Sequencing-by-hybridization revisited: the analog-spectrum proposal

All published approaches to DNA sequencing by hybridization (SBH) consist of the biochemical acquisition of the spectrum of a target sequence (the set of its subsequences conforming to a given probing pattern) followed by the algorithmic reconstruction of the sequence from its spectrum. In the "standard" or "uniform" approach, the probing pattern is a string of length L and the length of reliably reconstructible sequences is known to be m/sub len/ = O(2/sup L/). For a fixed microarray area, higher sequencing performance can be achieved by inserting nonprobing gaps ("wild-cards") in the probing pattern. The reconstruction, however, must cope with the emergence of fooling probes due to the gaps and algorithmic failure occurs when the spectrum becomes too densely populated, although we can achieve m/sub comp/ = O(4/sup L/). Despite the combinatorial success of gapped probing, all current approaches are based on a biochemically unrealistic spectrum-acquisition model (digital-spectrum). The reality of hybridization is much more complex. Departing from the conventional model, in this paper, we propose an alternative, called the analog-spectrum model, which more closely reflects the biochemical process. This novel modeling reestablishes probe length as the performance-governing factor, adopting "semidegenerate bases" as suitable emulators of currently inadequate universal bases. One important conclusion is that accurate biochemical measurements are pivotal to the success of SBH. The theoretical proposal presented in this paper should be a convincing stimulus for the needed biotechnological work.     

DNA sequencing by hybridization to microchip octa-and decanucleotides extended by stacked pentanucleotides.

The efficiency of sequencing by hybridization to an oligonucleotide microchip grows with an increase in the number and in the length of the oligonucleotides; however, such increases raise enormously the complexity of the microchip and decrease the accuracy of hybridization. We have been developing the technique of contiguous stacking hybridization (CSH) to circumvent these shortcomings. Stacking interactions between adjacent bases of two oligonucleotides stabilize their contiguous duplex with DNA. The use of such stacking increases the effective length of microchip oligonucleotides, enhances sequencing accuracy and allows the sequencing of longer DNA. The effects of mismatches, base composition, length and other factors on the stacking are evaluated. Contiguous stacking hybridization of DNA with immobilized 8mers and one or two 5mers labeled with two different fluorescent dyes increases the effective length of sequencing oligonucleotides from 8 to 13 and 18 bases, respectively. The incorporation of all four bases or 5-nitroindole as a universal base into different positions of the 5mers permitted a decrease in the number of additional rounds of hybridization. Contiguous stacking hybridization appears to be a promising approach to significantly increasing the efficiency of sequencing by hybridization.     

Large scale sequencing by hybridization.

Sequencing by hybridization is a method for reconstructing a DNA sequence based on its k-mer content. This content, called the spectrum of the sequence, can be obtained from hybridization with a universal DNA chip. However, even with a sequencing chip containing all 4(9) 9-mers and assuming no hybridization errors, only about 400-bases-long sequences can be reconstructed unambiguously. Drmanac et al. (1989) suggested sequencing long DNA targets by obtaining spectra of many short overlapping fragments of the target, inferring their relative positions along the target, and then computing spectra of subfragments that are short enough to be uniquely recoverable. Drmanac et al. do not treat the realistic case of errors in the hybridization process. In this paper, we study the effect of such errors. We show that the probability of ambiguous reconstruction in the presence of (false negative) errors is close to the probability in the errorless case. More precisely, the ratio between these probabilities is 1 + O(p = (1 - p)(4). 1 = d) where d is the average length of subfragments, and p is the probability of a false negative. We also obtain lower and upper bounds for the probability of unambiguous reconstruction based on an errorless spectrum. For realistic chip sizes, these bounds are tighter than those given by Arratia et al. (1996). Finally, we report results on simulations with real DNA sequences, showing that even in the presence of 50% false negative errors, a target of cosmid length can be recovered with less than 0.1% miscalled bases.     

Optimal reconstruction of a sequence from its probes.

