cell line authentication - (Jan/31/2019 )

Hi,

Alot of journals strongly recommend cell line authentication. What kind of experiments should be conducted to address the journal's request.

1. myoplasma test?

2.  short tandem repeat (STR) profiling?

Thanks

SF

Definitely you should include the STR profiling.  Many commercial or University Core labs offer STR profiling services; you can either submit a cell pellet or extracted genomic DNA, the requirements vary. STR kits (e.g. Promega GenePrint) are available but the reactions must be run on equipment usually used for capillary dye-terminator Sanger sequencing, which you may not have in your own lab, plus you need appropriate software for analysis. The kit maker supplies definition files that can be uploaded into the software. When I worked in a Core Lab I ran the Promega on an ABI 3730xl with GeneMapper software.

Mycoplasma testing is to rule out Mycoplasma contamination.  I don't think it it part of "cell line authentication" but it is a good idea and might be required by some journals.  Hopefully they would spell that out in the Instructions to Authors.  If unsure, contact them and ask.