High-density polymerase-mediated incorporation of fluorochrome-labeled nucleotides

The Toolbox for Modified Aptamers

Aptamers are nucleic acid-based scaffolds that can bind with high affinity to a variety of biological targets. Aptamers are identified from large DNA or RNA libraries through a process of directed molecular evolution (SELEX). Chemical modification of nucleic acids considerably increases the functional and structural diversity of aptamer libraries and substantially increases the affinity of the aptamers. Additionally, modified aptamers exhibit much greater resistance to biodegradation. The evolutionary selection of modified aptamers is conditioned by the possibility of the enzymatic synthesis and replication of non-natural nucleic acids. Wild-type or mutant polymerases and their non-natural nucleotide substrates that can support SELEX are highlighted in the present review. A focus is made on the efforts to find the most suitable type of nucleotide modifications and the engineering of new polymerases. Post-SELEX modification as a complementary method will be briefly considered as well.

Nanochannel confinement: DNA stretch approaching full contour length

Fully stretched DNA molecules are becoming a fundamental component of new systems for comprehensive genome analysis. Among a number of approaches for elongating DNA molecules, nanofluidic molecular confinement has received enormous attentions from physical and biological communities for the last several years. Here we demonstrate a well-optimized condition that a DNA molecule can stretch almost to its full contour length: the average stretch is 19.1 µm ± 1.1 µm for YOYO-1 stained λ DNA (21.8 µm contour length) in 250 nm × 400 nm channel, which is the longest stretch value ever reported in any nanochannels or nanoslits. In addition, based on Odijk's polymer physics theory, we interpret our experimental findings as a function of channel dimensions and ionic strengths. Furthermore, we develop a Monte Carlo simulation approach using a primitive model for the rigorous understanding of DNA confinement effects. Collectively, we present a more complete understanding of nanochannel confined DNA stretching via the comparisons to computer simulation results and Odijk's polymer physics theory.

Consecutive incorporation of fluorophore-labeled nucleotides by mammalian DNA polymerase beta

In the present study, we investigated mammalian polymerases that consecutively incorporate various fluorophore-labeled nucleotides. We found that rat DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) consecutively incorporated fluorophore-labeled nucleotides to a greater extent than four bacterial polymerases, Sequenase Version 2.0, Vent(R) (exo-), DNA polymerase IIIalpha and the Klenow fragment, and the mammalian polymerases DNA polymerase alpha and human DNA polymerase delta, under mesophilic conditions. Furthermore, we investigated the kinetics of correct or mismatched incorporation with labeled nucleotides during synthesis by rat pol beta. The kinetic parameters K(m) and k(cat) were measured and used for evaluating: (i) the discrimination against correct pair incorporation of labeled nucleotides relative to unlabeled nucleotides; and (ii) the fidelity for all nucleotide combinations of mismatched pairs in the presence of labeled or unlabeled nucleotides. We also investigated the effect of fluorophore-labeled nucleotides on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity of rat pol beta. We have demonstrated for the first time that mammalian pol beta can consecutively incorporate various fluorophore-labeled dNTPs. These findings suggest that pol beta is useful for high-density labeling of DNA probes and single-molecule sequencing for high-speed genome analysis.

CyDNA: synthesis and replication of highly Cy-dye substituted DNA by an evolved polymerase

DNA not only transmits genetic information but can also serve as a versatile supramolecular scaffold. Here we describe a strategy for the synthesis and replication of DNA displaying hundreds of substituents using directed evolution of polymerase function by short-patch compartmentalized self-replication (spCSR) and the widely used fluorescent dye labeled deoxinucleotide triphosphates Cy3-dCTP and Cy5-dCTP as substrates. In just two rounds of spCSR selection, we have isolated a polymerase that allows the PCR amplification of double stranded DNA fragments up to 1kb, in which all dC bases are substituted by its fluorescent dye-labeled equivalent Cy3- or Cy5-dC. The resulting "CyDNA" displays hundreds of aromatic heterocycles on the outside of the DNA helix and is brightly colored and highly fluorescent. CyDNA also exhibits significantly altered physicochemical properties compared to standard B-form DNA, including loss of silica and intercalating dye binding, resistance to cleavage by some endonucleases, an up to 40% increased apparent diameter as judged by atomic force microscopy and organic phase partitioning during phenol extraction. CyDNA also displays very bright fluorescence enabling significant signal gains in microarray and microfluidic applications. CyDNA represents a step toward a long-term goal of the encoded synthesis of DNA-based polymers of programmable and evolvable sequence and properties.

