Rapid and reliable fluorescent cycle sequencing of double-stranded templates.

Automated DNA sequencing is an extremely valuable technique which requires very high quality DNA templates to be carried out successfully. While it has been possible to readily produce large numbers of such templates from M13 or other single-stranded vectors for several years, the sequencing of double-stranded DNA templates using the ABI 373 DNA Sequencer has had a considerably lower success rate. We describe how the combination of a new fluorescent, dideoxy sequencing method, called cycle-sequencing, coupled with modifications to template isolation procedures based on Qiagen columns, makes fluorescent sequencing of double-stranded templates a reliable procedure. From a single five milliliter culture enough DNA can be isolated (up to 20 micrograms) to do 4-8 sequencing reactions, each of which yields 400-500 bases of high quality sequence data. These procedures make the routine use of double-stranded DNA templates a viable strategy in automated DNA sequencing projects.     

影响荧光终止法PCR循环测序反应的因素

比较了一些影响荧光终止法ＰＣＲ循环测序反应的因素。实验结果显示在Ｂｅｃｋｍａｎ ＣＥＱ２０００自动测序仪上,可读序列长度随着ｐＵＣ１８模板量增加而逐渐增多,当模板量达到１２５ｎｇ时ＤＮＡ可读序列最长,以后随着ｐＵＣ１８量增加测序长度逐渐下降。当引物量是１μｌ时,其测序结果比用０．５μｌ引物时好。在同样模板量情况下,１０μｌ反应体积比５μｌ反应体积可读序列长。     

Analysis of GC-rich repetitive nucleotide sequences in great apes

The genomes of four primate species, belonging to the families Pongidae (chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan) and Hylobatidae (gibbons), have been analyzed for the presence and organization of two human GC-rich heterochromatic repetitive sequences: Satellite (Sat) and LongSau (LSau) repeats. By Southern blot hybridization and PCR, both families of repeats were detected in all the analyzed species, thus indicating their origin in an ape ancestor. In the chimpanzee and gorilla, as in man, Sat sequences showed a 68-bp Sau3A periodicity and were preferentially organized in large clusters, whereas in the orangutan, they were organized in DNA fragments of 550 bp, which did not seem to be characterized by a tandem organization. On the contrary, in each of the analyzed species, the bulk of LSau sequences showed a longer Sau3A periodicity than that observed in man (450–550 bp). Furthermore, only in the chimpanzee genome some of LSau repeats seemed to be interspersed within blocks of Sat sequences. This sequence organization, which also characterizes the human genome, is probably absent in the gorilla. In fact, the analysis of a gorilla genomic library suggested that LSau repeats are not preferentially in linkage with Sat sequences. Moreover, LSau sequences were found in a genomic sector characterized by the simultaneous presence of L1 and (CA) repeats, as well as of anonymous sequences and known genes. In spite of the different sequence organization, the nucleotide differences between complete human and gorilla LSau repeats were very few, whereas one gorilla LSau repeat, interrupted by a probably-truncated L1 transposon, showed a higher degree of divergence. Besides the gorilla, this unusual sequence organization was detected in man, and, to a lesser extent, in the chimpanzee. Correspondence to: R. Meneveri     

Mutation screening by a combination of biotin-SSCP and direct sequencing

We have developed a mutation detection strategy that combines single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of one strand of a double-stranded amplification product with direct sequencing of the other. Using this strategy, which we find economical of both time and resources, we have identified a G to A transition, which substitutes a serine for glycine residue at position 862 in the major helix of the 1 chain of Type I collagen. We use this mutation, which causes a lethal form of osteogenesis imperfecta, to illustrate the technique.     

Manganese-catalyzed oligomerizations of nucleotide analogs

Summary The synthesis of pyrophosphate-linked oligomers from the bis-phosphoimidazolides of deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine, as well as from acyclic analogs of these nucleosides, is catalyzed much more effectively by Mn(II) than by Mg(II). The presence of Mn(II) reduces the extent of cyclization of the monomer-bis-phosphoimidazolide and thereby increases the yields of oligomeric products. The Mn(II)-catalyzed oligomerization is less sensitive to the presence of a complementary polynucleotide template than is the Mg(II)-catalyzed reaction.Nucleic Acid-Like Structures VII. For the previous paper in this series see Visscher et al. (1989)     

Probabilistic nucleotide assembling method for sequencing by hybridization

MOTIVATION: Developing a new method of assembling small sequences based on sequencing by hybridization with many positive and negative faults. First, an interpretation of a generic traveling salesman problem is provided (i.e. finding the shortest route for visiting many cities), using genetic algorithms. Second, positive errors are excluded before assembly by a sanitization process. RESULTS: The present method outperforms those described in previous studies, in terms of both time and accuracy. AVAILABILITY: http://kamit.med.u-tokai.ac.jp/~takaho/sbh/index.html     

Improved predictions by Pcons.net using multiple templates

Multiple templates can often be used to build more accurate homology models than models built from a single template. Here we introduce PconsM, an automated protocol that uses multiple templates to build protein models. PconsM has been among the top-performing methods in the recent CASP experiments and consistently perform better than the single template models used in Pcons.net. In particular for the easier targets with many alternative templates with a high degree of sequence identity, quality is readily improved with a few percentages over the highest ranked model built on a single template. PconsM is available as an additional pipeline within the Pcons.net protein structure prediction server. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: PconsM is freely available from http://pcons.net/.     

Rapid construction of sequencing templates by random insertion of antibiotic resistance genes

We describe a novel and handy method for generating a population of templates for sequencing. The method is based on the random insertion of antibiotic resistance gene in plasmid DNA digested by DNase I. The advantages of this approach are the small quantity of DNA necessary for mutagenesis and the complete independence from the restriction map of the plasmid. DNase I digestion provides a random distribution of the insertions, while antibiotic selection provides low background. We also present a convenient PCR-based procedure for the analysis and ordering of obtained insertion mutants.     

Improved mutation detection in GC-rich DNA fragments by combined DGGE and CDGE.

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) has proven to be a powerful pre-screening method for the detection of DNA variants. If such variants occur, however, in DNA fragments that are very rich in G and C, they may escape detection. To overcome this limitation, we tested a novel gel system which combines DGGE and constant denaturant gel electrophoresis (CDGE), as it might have the advantages of both methods. Indeed, this combination had the advantages of both methods, good separation of hetero-duplex molecules and prevention of total strand dissociation, and it proved successful in the detection of DNA variants in several GC-rich fragments.