Discrimination of cultured human cell lines by PCR with Gamma STR Quadriplex

The amplification of short tandem repeat (STR) loci using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with four fluorescent primers was applied for discrimination of cultured cell lines maintained in our cell bank. PCR methods using the Gamma STR^TM multiplex system (D16S539, D7S820, D13S17, D5S818) were applied to 63 human cell lines to determine how practical this approach is for routine purposes. Amplified DNA extracted from cells demonstrated one or two DNA bands on SDS-PAGE (4% gel containing urea) for each cell line, allowing their easy identification in 56 of the cases. The remaining 7 cell lines demonstrated common bands. Since the gel patterns obtained by PCR using the STR multiplex primers were very clear, and the method is time-saving, the approach can be recommended as a good cell identification system for quality control of human cell lines.

Printed image of GammaSTR PCR products separated by urea-containing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Lane 1, U937; lane 2, VMRC-LCD; Lane 3, VMRC-RCW; lane 4, SCCT-TC; lane 5, Sq-1; lane 6, Sq-19; lane 7, SK-MEL-28; lane 8, S1; lane 9, SH10-TC; lane 10, SSK-LCL; lane 11, LK-1, lane 12, KJM-LCL. Repeat numbers are shown on the right side.

Reference: Hisaaki Saeki and Toshio Kudo, Discrimination of Cultured human cell lines by PCR with GAmmaSTR^TM Quadriples. Thissue Culture research Communications, 18, 125-129, 1999. The Journal of Experimental and Applied Cell Culture Research (The Japanese Tissue Culture Associateion).