control for temperature fluctuations at specimen collection, transit, and storage. This study tested the integrity of genomic DNA subjected to longterm storage on GenTegraTM DNA stabilization matrices (GenTegra LLC, Pleasanton, CA) at extreme conditions, as defined by a four year storage period at ambient temperature with an initial incubation for seven months at 37°C, 56°C, or ambient temperature. Subsequently, purified DNA performance and integrity was measured by quantitative PCR and nextgeneration sequencing (NGS) based human leokocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping. Results High molecular weight genomic DNA samples were recovered from the GenTegraTM product matrix and exhibited integrity comparable to a highly characterized commercial standard under assessment by qPCR. Samples were genotyped for classical HLA loci using next generation sequencingbased methodolgy on the Roche 454 GS Junior instrument. Amplification -2- efficiency, sequence coverage, and sequence quality were all comparable with those produced from a cell line DNA sequenced as a control. No significant differences were observed in the mean, median, or mode quality scores between samples and controls (p≥0.4). Conclusions Next generation HLA genotyping was chosen to test the integrity of GenTegraTM treated genomic DNA due to the requirment for long sequence reads to genotype the highly polymorphic classical HLA amplicon genes., Results of this experiment demonstrate the efficacy of the GenTegraTM product as a suitable genomic DNA preservation tool for collection, long-term biobanking, or shipping of DNA at fluctuating and high temperatures. -3- Keywords Human Leukocyte Antigen, Next Generation Sequencing, Bio-banking, DNA preservation Background The preservation of purified DNA, during long-term biobanking or shipping, has become a major concern in the field of applied genetics and public health screening [1]. For cryogenic preservation of high-value DNA samples, mechanical and liquid nitrogen storage for biobanking, or dry ice and chemical packs for shipping are proven technologies. However, cryogenic preservation methods introduce substantial cost and some measure of risk, such as chemical refrigerant failure during shipping or power loss. Refrigeration-free biosample preservation could dramatically reduce the cost and risk associated with cryogenic preservation. Consequently, refrigeration-free approaches to purified DNA preservation have been developed that preserve purified DNA via desiccation in the presence of added chemical stabilizers. Successful dry state DNA preservation at lab ambient temperatures for many months has been reported, resulting in DNA of sufficient quality to support routine laboratory analyses like quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), sequence based typing (SBT), and microarrays [2-5]. However, one compelling application of refrigeration-free DNA stabilization is for collection of samples in the field, where the conditions are likely to be far more harsh than in the laboratory setting. Here we assess the performance of GenTegraTM (GenTegra LLC, Pleasanton, CA) under conditions which emulate “worst-case” ambient temperature -4- storage or shipping. Using high-quality DNA purified from freshly collected blood, DNA was subject to room termpature storage for four years, which included a 6-month initial treatment at elevated temperatures (37°C or 56°C) to reflect conditions that could be encountered during sample collection, shipping, or long-term DNA banking. Integrity of the DNA stored under these adverse conditions was compared to that of DNA stored under standard conditions. Performance of the DNA stored under adverse conditions was tested by its use in 2.5 kb qPCR and in next-generation sequencing (NGS) based human luekocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping. HLA genotyping is complicated by extreme HLA sequence polymorphism; 10,533 HLA alleles have been documented as of January, 2014 (https://www.hla.allelles.org). Methods DNA storage and purification Genomic DNA was purified using a Qiagen MidiPrep spin column (Qiagen Corp, Hilden, Germany) from two freshly collected venous blood samples (Memorial Blood Centers, St. Paul, MN). DNA concentration was measured by both Nanodrop UV/VIS spectrospcopy (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA) and Qubit fluorimetry (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA) . A total of 18 aliquots of DNA, 17 from one blood sample and one from the second blood sample, were arbitrarily split into two groups (C1-C9 and D1-D9) and stored in three plates. 