Forensic Science International 134 (2003) 7273

Letter to the Editor

Sequence structure and population data of the X-linked DXS8377: Data of both groups are compatible as to allele
markers DXS7423 and DXS8377clarification of con- sizing and allele distribution. By means of control DNAs we
flicting statements published by two working groups have been able to confirm that the typing results of both
groups are identical. Investigations of K562 and 9947A
Recently, our two groups published altogether four papers DNA have revealed the alleles 50 and 43/45, respectively.
dealing with the forensic development of the X-chromosome Hence, all data published earlier for the allele nomenclature
(ChrX) markers DXS7423 and DXS8377 [14]. Much to our and allele frequencies [1,3,4] are true and correct.
regret they contain some statements that could appear as In a comparison, the sequencing results appear to be
contradictory. We would like to clarify those issues to avoid rather different, but in fact they are not. Due to the length
readers confusion. and the complexity of the repeat region it is not easy to
DXS7423: Undoubtedly, the data published by Edelmann establish a common repeat formula, and hence the differ-
et al. (2002) [2] regarding the allele structure and length are ences between our papers were just the result of different
correct. To perform the sequencing procedure, this group ways in describing the repeat region. In addition, an alter-
shifted the consent primer 39 bps upstream of the primer native description of the two different strands (forward and
used for routine PCR. Thus, clear readings were obtained of reverse) contributed to the confusion.
the full sequence, including the routine consent primer Edelmann et al. (2002) [2] defined 21 alleles by length
sequence, the adjacent region and the 30 region of the reverse (3757) and presented a table containing individual
primer binding site. The alleles 1218, in this study, refer to sequence structure data on 32 PCR fragments covering
fragments in the range from 175 to 199 bps in length. The the alleles 38 and 4153. Isoalleles are described for alleles
group of Zarrabeitia detected the same allele structure [3,4], 42, 45, 47, 48, 49 and 51.
however, in the papers they reported the apparent size of Zarrabeitia et al. [3,4] provided a less detailed description
alleles (which is influenced by the fluorochromes used in of the repeats of this highly polymorphic locus to leave open
primer labelling) and resulted to be 2 bps longer than the an option for integrating variants which have not been
actual size derived from sequencing. described to date.
The alleles of the control DNA samples K562 (allele 17) In any event, the basic sequence structure we found for
and 9947A (alleles 14 and 15), both distributed by Promega DXS8377 is in correspondence with the gene bank sequence
(Madison, WI), can be used for calibrating the allele scale. data (NCBI Annotation Project; last data of release: 31 July
Unfortunately, the earlier paper on population data of 16 2002; sequenced by Max Planck Institute for Molecular
ChrX markers [1] suggests an allele distribution for a German Genetics, Berlin: [AGA]n-[GGA-AGA]n-[AGA]2-GGA-
sample using an allele nomenclature that did not follow [AGA]6 . . .).
current ISFG recommendations [5]. The counting procedure
did not consider a sequence of three non-variable repeats in the
region of 3220 bps upstream of the variable repeat region. References
Hence, the suggested DXS7423 allele distribution in the
[1] J. Edelmann, S. Hering, M. Michael, R. Lessig, D. Deichsel, G.
German population [2] needs to be revised as shown in Table 1.
Meier-Sundhausen, L. Roewer, I. Plate, R. Szibor, Announce-
ment of population data: 16 X-chromosome STR loci
Table 1 frequency data from a German population, Forensic Sci. Int.
DXS7423 allele distribution in a German sample of 620 ChrX 124 (2001) 215218.
using the consensus nomenclature [2] J. Edelmann, D. Deichsel, S. Hering, I. Plate, R. Szibor,
Sequence variation and allele nomenclature for the X-linked
Fragment size Allele Frequency STRs DXS9895, DXS8378, DXS7132, DXS6800, DXS7133,
GATA172D05, DXS7423 and DXS8377, Forensic Sci. Int. 129
175 12 0.002  0.002
(2002) 99103.
179 13 0.077  0.011
[3] M.T. Zarrabeitia, T. Amigo, C. Sanudo, M.M. de Pancorbo,
183 14 0.348  0.019
J.A. Riancho, Sequence structure and population data of two
187 15 0.356  0.192
X-linked markers: DXS7423 and DXS8377, Int. J. Legal Med.
191 16 0.193  0.016
116 (2002) 368371.
195 17 0.022  0.006
[4] M.T. Zarrabeita, T. Amigo, C. Sanudo, A. Zarrabeita, D.
199 18 0.002  0.002
Gonzalez-Lamuno, J.A. Riancho, A new pentaplex system to

0379-0738/03/$ see front matter # 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/S0379-0738(03)00079-3
 Letter to the Editor / Forensic Science International 134 (2003) 7273 73

study short tandem repeat markers of forensic interest on M.T. Zarrabeitia

X-chromosome, Forensic Sci. Int. 129 (2002) 8589. Unit of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
[5] DNA commission of the International Society of Forensic University of Cantabria, Av. Herrera Oria s/n
Hemogenetics DNA recommendationsfurther report of the 39011 Santander, Spain
DNA commission of the ISFH regarding the use of short
tandem repeat systems, Forensic Sci. Int. 87 (1997) 179184. J.A. Riancho
Service of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
R. Szibor* University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Institute of Legal Medicine
*
Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg Corresponding author. Tel.: 49-391-6715812
Leipziger Strasse 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany fax: 49-391-6715810
E-mail address: reinhard.szibor@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
J. Edelmann (R. Szibor)
Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Leipzig
Johannisallee 28, 04103 Leipzig, Germany 5 February 2003