Development of a Real-Time PCR method for the identification of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus)

• Published in: Food chemistry 2013-12, Vol.141 (3), p.2006-2010
• Main Authors: Velasco, Amaya, Sánchez, Ana, Martínez, Icíar, Santaclara, Francisco J., Pérez-Martín, Ricardo I., Sotelo, Carmen G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Atlantic mackerel; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish; Cytochrome b; DNA Primers - genetics; Fish Proteins - genetics; Food toxicology; Marine; Medical sciences; Molecular Sequence Data; Pelagic fish; Perciformes - classification; Perciformes - genetics; Quality Control; Real-Time PCR; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Scomber; Scomber scombrus; Seafood - analysis; Species identification; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.05.077

[Display omitted] •The method unequivocally identifies Atlantic mackerel.•No false positives were detected with related species.•The method was successful in heavily processed samples.•It is efficient and can be developed for quantification aims. A Real Time-PCR method based on TaqMan technology for the identification of Scomber scombrus has been developed. A system of specific primers and a Minor Groove Binding (MGB) TaqMan probe based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b region was designed. The method was successfully tested in 81 specimens of S. scombrus and related species and validated in 26 different commercial samples. An average Threshold Cycle (Ct) value of 15.3 was obtained with S. scombrus DNA. With the other species tested fluorescence signal was not detected or Ct was significantly higher (P