DNA sequencing primers

There are two techniques for polynucleotide synthesis that are applied for the production of medium- to large-sized DNA. PCR is commonly utilized for amplification or modification of medium-sized DNA motifs (150-10,000 base pairs). For larger DNA sequences (>10,000 base pairs), genetic engineering is preferred. Both require solid phase synthesis of DNA sequences primers for PCR or short DNA pieces for gene assembly in genetic engineering methods. 

PCR can also be used to modify DNA sequences using primers differing at one or several positions from the target sequence. This is possible because PCR does not require perfect complementarity of a primer to the sequence flanking the target. Since all of the PCR products contain the primer sequence, an insertion or deletion can thus be incorporated into the product by modifying a primer. It is also possible to add new sequences to the 5 -ends of the primers. Modified or additional genetic information may thus be multiplied and transr ported. 

DNA polymerase enzymes all synthesize DNA by adding deoxynucleotides to the free 3 -OH group of an RNA or DNA primer sequence. The identity of the inserted nucleotide is deterrnined by its abiHty to base-pair with the template nucleic acid. The dependence of synthesis on a primer oligonucleotide means that synthesis of DNA proceeds only in a 5%o V direction if only one primer is available, all newly synthesized DNA sequences begin at the same point. 

Fig. 6. DNA sequence analysis, (a) Simplified methodology for dideoxy sequencing. A primer, 5 -TCTA, hybridized to the template, is used to initiate synthesis by DNA polymerase, (b) Stmcture of 2, 3 -dideoxy CTP. When no 3 -OH functionaUty is available to support addition of another nucleotide to the growing chain, synthesis terminates once this residue is incorporated into the synthetic reaction, (c) Representation of a DNA sequencing gel and the sequence, read from bottom to the top of the gel, gives sequence information in the conventional 5 to 3 direction.

PGR amplification of a DNA sequence is faciHtated by the use of a heat-stable DNA polymerase, Taq polymerase (TM), derived from the thermostable bacterium Thermus aquaticus. The thermostable polymerase allows the repeated steps of strand separation, primer annealing, and DNA synthesis to be carried out ia a single reactioa mixture where the temperature is cycled automatically. Each cycle coasists of a high temperature step to deaature the template strands, a lower temperature annealing of the primer and template, and a higher temperature synthesis step. AH components of the reaction are present ia the same tube. 

In recent years, automated DNA sequencing machines capable of identifying about 10 bases per day have become commercially available. One clever innovation has been the use of fluorescent dyes of different colors to uniquely label the primer DNA introduced into the four sequencing reactions for example, red for the A reaction, blue for T, green for G, and yellow for C. Then, all four reaction mixtures can be combined and run together on one electrophoretic... 

The second NIST human DNA SRM is a PCR-based DNA Profiling Standard. The PCR was first described by Saiki et al. (1985,1989). Since then it has developed into a highly versatile and widely used detection, identification, manipulation and analysis tool in molecular biology, including DNA profiling. In brief, two short synthetic oligonucleotides, or primers, are used to define an intervening DNA sequence... 

PCR a technique for making many copies of a specific DNA sequence. The reaction is initiated using a pair of short primer sequences which match the ends of the sequence to be copied. Thereafter, each cycle of the reaction copies the sequence between the primers. Primers can bind to the copies as well as the original sequence, so the total number of copies increases exponentially with time. 

Smith, L.M., Fung, S., Hunkapiller, M.W., Hunkapiller, T.J., and Hood, L.E. (1985) The synthesis of oligonucleotides containing an aliphatic amino group at the 5 terminus Synthesis of fluorescent DNA primers for use in DNA sequence analysis. Nucleic Acids Res. 13, 2399-2412. 

In addition to a template (a DNA sequence that specifies the order in which the nucleotides will be jointed), DNA polymerase requires a primer. A primer is a short piece of DNA or RNA that is complemen-... 

PCR is a technique for in vitro amplification of DNA sequences that involves repeated cycles of denaturation, oligonucleotide annealing, and DNA polymerase extension [29], The amplified products following PCR cycles contain double-stranded DNA fragments of discrete length. These DNAs are copies of the template DNA that are bounded at the 5 -terminus by the oligonucleotide primer for the sequence extension with a heat-resistant DNA polymerase. In quantitative assays of PCR products, therefore, nonspecific products interfere with the assay. 

Figure 13.16 The polymerase chain reaction for the amplification of DNA sequences. DNA is heated to separate the two strands. A primer is attached to the 5 end of each strand and extended using DNA polymerase 1. The two new strands are separated as before and the cycle repeated up to 30 times.

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