3 g (C samples) or 5 g (D samples) of purified DNA sample (in TE buffer) was applied per well of a microplate containing the GenTegraTM DNA stabilization matrix (GenTegra LLC, Pleasanton, CA). Each plate contained three samples from each group. Each DNA sample in GenTegra was then airdried per the manufacturer’s recommendation; the wells were sealed and then -5- stored as follows for 4 years. One plate was heated to 37°C in an oven for 7 months, then transferred to a warehouse for ambient temperature storage (~25°C) for 3 years, 5 months (Figure 1A). A second plate was heated to 56°C in an oven for 7 months, then transferred to a warehouse for ambient temperature storage (~25°C) for 3 years, 5 months (Figure 1A). A third plate was kept in a warehouse at ~25°C for the entire 4 year time period. Subsequent to the 4 year storage, the 3 g (C group) and 5 g (D group) samples were rehydrated with 20 L and 33 L water, respectively. 100 ng of each DNA sample (as assessed by NanoDrop ) was then subjected to native 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium staining (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA) (Figure 1B). qPCR Assessment of DNA Quality 25 ng of each stored DNA sample was subjected to quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting a 2.5 kb region of mitochondrial DNA. Each reaction also included 250 nM of forward CGCACGGACTACAACCACGAC-3’), reverse primer mt2568-F (5’- primer mt2568-R (5’- CTGTGGGGGGTGTCTTTGGGG-3’), and FastStart SYBR Green with ROX (Roche Applied Sciences, Indianapolis, IN). qPCR was performed on the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Real-time PCR System (Life Technologies, Foster City, CA). The thermal cycling conditions were: 1) 95°C for 10 min; 2) 40 cycles of 95°C for 30 sec, 68°C for 1 min, 70°C for 2 min, 3) 77°C for 30 sec, followed by a dissociation step post-cycling. qPCR was performed in triplicate and the average CT value for each sample was plotted in Figure 1C, -6- relative to CTs obtained for 25 ng of a highly validated control DNA (Roche Applied Sciences, Indianapolis, IN). HLA genotyping using next-generation sequencing (Roche 454) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products (amplicons), were generated from purified genomic DNA (gDNA) from all eighteen samples, 6 samples per condition, stored dry with the GenTegraTM product and from a cell line gDNA sample as control. Fourteen amplicons were generated from each DNA sample using commercially available Roche 454 HLA GType Medium Resolution (MR) and High Resolution (HR) HLA fusion primer assay plates (Roche 454, Branford, CT) [6]. Roche 454 GType MR assay plates include fusion primers to amplify HLA-A, -B, and -C exons 2 and 3, HLA-DQB1 exon 2, and HLA-DRBX; where X includes all DRB genes in addition to HLA-DRB1. Roche 454 GType HR assay plates include fusion primers to amplify HLA-A, B, and -C exons 4, HLA-DQB1 exon 3, HLA-DQA1 exon 2, and HLA-DPB1 exon 2. Roche 454 fusion primers consist of a 10-base multiplex ID (MID) tag, flanked by a locus-specific primer on the 3’ end, and an “A” or “B” 454-specific primer adaptor sequence on the 5’ end [6, 7]. The MID tag serves as a barcode for sample identification by data analysis programs.[7, 8] PCRs were performed in a 25 μl volume. Each reaction contained 20 ng of genomic DNA, 2 units of AmpliTaq Gold Polymerase (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA), 1X AmpliTaq PCR Gold Buffer (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA), 1.5 mM AmpliTaq Gold MgCl2 Solution (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA), 0.3 μM of PCR Grade Nucleotide Mix (Roche Applied Sciences, Indianapolis, IN), and 10% Ameresco brand glycerol (Life Technologies, -7- Carlsbad, CA). Genomic DNA and PCR mastermix were aliquoted directly into the Roche 454 GType primer assay plates and PCR was performed using the thermal cycler GenAmp PCR 9700 system (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA). Cycling conditions were: 1) 94°C for 5 minutes, 2) 31 cycles of 94°C for 15sec, 62°C for 15s, and 72°C for 30sec, 3) 72°C for 8 minutes. PCR products were visualized with 2% agarose “e-gel” electrophoresis (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA) and with the Advanced Analytical 96-Capillary Gel Electrophoresis based Fragment Analyzer (Advanced Analytical Technical Instruments, Ames, IA). PCR products were pooled, based on Quant-iT PicoGreen dsDNA reagent concentration data (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA), into a single, eqimolar amplicon library, purified with Agencourt AMPure XP beads (Beckman Coulter, Pasadena, CA), re-quantified using Quant-iT PicoGreen dsDNA reagent, and mixed with 454 capture beads (Roche 454, Branford, CT) after dilution to 1 x 106 molecule per microliter concentration. Individual HLA amplicon molecules within the library were clonally amplified and bound to 454 capture beads in emulsion PCR [6, 7].DNA bound beads were enriched and deposited onto a single region 454 Titanium PicoTiter plate (Roche 454, Branford, CT) [6, 7]. Molecules were pyrosequenced on the Roche 454 GS Junior system (Roche 454, Branford, CT) [6, 7]. Data analysis and Statistics FASTA formatted sequencing reads were filtered based on alignment to an International Immunogenetics Information System (IMGT) [9] HLA reference -8- database using the Roche 454 Amplicon Variant Analyzer (Roche 454, Branford, CT). Sequencing reads from a subsequent FASTA file were analyzed with SCORETM software and Conexio ATF AssignTM HLA genotyping softwares. 