An important combinatorial problem, motivated by DNA sequencing in molecular biology, is the reconstruction of a sequence over a small finite alphabet from the collection of its probes (the sequence spectrum), obtained by sliding a fixed sampling pattern over the sequence. Such construction is required for Sequencing-by-Hybridization (SBH), a novel DNA sequencing technique based on an array (SBH chip) of short nucleotide sequences (probes). Once the sequence spectrum is biochemically obtained, a combinatorial method is used to reconstruct the DNA sequence from its spectrum. Since technology limits the number of probes on the SBH chip, a challenging combinatorial question is the design of a smallest set of probes that can sequence an arbitrary DNA string of a given length. We present in this work a novel probe design, crucially based on the use of universal bases [bases that bind to any nucleotide (Loakes and Brown, 1994)] that drastically improves the performance of the SBH process and asymptotically approaches the information-theoretic bound up to a constant factor. Furthermore, the sequencing algorithm we propose is substantially simpler than the Eulerian path method used in previous solutions of this problem.     

Handling long targets and errors in sequencing by hybridization.

Sequencing by hybridization (SBH) is a DNA sequencing technique, in which the sequence is reconstructed using its k-mer content. This content, which is called the spectrum of the sequence, is obtained by hybridization to a universal DNA array. Standard universal arrays contain all k-mers for some fixed k, typically 8 to 10. Currently, in spite of its promise and elegance, SBH is not competitive with standard gel-based sequencing methods. This is due to two main reasons: lack of tools to handle realistic levels of hybridization errors and an inherent limitation on the length of uniquely reconstructible sequence by standard universal arrays. In this paper, we deal with both problems. We introduce a simple polynomial reconstruction algorithm which can be applied to spectra from standard arrays and has provable performance in the presence of both false negative and false positive errors. We also propose a novel design of chips containing universal bases that differs from the one proposed by Preparata et al. (1999). We give a simple algorithm that uses spectra from such chips to reconstruct with high probability random sequences of length lower only by a squared log factor compared to the information theoretic bound. Our algorithm is very robust to errors and has a provable performance even if there are both false negative and false positive errors. Simulations indicate that its sensitivity to errors is also very small in practice.     

3-Nitropyrrole and 5-nitroindole as universal bases in primers for DNA sequencing and PCR.

3-Nitropyrrole and 5-nitroindole have been assessed as universal bases in primers for dideoxy DNA sequencing and in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In contrast to a previous report, we have found that the introduction of more than one 3-nitropyrrole residue at dispersed positions into primers significantly reduced their efficiency in PCR and sequencing reactions. Primers containing 5-nitroindole at multiple dispersed positions were similarly affected; for both bases only a small number of substitutions were tolerated. In PCR experiments neither base, when incorporated into primers in codon third positions, was as effective as hypoxanthine, which was incorporated in six codon third positions in a 20mer oligomer. However, primers containing up to four consecutive 5-nitroindole substitutions performed well in both PCR and sequencing reactions. Consecutive 3-nitropyrrole substitutions were tolerated, but less well in comparable reactions.     

Sequencing-by-hybridization at the information-theory bound: an optimal algorithm.

In a recent paper (Preparata et aL, 1999) we introduced a novel probing scheme for DNA sequencing by hybridization (SBH). The new gapped-probe scheme combines natural and universal bases in a well-defined periodic pattern. It has been shown (Preparata et al, 1999) that the performance of the gapped-probe scheme (in terms of the length of a sequence that can be uniquely reconstructed using a given size library of probes) is significantly better than the standard scheme based on oligomer probes. In this paper we present and analyze a new, more powerful, sequencing algorithm for the gapped-probe scheme. We prove that the new algorithm exploits the full potential of the SBH technology with high-confidence performance that comes within a small constant factor (about 2) of the information-theory bound. Moreover, this performance is achieved while maintaining running time linear in the target sequence length.     

An oligonucleotide microarray bait for isolation of target gene fragments

A new molecular-baiting method was studied by retrieving targeted gene fragments from an oligonucleotide microarray bait after hybridization. To make the microarray bait, 70-mer oligonucleotides that were designed to specifically represent the SSA1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were printed on the slide. Samples of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mRNA were extracted and labeled by the RD-PCR (Restriction Display PCR) method using the Cy5-labelled universal primer, then applied for hybridization. The sample fragments that hybridized to the microarray were stripped, and the eluted cDNAs were retrieved and cloned into the pMD 18-T vector for transformation, plasmid preparation, and sequencing. BLAST searching of the GenBank database identified the retrieved fragments as being identical to the SSA1 gene (from 2057-2541bp). A new method is being established that can retrieve the sample fragments using an oligo-microarray-bait.     