New Generations: Sequencing Machines and Their Computational Challenges

New generation sequencing systems are changing how molecular biology is practiced. The widely promoted $1000 genome will be a reality with attendant changes for healthcare, including personalized medicine. More broadly the genomes of many new organisms with large samplings from populations will be commonplace. What is less appreciated is the explosive demands on computation, both for CPU cycles and storage as well as the need for new computational methods. In this article we will survey some of these developments and demands.

Elongation and migration of single DNA molecules in microchannels using oscillatory shear flows

Much of modern biology relies on the strategic manipulation of molecules for creating ordered arrays prior to high throughput molecular analysis. Normally, DNA arrays involve deposition on surfaces, or confinement in nanochannels; however, we show that microfluidic devices can present stretched molecules within a controlled flow in ways complementing surface modalities, or extreme confinement conditions. Here we utilize pressure-driven oscillatory shear flows generated in microchannels as a new way of stretching DNA molecules for imaging "arrays" of individual DNA molecules. Fluid shear effects both stretch DNA molecules and cause them to migrate away from the walls becoming focused in the centerline of a channel. We show experimental findings confirming simulations using Brownian dynamics accounting for hydrodynamic interactions between molecules and channel-flow boundary conditions. Our findings characterize DNA elongation and migration phenomena as a function of molecular size, shear rate, oscillatory frequency with comparisons to computer simulation studies.

Rapid sequencing gel electrophoresis using glycerol-tolerant sodium taurine medium

We describe a new glycerol-tolerant sodium taurine (ST) medium for rapid sequencing gel electrophoresis by substituting the standard conductive media of Tris-boric acid-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (TBE) and Tris-taurine-EDTA (TTE) and other low-ionic-strength media of sodium boric acid (SB). Low-ionic-strength and cost-effective ST media gave glycerol tolerance up to 50% (v/v) glycerol-containing DNA sample solution, shorter running time, and better resolution to separate small DNA oligonucleotides (20-45 mer) in 12% denaturing sequencing gel electrophoresis.

Imaging and analysis of transcription on large, surface-mounted single template DNA molecules

A surface-based approach is described for the transcriptional analysis of large, single DNA molecule templates and their imaged reaction products using RNA polymerase (RNAP). Results demonstrated that surfaces with a charge density supporting stretching of single DNA molecules to 70-80% of their full contour length were ideal for analysis of T7 RNAP transcription complexes on bound single template DNAs. Such DNA molecules were shown to sustain efficient transcription reactions and analysis, which enabled localization of transcription complexes on templates at kilobase resolution. Direct labeling of nascent RNA transcripts by the incorporation of a second fluorochrome into DNA templates promotes more robust and sensitive detection of punctates. Further characterization by RNase digestions, atomic force microscopy studies, and fluoro-immunolabeling revealed a "supercomplex" structure within a punctate where elongation complexes aggregate through entanglement of DNA and RNA strands from individual ternary elongation complexes. We have proposed mechanisms that underlie the supercomplex formation process. Whereas supercomplexes develop naturally in free solution, spatial constraints involved in a topologically limited system where template DNA is bound to the surface may facilitate the assembling process by stalling transcriptional elongation.

Highly parallel genomic assays

Recent developments in highly parallel genome-wide assays are transforming the study of human health and disease. High-resolution whole-genome association studies of complex diseases are finally being undertaken after much hypothesizing about their merit for finding disease loci. The availability of inexpensive high-density SNP-genotyping arrays has made this feasible. Cancer biology will also be transformed by high-resolution genomic and epigenomic analysis. In the future, most cancers might be staged by high-resolution molecular profiling rather than by gross cytological analysis. Here, we describe the key developments that enable highly parallel genomic assays.

Towards single-molecule DNA sequencing: assays with low nonspecific adsorption

New DNA sequencing techniques are currently being developed using single-molecule fluorescence-based detection of enzymatic double-strand synthesis. Such application requires surface architectures on which single-stranded templates can be immobilized. A further important attribute is a very low tendency to attract fluorescently labeled bases nonspecifically. On this account, the adsorption behaviour of Cy5-dNTPs on a variety of surface coatings was studied by performing real-time measurements of the DNA synthesis using a supercritical angle fluorescence biosensor. It is demonstrated that polyacrylic acid coatings are an excellent choice to minimize the nonspecific binding of the bases.