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01-01-2018 | Original Article

Evaluation of the inclusion of circular RNAs in mRNA profiling in forensic body fluid identification

Authors: Yaqi Zhang, Baonian Liu, Chengchen Shao, Hongmei Xu, Aimin Xue, Ziqin Zhao, Yiwen Shen, Qiqun Tang, Jianhui Xie

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

The use of messenger RNA (mRNA) profiling is considered a promising method in the identification of forensically relevant body fluids which can provide crucial information for reconstructing a potential crime. However, casework samples are usually of limited quantity or have been subjected to degradation, which requires improvement of body fluid identification. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of products from the backsplicing of pre-mRNAs, are shown to have high abundance, remarkable stability, and cell type-specific expression in human cells. In this study, we investigated whether the inclusion of circRNAs in mRNA profiling improve the detection of biomarkers including δ-aminolevulinate synthase 2 (ALAS2) and matrix metallopeptidase 7 (MMP7) in body fluid identification. The major circRNAs of ALAS2 and MMP7 were first identified and primer sets for the simultaneous detection of linear and circular transcripts were developed. The inclusion of circRNAs in mRNA profiling showed improved detection sensitivity and stability of biomarkers revealed by using serial dilutions, mixed samples, and menstrual bloodstains as well as degraded and aged samples. Therefore, the inclusion of circRNAs in mRNA profiling should facilitate the detection of mRNA markers in forensic body fluid identification.

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Title: Evaluation of the inclusion of circular RNAs in mRNA profiling in forensic body fluid identification
Authors: Yaqi Zhang
Baonian Liu
Chengchen Shao
Hongmei Xu
Aimin Xue
Ziqin Zhao
Yiwen Shen
Qiqun Tang
Jianhui Xie
Publication date: 01-01-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1690-7

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Evaluation of the inclusion of circular RNAs in mRNA profiling in forensic body fluid identification

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