Bio-Rad DCode™ Universal Mutation Detection System - Manual (Page 6)

Section 2
Program Overview
The thermodynamics of the transition of double-stranded to single-stranded DNA have
been described by the computer program Melt87 developed by Lerman and Silverstein. 1 The
WinMelt/MacMelt software is based on the algorithm from the Melt87 software and has been
given an easy-to-use graphical interface for Windows and Macintosh. The software is a
powerful tool for analyzing the melting profile of any DNA sequence up to 10,000 base-pairs.
A melt profile will show regions of theoretical high and low melting domains of a known
sequence. Location of primers and GC clamps can be optimized by analyzing the placement
effect on the DNA melting profile. The software allows entering, editing, analyzing,
displaying, and saving data from any sequence. The melt profiles of up to ten sequences can
be overlaid on one graph and the data can be exported to other graphing programs. The main
features of the software are:
• Simple sequence editor for sequence entry or modification.
• Up to 50 sequences with a maximum of 10,000 base-pairs (9,000 in Windows 3.1x) each
can be included in one project.
• Up to 10 melting profiles can be graphed together.
• Sequences can be imported from text files in GenBank, EMBL, FASTA or plain format.
• Sequences are exported in FASTA format.
• Fast melting profile calculation.
• The melting profile is graphed at melting probability levels of 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% or
95%.
• Melting profile data can be exported to a text file for use with other applications.
• Melting profile graphs can be exported to an image file in PICT (MacMelt) or EMF
(WinMelt) format for use with other applications.
• Graph zooming using the mouse or by direct entry of sequence and temperature ranges.
• Sequences and melting profile graphs can be printed.
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