454 GS Junior data processing tools, SFFfile and SFFinfo, were used to parse files and to extract sequencing adaptor trimmed and untrimmed sample-specific base calling quality metric scores using manufacturer protocols. Raw base quality scores for all sequencing reads, from the original SFF file, were then analyzed per sample in reference to controls in R (R Core Team). Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to test for significance between sample and control means; significance threshold was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results and Discussion Stored genomic DNA maintained integrity The integrity of eighteen gDNA samples recovered from the GenTegraTM product matrix was confirmed. As seen in Figure 1B, a limiting, high molecular weight DNA band, with apparent size greater than 40 kilobases was detected via native 0.8% agarose electrophoresis for all samples, indicating that, upon recovery from the GenTegraTM product, DNA chain length remains in the high molecular weight range expected for genomic DNA samples. Real-time PCR assay validated mitochondrial DNA integrity The quality of DNA obtained after long term dry state storage was assessed by qPCR, targeting a 2.5 kb region of human mitochondrial DNA. The target size is approximately 10 times longer than that typically employed for qPCR and, thus, is capable of assessing DNA integrity by PCR in the presence of lesions at a density as low as 0.5 per kilobase. In this assay, CT values obtained by qPCR are compared to that obtained from a highly characterized -9- commercial human gDNA standard (PN 11691112001; Roche Applied Sciences, Indianapolis, IN). CT values obtained for the gDNA samples stored in GenTegra were found to be in the range of 19-20 cycles, independent of storage condition. CT values for all stored samples were found to be approximately 3 cycles fewer than the un-stored, control DNA. Since DNA damage, or the presence of contaminants would increase, rather than decrease CT values, the data in Figure 1C demonstrate that the DNA samples stored in the GenTegra matrix are at least as intact (and free from PCR inhibitors) as the control DNA. Stored genomic DNA amplifies for troublesome HLA loci All eighteen samples and the positive control amplified successfully for each of the target HLA loci. Amplicons were visualized by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and by capillary gel electrophoresis. Non-specific amplification was not observed (Figure 2). At 740 base pairs (bp), HLA-A exon 4 amplicons are the largest in the set of foureen. Figure 2 displays capillary gel electrophoresis trace overlays of HLA-A exon 4 amplicons from all 18 samples and postive control PCR products around the target size, 740 bp. Amplicon concentrations ranged from 10.5 nanograms per microliter (ng/ul) to 17.2 ng/ul with a standard deviation of ± 2.23 ng/ul for the longest HLA amplicon (HLA-A exon 4) as compared to postive control HLA-A exon 4 amplicon concentrations, 13.2 ng/ul and 13.7 ng/ul ± 0.23 ng/ul. In general, amplicon concentrations ranged from 5.56 ng/ul to 28.3 ng/ul for the experimental amplicons, as compared to control amplicon concentration ranges of 6.64 ng/ul to 24.4 ng/ul. The lowest concentrations in both groups - 10 - were observed for HLA-C exon 3 (673bp), which was the most difficult locus to amplify, possibly due to inefficient primer annealing. Stored genomic DNA effictively used to genotype HLA Three sequencing runs were performed in total. Each run included all HLA amplicons for six experimental samples and one control. The same control library was sequenced in each run to control for run-to-run variation. The runs showed some variability in the number of quality filter passed sequencing reads, 126,665 reads, 110,766 reads, and 134,317 reads, respectively (454 software manual). All three sequencing runs, however, far exceed the 70,000 quality passed filter read benchmark set by Roche 454 [10]. As expected, identical HLA genotypes were assigned for 17 out of 17 identically sourced samples. The single sample sourced from a different individual produced a different genotype. Control genotypes were identical for each of the HLA loci among the three sequencing runs, demonstrating the consistency of the equencing and genotype calling processes. 