Messenger RNA profiling: a prototype method to supplant conventional methods for body fluid identification

    Authors

    J. Juusola;J. Ballantyne

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Forensic Sci.Int.

    Keywords

    RNA; mRNA profiling; body fluid identification; saliva identification; POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION; PROCESSED PSEUDOGENES; RT-PCR; GENE FAMILY; DNASE-I; STABILITY; EVOLUTION; SEQUENCE; PROTEIN; EXTRACTION; Medicine, Legal

    Abstract

    Conventional methods of body fluid identification use a variety of labor-intensive, technologically diverse techniques that are performed in a series, not parallel, manner and are costly in terms of time and sample. Theoretically, the identification of a body fluid may be made by determining a sufficient number of mRNAs that are expressed exclusively in cells that collectively comprise that body fluid. Advantages of an mRNA-based approach, compared to conventional biochemical methods of analysis, include greater specificity, simultaneous and semi-automatic analysis through a common assay format, improved timeliness, decreased sample consumption and compatibility with DNA extraction methodologies. In this report, we demonstrate that RNA is stable in biological stains and can be recovered in sufficient quantity and quality for analysis. Messenger RNA from the housekeeping genes S 15, beta-actin and GAPDH was detected in blood, semen and saliva stains using a sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR). Additionally, we have identified a number of candidate tissue-specific genes, statherin, histatin 3, PRB1, PRB2 and PRB3 that may be useful for the positive identification of saliva. Messenger RNAs from these genes were detectable in saliva stains but not in blood or semen stains. Collectively these findings constitute the basis of a prototype RNA based assay system that may eventually supplant conventional methods for body fluid identification. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Forensic Science International

    Volume

    135

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2003

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    85

    Last Page

    96

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000185305400001

    ISSN

    0379-0738

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