Solution structure and dynamics of DNA duplexes containing the universal base analogues 5-nitroindole and 5-nitroindole 3-carboxamide

Universal bases hybridize with all other natural DNA or RNA bases, and have applications in PCR and sequencing. We have analysed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy the structure and dynamics of three DNA oligonucleotides containing the universal base analogues 5-nitroindole and 5-nitroindole-3-carboxamide. In all systems studied, both the 5-nitroindole nucleotide and the opposing nucleotide adopt a standard anti conformation and are fully stacked within the DNA duplex. The 5-nitroindole bases do not base pair with the nucleotide opposite them, but intercalate between this base and an adjacent Watson–Crick pair. In spite of their smooth accommodation within the DNA double-helix, the 5-nitroindole-containing duplexes exist as a dynamic mixture of two different stacking configurations exchanging fast on the chemical shift timescale. These configurations depend on the relative intercalating positions of the universal base and the opposing base, and their exchange implies nucleotide opening motions on the millisecond time range. The structure of these nitroindole-containing duplexes explains the mechanism by which these artificial moieties behave as universal bases.     

Deoxyribonuclease I generates single-stranded gaps in chromatin deoxyribonucleic acid

Production of 10-base multiple DNA ladder fragments during DNase I digestion of chromatin is explained by a model which does not involve site-specific nicking by the DNase I. This model was tested because it explains why 10-base (actually 10.4 base) multiple-related fragments are paradoxically generated by both endonucleolytic (DNase I) and exonucleolytic (exonuclease III) mechanisms. This new model also explains the phenomenon of substantial single-stranded DNA production during DNase I digestion of chromatin. The latter phenomenon has been widely observed but is not explained by previous models. The single-stranded gap model to be presented makes testable predictions. Primarily, these are that DNase I produces single-stranded gaps in chromatin DNA and that the termini of 10-base multiple ladder fragments are separated by single-stranded gaps. Single-stranded gap production by DNase I was confirmed by a number of methods. Sensitivity of ladder band components (from DNase I but not staphylococcal nuclease digests) to S1 nuclease suggested that the ladder fragments themselves may compose a significant portion of these gaps. Separation of ladder fragment termini by single-stranded gaps was verified by demonstrating both resistance to the nick-specific NAD+-dependent ligase and sensitivity to T4 ligase which can ligate across gaps. Many single-stranded gaps, occurring both individually and clusters, were observed by electron microscopy using either cytochrome c labeling (where the gaps) are thinner than duplex) or gene 32 protein labeling (gaps thicker than duplex). Gap sizes were estimated by protecting them with gene 32 protein and digesting away unprotected duplexes. By this method, gap sizes fall into a ladder distribution (from 10 or 20 bases up to 120 bases), which, at least in the region of the shorter sizes, clearly indicates the sizes of single-stranded gaps formed in chromatin by DNase I.     

Construction and utility of 10-kb libraries for efficient clone-gap closure for rice genome sequencing

Rice is an important crop and a model system for monocot genomics, and is a target for whole genome sequencing by the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP). The IRGSP is using a clone by clone approach to sequence rice based on minimum tiles of BAC or PAC clones. For chromosomes 10 and 3 we are using an integrated physical map based on two fingerprinted and end-sequenced BAC libraries to identifying a minimum tiling path of clones. In this study we constructed and tested two rice genomic libraries with an average insert size of 10 kb (10-kb library) to support the gap closure and finishing phases of the rice genome sequencing project. The HaeIII library contains 166,752 clones covering approximately 4.6x rice genome equivalents with an average insert size of 10.5 kb. The Sau3AI library contains 138,960 clones covering 4.2x genome equivalents with an average insert size of 11.6 kb. Both libraries were gridded in duplicate onto 11 high-density filters in a 5 x 5 pattern to facilitate screening by hybridization. The libraries contain an unbiased coverage of the rice genome with less than 5% contamination by clones containing organelle DNA or no insert. An efficient method was developed, consisting of pooled overgo hybridization, the selection of 10-kb gap spanning clones using end sequences, transposon sequencing and utilization of in silico draft sequence, to close relatively small gaps between sequenced BAC clones. Using this method we were able to close a majority of the gaps (up to approximately 50 kb) identified during the finishing phase of chromosome-10 sequencing. This method represents a useful way to close clone gaps and thus to complete the entire rice genome.     

