This study examined the influence of heat exposure on DNA samples during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection. In this study, λDNA samples, as model DNA, were exposed to 105°C for 3-90 minutes or to 105°C-115°C for 15 minutes by autoclaving. The exposed samples were subjected to real-time PCR using nine primer sets with amplicon sizes of 45-504 bp. Regarding DNA samples exposed to 105°C by autoclaving, the data showed negative correlations between the logarithm of λDNA concentration (log λDNA) calculated using real-time PCR and exposure duration and a good relationship between the slope of the regression line and amplicon size. Regarding λDNA samples exposed to heat for 15 minutes, the data showed negative correlations between the log λDNA and exposure temperature and a good relationship between the slope of the regression line and amplicon size. These results showed that the equations used in this study could predict the degree of degradation in λDNA samples by autoclaving, and the PCR detection levels of the DNA at each amplicon size.
Keywords: DNA damage; DNA degradation; DNA fragmentation; PCR; autoclave; thermal degradation.