111 of 126 total genotypes (18 samples sequenced for 7 genes) were assigned without the need for manual user editing in the Conexio ATF AssignTM HLA genotyping software. Minimal user edits to remove sequence containing obvious sequencing error were necessary to assign genotypes to 11 out of the initial unassigned 15 genotypes. The remaining 4 genotypes cannot be assigned due to mid HLA-B exon 3 sequencing error or cannot be assigned without excluding HLA-A exon four data. However, these failed assignments are attributable to limitations in 454 sequencing chemistry rather than the initial DNA integrity. - 11 - 454 sequencing read length limitations Roche 454 pyrosequencing chemistry delivers the longest read lengths of all clonally based sequencing platforms [10, 11], with the ability to generate high quality reads 400 bp in length on either the 454 GS FLX or 454 GS Junior platforms [10]. HLA-A exon 4 and HLA-C exon 2 amplicons, 740 and 673 bp respectively, exceed the size of exons and far exceed the length limitations of the sequencing chemistry. For both amplicons, the exon lies near the upstream end; thus, the quality of the exon sequence from the forward sequence reactions was higher than that from the reverse sequences. In the reverse sequence reactions, the exon sequence was at the end of the read, and DNA sequencing tends to decrease in quality with read length [10]. Figure 3 shows that, within this data set, all untrimmed sequencing reads maintain a high level of base calling quality (Q), where Q0 and Q40 are the minimum and maximum quality score range, respectively, until read lengths approach 430 bases. At this point, the ability of the sequencing software to call bases accurately steadily decreases. Moreover, when comparing the quality scores from reads at nucleotide position 423 (Figure 3d), distribution of quality scores were not different for the test samples as compared to the control samples (adjusted p = 1). HLA-A exon 4 and HLA-C exon 3 reverse reads for all samples in the second sequencing run show evidence of increased sequencing error at the 3’ end of reverse reads. Failure to generate reverse direction sequences long enough to capture full HLA-A exon 4 and full HLA-C exon 3 sequence was also - 12 - observed in the control sample from the second sequencing run. Only HLA-A genotypes for samples C8 and D3 were left unassigned. Genotypes for these samples can be determined, albeit with increased ambiguity, upon the exclusion of all exon 4 sequences. 454 sequencing homopolymer detection limitations Genotype assignments for the 17 identically sourced samples can be used to distinguish sequencing error from genomic variation where failed genotype assignments were made. Five HLA-B genotypes showed evidence of a base calling discrepancy between the forward and reverse sequence reads from the same chromosome near the center of exon 2 near a high G-C rich region in the template strands. Regardless of input DNA quality, homopolymers (i.e., multiple molecules of the same nucleotide) can be problematic for 454 chemistry [10]. 454 sequencing data are represented by a series of intensity values, or a flowgram, for iterative deoxynucleotide flows during which multiple nucleotide incorporations may occur in the absence of a 3’ chain terminator which can lead to substitution or deletion error [12]. Nucleotide sequences off-set by one base in either direction, cannot be aligned with confidence to a HLA reference. Three of the five samples with noted sequencing error (C1, C2, and C3) were in the 56°C storage group while the remaining two samples (D2 and D3) were from the ambient temperature storage group. No other replicates showed - 13 - evidence of a similar issue with HLA-B sequence. Each of the noted samples show a deletion in the reverse reads for both alleles at base position 389, which directly follows a G-C rich homopolymer region. Notably, the forward reads for these alleles per sample have no evidence of sequencing error. However, D7, D8, and D9, also from the 56°C worst-case scenario treatment group, all showed no evidence of sequencing error suggesting that the errors reflected in samples C7-C9, D2 and D3 are not due to the storage conditions or the subsequent quality of genomic DNA but are rather attributable to reduced sequencing run quality. Vandenbroucke et al. suggested that every amplicon has its own error profile dependent upon its originating sequence [10, 13]. The standard error for this data set appears high because 17 identical samples have the same HLA-B genotype (HLA-B*07:02:01, HLA-B*55:01:01), consisting of two alleles with identical sequence contributing to a high propensity for this homopolymer error. Stored sample sequencing quality scores mirrored controls Quality scores are assigned to each base for each sequencing read by the 454 sequencing software, representing the log-probability that a base was not an overcall [10, 12, 14]. These scores are reported in a FASTA like format. 