A Non-radioactive Method for Simultaneous Detection of Single-strand Conformation Polymorphisms (SSCPs) and Heteroduplexes

Abstract

We have developed a simple non-radioactive method for detecting point mutations in genomic DNA based on simultaneous detection of single-strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCPs) and heteroduplexes in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. This method provides reproducible, clear, and sensitive detection of single-base changes in PCR products up to 600 bp in length. This method, which utilizes 0.5 × MDE as gel matrix and silver staining for detection of nucleic acids, thus provides a simple and rapid approach to mutation analysis and carrier detection of genetic disorders.