PCR Determination of Optimum Parameters in the Analysis of PTEN and Its Role in Aging - Research Paper Example

Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog gene commonly referred to as PTEN gene provides the necessary instructions for the synthesis of a protein that is present in almost all body tissues (Sulis, 2003). The protein is significant in its function as a tumor suppressor and aids in the regulation of cell division by inhibiting cells from diving and growing too fast or uncontrollably. PTEN is a phosphatase that modifies other fats and proteins through the removal of phosphate groups comprising of one phosphorus atom and three oxygen atoms (Cohen 1990).

There are a number of medical conditions that are linked to PTEN gene mutation including Cowden Syndrome and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome(Weary et al, 1972; Cohen 1990) which are often termed together as the PTEN hematoma tumor syndrome. The gene mutations that are responsible for these conditions are found in body cells and are mostly inherited from carrier parents. Some of the PTEN gene mutations which cause the PTEN hematomas tumor syndrome result in a defective PTEN protein version inhibiting it from performing its role as a tumor suppressor or even synthesizing protein.

A lack of PTEN protein that is functional results in uncontrolled cell division that leads to the development of tumors and hematomas (Steck et al, 1997).The location of the PTEN gene is on the long chromosome 10 (q) arm at position 23.3.It is located since 87,863,437bp to 87,971,929bp on chromosome 10.Fig A: Cytogenetic Location: 10q23.3 at 87,863,437bp to 87,971,929bp1.1 Analyzing PTEN using PCRThe process of PCR is utilized in the analysis of DNA including PTEN. In order to amplify a PTEN DNA segment using PCR, the first step is heating the sample in order to denature it to two separate single strands.

A Taq polymerase is then added so as to synthesize two new DNA strands from the original template strands. This results in duplicating of the template DNA with each new molecule comprising of one new and one old DNA strand. This can be repeated using the newly formed DNA molecules as templates for up to 30-40cycles resulting in more than a billion copies being formed.