2. POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
(PCR)
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is technique for
generating large quantities of a specified DNA.
• PCR is a cell free amplification technique for
synthesizing multiple identical copies of any DNA of
interest
3. PRINCIPLE OF PCR
The double-stranded DNA of interest is denatured to
separate into 2 individual strands.
Each strand is allowed to hybridize with a primer
(renaturation).
The primer-template duplex is used for DNA
synthesis (DNA polymerase).
Denaturation, renaturation & synthesis are repeated
again & again to generate multiple forms of target
DNA.
4. TECHNIQUE FOR PCR
Requirements for PCR:
a. A target DNA (100-35,000 bp in length).
b. Two primers (synthetic oligonucleotides of 17-30
nucleotides length) that are complementary to
regions flanking the target DNA.
c. Four deoxyribonucleotides (dATP, dCTP, dGTP,
dTTP).
d. A DNA polymerase that can withstand at a
temperature up to 95˚C.
5. STAGES OF PCR
1. Denaturation
2. Renaturation or annealing
3. Synthesis
PCR involves repeated cycles for amplification of target
DNA.
6. Denaturation
• On increasing the temperature to about 95˚C
for 1 minute, the DNA gets denatured & two
strands separate.
7. Renaturation or annealing
As the temperature of mixture is slowly cooled to
about 55˚C, the primers base pair with
complementary regions flanking target DNA strands.
8. Synthesis:
The initiation of DNA synthesis occurs at 3'- hydroxyl end
of each primer.
The primers are extended by joining the bases
complementary to DNA strands.
The synthetic process is comparable to DNA replication of
leading strand.
Optimum temperature has to be maintained as required by
DNA polymerases.
10. example
• Taq DNA polymerase, optimum temperature is
around 75˚C & E.coli DNA polymerase around
37˚C.
• The reaction can be stopped by raising the
temperature (about 95˚C).
11. Sources of dna polymarase
• Klenow fragment of E.coli DNA polymerase is used
in original technique. This enzyme, gets denatured at
higher temperature, therefore, fresh enzyme had to be
added for each cycle.
• Taq DNA polymerase (Thermus aquaticus) is heat
resistant, not necessary to freshly add this enzyme for
each cycle.
12. APPLICATIONS
• Prenatal diagnosis of inherited diseases: PCR is used
for prenatal diagnosis of various diseases by using
chorionic villus samples or cells from amniocentesis.
• Sickle-cell anemia, β-thelassema & PKU can be
detected.
• Diagnosis of retroviral diseases: Used for diagnosis
of HIV infection
13. Diagnosis of bacterial infections: Used for the
detection of bacterial infections like tuberculosis.
Diagnosis of cancers:Used for the detection of
cervical cancer.
PCR in forensic medicine: Used for the identification
of criminals.