High-Resolution Melt Curve Analysis in Cancer Mutation Screen

Methods Mol Biol. 2016:1392:63-9. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3360-0_7.

Abstract

High-resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis is a PCR-based assay that identifies sequence alterations based on subtle variations in the melting curves of mutated versus wild-type DNA sequences. HRM analysis is a high-throughput, sensitive, and efficient alternative to Sanger sequencing and is used to assess for mutations in clinically important genes involved in cancer diagnosis. The technique involves PCR amplification of a target sequence in the presence of a fluorescent double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) binding dye, melting of the fluorescent amplicons, and subsequent interpretation of melt curve profiles.

Keywords: Double-stranded DNA binding fluorescent dyes; High-resolution melt curve analysis; PCR.

MeSH terms

  • Exons
  • Humans
  • Mutation*
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Nucleic Acid Denaturation*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / genetics
  • Transition Temperature*

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit