TRAP method

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The TRAP method is a molecular biological detection method for the quantitative determination of the activity of the enzyme telomerase . The abbreviation TRAP refers to T elomeric R epeat A mplification P rotocol.

method

  1. The tissue or cell in which the enzyme activity of telomerase is to be determined is lysed . The enzyme is then extracted from the lysate .
  2. A substrate that is structurally similar to a telomere is added to the enzyme extract. Telomerase elongates the substrate in the same way that telomeres normally do . The higher the activity of the enzyme, the greater the elongation.
  3. The extended substrate is replicated (= amplified) by means of PCR .
  4. The duplications can now be detected and quantified by various methods (e.g. gel electrophoresis or ELISA ).

literature

  • Kim, NW et al. (1994): Science 226, pp. 2011-2015.
  • Piatyszek, MA et al. (1995): Meth. Cell Sci. , 17, pp. 1-15.