This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
Research note
Rita Sabino Abrantes de Pina
Universidade de Aveiro
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7358-5455
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Objective The post-mortem interval (PMI) describes the period of time elapsed since death. A precise estimation of PMI has a strong impact in a crime investigation; however, it becomes a complex task due to the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. There are several methods for PMI determination including pathological, biochemical and entomological. Those methodologies have low precision and several practical limitations leading to the emergence of genetic-molecular methods based on degradation of nucleic acids. DNA methylation is a sufficiently stable and time-related epigenetic modification, making it useful for the development of a method to determine PMI. Thus, the methylation levels of a model organism – zebrafish – were analysed since the moment of death, in order to contribute to create a robust model for the PMI estimation.
Results In this study, we evaluated the variation in global methylation levels and at the promoter region of EDARADD gene during 6 post-mortem intervals. An increase of global methylation levels in the initial post-mortem intervals was observed, followed by an abrupt decrease until 48h post-mortem. Followed by the amplification of EDARADD’s promoter region by q-PCR and HRM analysis, it was possible to differentiate samples according to relative PMI.
Keywords
Post-mortem interval (PMI), Epigenetics, DNA methylation, Zebrafish, Real time PCR (q-PCR), High Resolution Melting (HRM)
Figure 1
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Loading...
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 31 Oct, 2019
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Learn more about our company.
A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research note
Rita Sabino Abrantes de Pina
Universidade de Aveiro
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7358-5455
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 31 Oct, 2019
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Objective The post-mortem interval (PMI) describes the period of time elapsed since death. A precise estimation of PMI has a strong impact in a crime investigation; however, it becomes a complex task due to the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. There are several methods for PMI determination including pathological, biochemical and entomological. Those methodologies have low precision and several practical limitations leading to the emergence of genetic-molecular methods based on degradation of nucleic acids. DNA methylation is a sufficiently stable and time-related epigenetic modification, making it useful for the development of a method to determine PMI. Thus, the methylation levels of a model organism – zebrafish – were analysed since the moment of death, in order to contribute to create a robust model for the PMI estimation.
Results In this study, we evaluated the variation in global methylation levels and at the promoter region of EDARADD gene during 6 post-mortem intervals. An increase of global methylation levels in the initial post-mortem intervals was observed, followed by an abrupt decrease until 48h post-mortem. Followed by the amplification of EDARADD’s promoter region by q-PCR and HRM analysis, it was possible to differentiate samples according to relative PMI.
Figure 1
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Loading...