An alternative protocol for DNA extraction from formalin fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissue
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Post-graduation Program, Federal University from Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Bracelos 2350, Serviço de Genética Médica, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, CEP 90035-003
- Correspondence to: Mrs R Coura Genetics and Molecular Biology Post-graduation Program, Federal University from Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Bracelos 2350, Serviço de Genética Médica, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, CEP 90035-003; recourahotmail.com
- Accepted 27 January 2005
Abstract
Background: DNA extraction from paraffin wax embedded tissue requires special protocols, and most described methods report an amplification success rate of 60–80%.
Aims: To propose a simple and inexpensive protocol consisting of xylene/ethanol dewaxing, followed by a kit based extraction.
Method: Xylene/ethanol dewaxing was followed by a long rehydration step and a kit based DNA extraction step.
Results: This method produced a 100% amplification success rate for fragments of 121 to 227 bp for tamponated formalin fixed paraffin wax embedded tissue.
Conclusion: This cost effective and non-laborious protocol can successfully extract DNA from tamponated formalin fixed paraffin wax embedded tissue and should facilitate the molecular analysis of a large number of archival specimens in retrospective studies.