454 base quality scores are represented by Phred equivalent quality scores (Q = 10 * log10 (error rate)) ranging from Q0-Q40, where a Q30 score represents a base-call with a probablility of 1/1000 of being incorrect while a Q40 score represents a 1/104 chance of being incorrect, in other words, representing a 99.99% accuracy rating (https://www.broadinstitute.org) [10, 15]. No significant differences were observed (p ≥ 0.4) in the mean, median, or mode quality scores between samples and control (Figure 4). Quality score results suggest - 14 - that gDNA purified from the GenTegraTM product stored under all treatment conditions behaves similarly to cell line gDNA stored in best-case conditions at -20°C. Conclusions Taken together, consistency of HLA genotypes from identically sourced samples and lack of statistically significant difference in average quality score for stored samples compared to controls, validate the integrity of gDNA purified from the GenTegraTM product matrix after all tested treatment conditions, including the worst-case, 56°C group. High molecular weight genomic DNA purified from the GenTegra TM product matrix was used to successfully genotype the most polymorphic genes in the human genome. Next generation HLA genotyping was chosen to test the integrity of GenTegraTM product matrix treated genomic DNA due to the requirment for high-quality, long clonal sequencing reads. Results of this test demonstrate the efficacy of the product as a suitable genomic DNA preservation tool for collection, long-term biobanking, or shipping of DNA at fluctuating and high temperatures. Thus, implementation of the GenTegraTM product matrix should greatly reduce sample compromising data integrity. - 15 - storage cost without Abbreviations NGS: Next generation sequencing SBT: Sequence based genotyping gDNA: Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid HLA: Human leukocyte antigen PCR: Polymerase chain reaction qPCR: Quantitative ploymerase chain reaction Competing Interests MEH and LYW are employees of GenTegra LLC. GenTegra LLC reimbursed the laboratory at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute for the cost of reported HLA genotyping experiments. Authors' contributions MEH initiated and conceptualized the project, provided project funding, and edited the manuscript. LYW carried out DNA preservation laboratory work and DNA integrity tests, and participated in project design and manuscript preparation. DJP carried out and reported statistical analysis of sequence quality and participated in manuscript preparation. SLM carried out HLA genotyping laboratory work, participated in project design, advised data analysis, and was the primary manuscript author. JAN helped design and direct the project and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Author Information MEH is an expert and pioneer in DNA dry storage methodology. He was a cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer for GenVault and now serves as Chief - 16 - Sceintific Officer at GenTegra LLC. JAN is an internationally regonized expert in HLA genetics. - 17 - REFERENCES 1. Vaught JB, Henderson MK: Biological sample collection, processing, storage and information management. IARC scientific publications 2011(163):23-42. 2. Wan E, Akana M, Pons J, Chen J, Musone S, Kwok PY, Liao W: Green technologies for room temperature nucleic acid storage. Current issues in molecular biology 2010, 12(3):135-142. 3. Byrnes S, Fan A, Trueb J, Jareczek F, Mazzochette M, Sharon A, Sauer-Budge AF, Klapperich CM: A Portable, Pressure Driven, Room Temperature Nucleic Acid Extraction and Storage System for Point of Care Molecular Diagnostics. Analytical methods : advancing methods and applications 2013, 5(13):3177-3184. 4. Lee SB, Clabaugh KC, Silva B, Odigie KO, Coble MD, Loreille O, Scheible M, Fourney RM, Stevens J, Carmody GR et al: Assessing a novel room temperature DNA storage medium for forensic biological samples. Forensic science international Genetics 2012, 6(1):31-40. 5. Frippiat C, Zorbo S, Leonard D, Marcotte A, Chaput M, Aelbrecht C, Noel F: Evaluation of novel forensic DNA storage methodologies. Forensic science international Genetics 2011, 5(5):386-392. 