Application of Polymerase Chain Reaction–Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) to Identification of Flatfish Species

Abstract

Abstract A method of DNA analysis based on polymerase chain reaction–single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) was developed to verify the authenticity of labeled raw and frozen fillets of some flatfish species. PCR was used to amplify a short fragment (201 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, which was denatured and analyzed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for detection of SSCPs. Species-specific patterns of DNA bands were obtained for sole (Solea solea), European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), flounder (Platichthys flesus), and Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides).