Detection of mutations by cleavage of DNA heteroduplexes with bacteriophage resolvases

We have explored the application of the bacteriophage resolvases T4 endonuclease VII and T7 endonuclease I for detecting mutations in genomic DNA. Heteroduplex DNA fragments prepared by amplification from DNA containing known mutations were cleaved by one or both enzymes at nucleotide mismatches created by 3 of 3 short deletions and 13 of 14 point mutations in fragments as large as 940 basepairs. Heteroduplexes representing all four classes of possible single nucleotide mismatches were cleaved, and the sizes of the cleavage products generated correlated with the location of the mutation. We conclude that bacteriophage resolvases may be useful reagents for the rapid screening of DNA for mutations.