6. De Santis D, Dinauer D, Duke J, Erlich HA, Holcomb CL, Lind C, Mackiewicz K, Monos D, Moudgil A, Norman P et al: 16(th) IHIW : review of HLA typing by immunogenetics 2013, 40(1):72-76. - 18 - NGS. International journal of 7. Erlich HA, Valdes AM, McDevitt S, Simen BB, Blake LA, McGowan KR, Todd JA, Rich SS, Noble J: Next Generation Sequencing Reveals the Association of DRB3*02:02 with Type I Diabetes. Diabetes 2013. 8. Erlich H: HLA DNA typing: past, present, and future. Tissue Antigens 2012, 80(1):1-11. 9. Robinson J, Halliwell JA, McWilliam H, Lopez R, Parham P, Marsh SG: The IMGT/HLA database. Nucleic Acids Res 2013, 41(Database issue):D1222-1227. 10. Niklas N, Proll J, Danzer M, Stabentheiner S, Hofer K, Gabriel C: Routine performance and errors of 454 HLA exon sequencing in diagnostics. BMC bioinformatics 2013, 14:176. 11. Shokralla S, Spall JL, Gibson JF, Hajibabaei M: Next-generation sequencing technologies for environmental DNA research. Mol Ecol 2012, 21(8):1794-1805. 12. Brockman W, Alvarez P, Young S, Garber M, Giannoukos G, Lee WL, Russ C, Lander ES, Nusbaum C, Jaffe DB: Quality scores and SNP detection in sequencing-by-synthesis systems. Genome Res 2008, 18(5):763-770. 13. Vandenbroucke I, Van Marck H, Verhasselt P, Thys K, Mostmans W, Dumont S, Van Eygen V, Coen K, Tuefferd M, Aerssens J: Minor variant detection in amplicons using 454 massive parallel pyrosequencing: experiences and considerations for successful applications. BioTechniques 2011, 51(3):167-177. - 19 - 14. Ledergerber C, Dessimoz C: Base-calling for next-generation sequencing platforms. Briefings in bioinformatics 2011, 12(5):489497. 15. Ewing B, Green P: Base-calling of automated sequencer traces using phred. II. Error probabilities. Genome Res 1998, 8(3):186-194. - 20 - Figure Legends Figure 1. A. DNA Storage Timecourse. Either 3 g or 5 g of purified gDNA sample was treated with GenTegraTM DNA stabilization matrix and stored at either ~25°C, 37°C, or 56°C for 7 months followed by an incubation at ambient temperature (~25°C) for a total period of 4 years. B. Native Agarose Gel Assessment of gDNA Quality. Subsequent to the 4 year storage, the 3 g and 5 g samples were rehydrated and subjected to native 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium staining. A (collapsed) DNA band with an apparent molecular weight of 40 kb indicates that the average duplex DNA strand length for such samples is in excess of approximately 40 kb. C. PCR Assessment of DNA Quality. 25 ng of each stored DNA sample was subjected to quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) employing a 2.5 kb region of mitochondrial DNA as the target. qPCR was performed in triplicate and the average CT values for each sample are plotted relative to CTs obtained for 25ng of a highly validated control DNA (Roche Applied Sciences). Figure 2. HLA-A exon 4 Amplicon Fragment Analyzer Trace Overlay. Capillary electrophoresis was performed to visualize the HLA-A exon 4 amplicon size range distribution among all samples and controls. Upper and lower markers used for size determination are visible at positions of 35 base pairs (bp) and 1500 bp, respectively. Samples represented within the upper frame were amplified together on a PCR assay plate with the control (PTC) noted in the frame. Samples represented within the lower frame were amplified together on a separate PCR assay plate with the control (PTC) noted in the frame. - 21 - Figure 3. Quality Score Distributions. A-C, average quality scores across all reads at indicated nucleotide position for each sample. A, from sequencing run 1; B, from sequencing run 2; and C, from sequencing run 3. D. Box plots of the quality score distributions for all reads at nucleotide position 423. Replicates were averaged and median centered. Figure 4: Quality Score Average Comparisons. For each set of conditions, averages (mean, median, mode) were measured across all reads within a replicate and all sample replicates (n = 3). - 22 - Degrees Celsius A 25C (C1-C3; D1-D3) 37C (C4-C6; D4-D6) 56C (C7-C9; D7-D9) 60 40 Stored gDNA Amount: C1-C9 = 3 micrograms D1-D9 = 5 micrograms 20 0 1 0 2 3 4 ladder D1 D2 40,000 5090/ 5000 5090/ 5000 C9 C8 C7 C6 C5 C4 C3 C2 C1 40 35 30 25 20 15 Control DNA Average CT C 25C 25C 25C 37C 37C 37C 56C 56C 56C Average CT 40,000 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 40 35 30 25 20 15 D9 C9 D8 C8 D7 C7 D6 C6 D5 C5 D4 C4 D3 C3 D1 C2 Control DNA ladder C1 B D2 Years 25C 25C 25C 37C 37C 37C 56C 56C 56C Lower Marker HLA-A Exon 4 Amplicon Upper Marker A C Run 1 Run 3 B D Run 2 40 Average Quality Score 35 30 25 Qavg 20 Qmed 15 Qmode 10 5 0 Storage Temp 25°C DNA 3 ug 37°C 56°C 25°C 37°C 56°C 3 ug 3 ug 5 ug 5 ug 5 ug Sample Treatment CondiAons PTC
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