RFLP-inator: interactive web platform for in silico simulation and complementary tools of the PCR-RFLP technique.

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) is an established molecular biology technique leveraging DNA sequence variability for organism identification, genetic disease detection, biodiversity analysis, etc. Traditional PCR-RFLP requires wet-laboratory procedures that can result in technical errors, procedural challenges, and financial costs. With the aim of providing an accessible and efficient PCR-RFLP technique complement, we introduce RFLP-inator. This is a comprehensive web-based platform developed in R using the package Shiny, which simulates the PCR-RFLP technique, integrates analysis capabilities, and offers complementary tools for both pre- and post-evaluation of in vitro results. We developed the RFLP-inator's algorithm independently and our platform offers seven dynamic tools: RFLP simulator, Pattern identifier, Enzyme selector, RFLP analyzer, Multiplex PCR, Restriction map maker, and Gel plotter. Moreover, the software includes a restriction pattern database of more than 250,000 sequences of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. We successfully validated the core tools against published research findings. This new platform is open access and user-friendly, offering a valuable resource for researchers, educators, and students specializing in molecular genetics. RFLP-inator not only streamlines RFLP technique application but also supports pedagogical efforts in genetics, illustrating its utility and reliability. The software is available for free at https://kodebio.shinyapps.io/RFLP-inator/.