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Home >> Biotechnology and Genomics >> Isolation, Sequencing and Synthesis of Genes >> DNA Sequencing Through Transcription

DNA Sequencing Through Transcription
Recently, DNA sequencing was successfully achieved using RNA polymerase enzyme for transcription, instead of using 'sequenase' or 'thermo-sequenase' used in Sanger's dideoxynucleotide method of chain termination. This method of sequencing described as 'transcriptional sequencing' makes use of 3' dNTPs for terminating transcription in the same manner as ddNTPs are used for terminating DNA synthesis in Sanger's method (whenever 3'dNTP is available at 3' position, no OH or PO4 group will be available for the formation of phosphodiester bond).

The 3'dNTP can be labeled with fluorescent (rhodamine) dyes, so that four dNTPs with for colour dyes (TMR-3'dUTP, ROX-3'dCTP, R6G-3'dATP, RII0-3'dGTP) can be used along with sufficient quantities of all -the four NTPs (ribonucleoside triphosphates). This will allow RNA synthesis to proceed normally with the help of RNAP, till occasionally a 3'dNTP (dye labelled) is incorporated. This will yield RNA chains of different lengths, each having at its terminus, a specific dNTP, which will be identified by its colour on an automatic sequencer.

The method is believed to be superior, firstly, because incorporation of NTP during transcription does not require a primer, thus making it faster (240 bases/see) than DNA replication by Taq polymerase (60 bases/see), secondly, because a large amount of product can be obtained from small template (600 molecules of RNA from one DNA molecule), and thirdly, because direct PCR sequencing can be done, without the elimination of primers and, 2' -dNTPs.

The template in this method will have to be prepared by PCR using primers, to which phage promoter sequences are appended, which facilitate binding of RNAP for transcription. The residual primers and 2' dNTPs need not be removed, because they will not interfere with RNA synthesis during transcription.

 

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