Sequencing by Cyclic Ligation and Cleavage (CycLiC) directly on a microarray captured template

Next generation sequencing methods that can be applied to both the resequencing of whole genomes and to the selective resequencing of specific parts of genomes are needed. We describe (i) a massively scalable biochemistry, Cyclical Ligation and Cleavage (CycLiC) for contiguous base sequencing and (ii) apply it directly to a template captured on a microarray. CycLiC uses four color-coded DNA/RNA chimeric oligonucleotide libraries (OL) to extend a primer, a base at a time, along a template. The cycles comprise the steps: (i) ligation of OLs, (ii) identification of extended base by label detection, and (iii) cleavage to remove label/terminator and undetermined bases. For proof-of-principle, we show that the method conforms to design and that we can read contiguous bases of sequence correctly from a template captured by hybridization from solution to a microarray probe. The method is amenable to massive scale-up, miniaturization and automation. Implementation on a microarray format offers the potential for both selection and sequencing of a large number of genomic regions on a single platform. Because the method uses commonly available reagents it can be developed further by a community of users.     

Properties of short double-stranded RNAs carrying randomized base pairs: toward better controls for RNAi experiments

Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are mediators of RNA interference (RNAi), a commonly used technique for selective down-regulation of target gene expression. Using an equimolar mixture of A, G, C, and U phosphoramidites during solid-phase synthesis, we introduced degenerate positions into RNA guide and passenger strands so that, when annealed, a large pool of distinct siRNA duplexes with randomized base pairs at defined sites was created. We assessed the randomization efficiency by deep sequencing one of the RNAs. All possible individual sequences were present in the pool with generally an excellent distribution of bases. Melting temperature analyses suggested that pools of randomized guide and passenger strands RNAs with up to eight degenerate positions annealed so that mismatched base-pairing was minimized. Transfections of randomized siRNAs (rnd-siRNAs) into cells led to inhibition of luciferase reporters by a miRNA-like mechanism when the seed regions of rnd-siRNA guide strands were devoid of degenerate positions. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of a select set of genes associated with siRNA off-target effects were measured and indicated that rnd-siRNAs with degenerate positions in the seed likely show typical non-sequence-specific effects, but not miRNA-like off-target effects. In the wake of recent reports showing the preponderance of miRNA-like off-target effects of siRNAs, our findings are of value for the design of a novel class of easily prepared and universally applicable negative siRNA controls.     

Universal bases for hybridization, replication and chain termination

Several unnatural, predominantly hydrophobic nucleobases that pack efficiently in duplex DNA without hydrogen bonding functionalities are reported to circumvent the hydrogen bonding-based specificity, both during oligonucleotide hybridization and enzymatic DNA synthesis. The reported nucleoside analogs are efficient ‘universal bases’ for hybridization, template directed DNA synthesis and chain termination. Moreover, several of the universal bases function in their biological role, hybridization or replication, with an efficiency not significantly reduced relative to their natural counterparts.     

Multiple hybridization-extension sequencing (MHES) on microarray

Sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) by fluorescein-labelled nucleotide incorporating into a target DNA template has been greatly concerned on microarray. The extended fluorophore-base must be required to be quenched prior to sequencing the next one. However, the low quenching efficiency has been an obstacle in length-read. Here, we present a new sequencing strategy, multiple hybridization-extension sequencing (MHES), to resolve the above problem. First, the sequencing primers hybridize to the ssDNA template immobilized on microarray. The first 3-5 bases next to the primer's end are sequenced by SBS of Cy5-dNTP. The extended primers are rapidly removed by lambda DNA exonuclease. Then, the same primers hybridize to the same ssDNA templates again. The sequenced bases are polished by natural dNTP. The other 3-5 bases next to the polished primer's end are sequenced. According to this principle, the unknown sequences of a target DNA could be sequenced after primers' hybridization-extension multiple times. Although the fluorescein-labelled nucleotides are also needed, it is unnecessary to quench the fluorophore-bases in the process of sequencing. It has been successfully demonstrated that 10 bp fragment from synthetic template and 10 bp fragment from DTBNP1 gene were accurately sequenced. The new method has a great potential in read-length and high-throughput sequencing on microarray.     

基于磁性颗粒“在位”PCR和通用标签技术的新型高通量SNP分型方法

单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)在对复杂疾病遗传易感性以及基于群体基因识别等方面的研究中起着非常重要的作用,尤其是对复杂疾病遗传易感性的研究,需要对大量样本进行分型.为了满足这种要求,亟待需要发展一种操作简单、成本较低、适于自动化和高通量的分型技术.利用磁性颗粒"在位"固相PCR(insituMPs-PCR)扩增的靶序列,通过与野生、突变标签探针以及双色荧光(Cy3,Cy5)通用检测子杂交实现对样本的分型.应用该方法,对96个样本的亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(MTHFR)基因C677T位点的多态性进行了检测,其野生型和突变型样本的正错配信号比大于4.5,杂合型正错配信号比接近1,分型结果与测序结果一致.     

