Effect of tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine and tertiary butyl alcohol on the performance of convection polymerase chain reaction

Rapid and on-site DNA-based molecular detection has become increasingly important for sensitive, specific, and timely detection and treatment of various diseases. To prepare and store biomolecule-containing reagents stably, reducing agents are used during protein preparation, and freeze-drying technology has been applied to the protein reagents. Some of the additives used during these processes may affect subsequent processes such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study, we evaluated the impact of TCEP, a reducing agent, and TBA, a freeze-drying medium, on the performance of convection PCR (cPCR) using a battery-operable PCR device. Singleplex cPCR detection of a 249 bp amplicon from human genomic DNA suggested that approximately 82% of performance was achieved in the presence of 0.1 mM TCEP and 1% TBA. The limit of detection and the minimum number of cycles at which amplicons began to appear was a little lower (~ 82% efficiency) or higher (20 vs 15 cycles), respectively, in the chemical-treated group than in the control group. With larger amplicons of 500 bp, the chemical-treated group revealed approximately 78% of performance and amplicons started to appear at 20 cycles of cPCR in both groups. Similar results were obtained with multiplex cPCR amplification.