A highly specific microarray method for point mutation detection

Improvements of microarray techniques for genotyping purposes have focused on increasing the reliability of this method. Here we report the development of a genotyping method where a microarray was spotted with stemloop probes, especially designed to optimize the hybridization specificity of complementary DNA sequences. This accurate method was used to screen for four common disease-causing mutations involved in a neurological disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Healthy individuals' and patients' DNA were amplified and labeled by PCR and hybridized on microarray. The spot signal intensities were 81 to 408 times greater for perfect compared with mismatched target sequences, differing by only one nucleotide (discrimination ratio) for healthy individual "homozygous" DNA. On the other hand, "heterozygous" mutant DNA samples gave rise to signal intensity ratios close to 1, as expected. The genotypes obtained by this method were perfectly consistent with those determined by direct PCR sequencing. Cross-hybridization rates were very low, resulting in further multiplexing improvements. In this study, we also demonstrated the feasibility of real-time hybridization detection of labeled synthetic oligonucleotides with concentrations as low as 2.5 nM.     

Position of the fluorescent label is a crucial factor determining signal intensity in microarray hybridizations

A key issue in applications of short oligonucleotide-based microarrays is how to design specific probes with high sensitivity. Some details of the factors affecting microarray hybridization remain unclear, hampering a reliable quantification of target nucleic acids. We have evaluated the effect of the position of the fluorescent label [position of label (POL)] relative to the probe-target duplex on the signal output of oligonucleotide microarrays. End-labelled single-stranded DNA targets of different lengths were used for hybridization with perfect-match oligonucleotide probe sets targeting different positions of the same molecule. Hybridization results illustrated that probes targeting the labelled terminus of the target showed significantly higher signals than probes targeting other regions. This effect was independent of the target gene, the fluorophore and the slide surface chemistry. Comparison of microarray signal patterns of fluorescently end-labelled, fluorescently internally random-labelled and radioactively end-labelled target-DNAs with the same set of oligonucleotide probes identified POL as a critical factor affecting signal intensity rather than binding efficiency. Our observations define a novel determinant for large differences of signal intensities. Application of the POL effect may contribute to better probe design and data interpretation in microarray applications.     

Rapid genome sequencing with short universal tiling probes

The increasing availability of high-quality reference genomic sequences has created a demand for ways to survey the sequence differences present in individual genomes. Here we describe a DNA sequencing method based on hybridization of a universal panel of tiling probes. Millions of shotgun fragments are amplified in situ and subjected to sequential hybridization with short fluorescent probes. Long fragments of 200 bp facilitate unique placement even in large genomes. The sequencing chemistry is simple, enzyme-free and consumes only dilute solutions of the probes, resulting in reduced sequencing cost and substantially increased speed. A prototype instrument based on commonly available equipment was used to resequence the Bacteriophage lambda and Escherichia coli genomes to better than 99.93% accuracy with a raw throughput of 320 Mbp/day, albeit with a significant number of small gaps attributed to losses in sample preparation.     

Robust and efficient synthetic method for forming DNA microarrays

The field of DNA microarray technology has necessitated the cooperative efforts of interdisciplinary scientific teams to achieve its primary goal of rapidly measuring global gene expression patterns. A collaborative effort was established to produce a chemically reactive surface on glass slide substrates to which unmodified DNA will covalently bind for improvement of cDNA microarray technology. Using the p-aminophenyl trimethoxysilane (ATMS)/diazotization chemistry that was developed, microarrays were fabricated and analyzed. This immobilization method produced uniform spots containing equivalent or greater amounts of DNA than commercially available immobilization techniques. In addition, hybridization analyses of microarrays made with ATMS/diazotization chemistry showed very sensitive detection of the target sequence, two to three orders of magnitude more sensitive than the commercial chemistries. Repeated stripping and re-hybridization of these slides showed that DNA loss was minimal, allowing multiple rounds of hybridization. Thus, the ATMS/diazotization chemistry facilitated covalent binding of unmodified DNA, and the reusable microarrays that were produced showed enhanced levels of hybridization and very low background fluorescence.