Microchip Electrophoresis of Tagged Probes Incorporated with One-Colored ddNTP for Analyzing Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms

DNA mutation detection and analysis using miniaturized microfluidic systems

Identification of genetic sequence variations occurring on a population-wide scale is key to unraveling the complex interactions that are the underlying cause of many medical disorders and diseases. A critical need exists, however, for advanced technology to enable DNA mutation analysis to be performed with significantly higher throughput and at significantly lower cost than is currently attainable. Microfluidic systems offer an attractive platform to address these needs by combining the ability to perform rapid analysis with a simplified device format that can be inexpensively mass-produced. This paper will review recent progress toward developing these next-generation systems and discuss challenges associated with adapting these technologies for routine laboratory use.

High-sensitive electrochemical detection of point mutation based on polymerization-induced enzymatic amplification

Here a highly sensitive electrochemical method is described for the detection of point mutation in DNA. Polymerization extension reaction is applied to specifically initiate enzymatic electrochemical amplification to improve the sensitivity and enhance the performance of point mutation detection. In this work, 5'-thiolated DNA probe sequences complementary to the wild target DNA are assembled on the gold electrode. In the presence of wild target DNA, the probe is extended by DNA polymerase over the free segment of target as the template. After washing with NaOH solution, the target DNA is removed while the elongated probe sequence remains on the sensing surface. Via hybridizing to the designed biotin-labeled detection probe, the extended sequence is capable of capturing detection probe. After introducing streptavidin-conjugated alkaline phosphatase (SA-ALP), the specific binding between streptavidin and biotin mediates a catalytic reaction of ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA-P) substrate to produce a reducing agent ascorbic acid (AA). Then the silver ions in solution are reduced by AA, leading to the deposition of silver metal onto the electrode surface. The amount of deposited silver which is determined by the amount of wild target can be quantified by the linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The present approach proved to be capable of detecting the wild target DNA down to a detection limit of 1.0×10(-14) M in a wide target concentration range and identifying -28 site (A to G) of the β-thalassemia gene, demonstrating that this scheme offers a highly sensitive and specific approach for point mutation detection.

Cationic conjugated polymers for optical detection of DNA methylation, lesions, and single nucleotide polymorphisms

Simple, rapid, and sensitive technologies to detect nucleic acid modifications have important applications in genetic analysis, clinical diagnosis, and molecular biology. Because genetic modifications such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), DNA methylation, and other lesions can serve as hallmarks of human disease, interest in such methods has increased in recent years. This Account describes a new strategy for the optical detection of these DNA targets using cationic conjugated polymers (CCPs). Because of their unique signal amplification properties, researchers have extensively investigated conjugated polymers as optical transducers in highly sensitive biosensors. Recently, we have shown that cationic polyfluorene can detect SNPs within the DNA of clinical samples. When we incorporated deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP-Fl) into the DNA chain at an SNP site where the target/probe pair is complementary, we observed higher fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency between cationic polyfluorene and fluorescein label on the dGTP. By monitoring the change in emission intensity of cationic polyfluorene or fluorescein, we identified the homozygous or heterozygous SNP. The high sensitivity of this assay results from the 10-fold enhancement of fluorescein emission intensity by the FRET from polyfluorene. This method can detect allele frequencies (the proportion of all copies of a gene that is made up of a particular gene variant) as low as 2%. Using this novel method, we clearly discriminated among the SNP genotypes of 76 individuals of Chinese ancestry. Improving on this initial system, we designed a method for multicolor and one-tube SNP genotyping assays based on cationic polyfluorene using fluorescein-labeled deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP-Fl) and Cy3-labeled deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP-Cy3) in extension reactions. We also developed a one-step method for direct detection of SNP genotypes from genomic DNA by combining allele-specific PCR with CCPs. In 2008, we developed a new method for DNA methylation detection based on single base extension reaction and CCPs. Treatment of DNA with bisulfite followed by PCR amplification converts unmethylated DNA into a C/T polymorphism, which allows us to characterize the methylation status of the target DNA. Furthermore, we used CCPs to detect DNA lesions caused by ultraviolet light irradiation for the first time. By monitoring the color change of cationic polythiophene before and after DNA cleavage, we also detected oxidative damage to DNA by hydroxyl radical. These CCP-based new assays avoid primer labeling, cumbersome workups, and sophisticated instruments, leading to simpler procedures and improved sensitivity. We expect that these features could lead to major advances in human disease diagnostics and genomic study in the near future.

Homogeneous and label-free fluorescence detection of single-nucleotide polymorphism using target-primed branched rolling circle amplification

We present a simple, sensitive, and cost-effective fluorescent assay of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with target-primed branched rolling circle amplification (TPBRCA). Designed padlock probe is circularized after perfect hybridization to mutant DNA. Then rolling circle amplification (RCA) reaction can be initiated from the mutant DNA that acts as primer and generates a long tandem single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) product. At the same time, the introduction of a reverse primer complementary to the target-primed RCA products leads to the branched RCA and eventually generates the various lengths of ssDNA and double-stranded DNA products, which are sensitively detected using SYBR Green I (SG) fluorescence dye. In contrast, the wild DNA contains a single mismatched base with the padlock probe and primes only a limited extension with the unligated padlock probe, generating weak background fluorescence with the addition of SG. Due to the excellent specificity and powerful amplification of TPBRCA reaction, the mutant DNA was distinctively differentiated from the wild DNA in a homogeneous and label-free manner. The assay is sensitive and specific enough to detect 5-amol (8.6-fM) mutant DNA strands. It was possible to accurately determine the mutant allele frequency as low as 1.0%.

High-throughput mutational screening for beta-thalassemia by single-nucleotide extension

In this work a high-throughput method based on the single-nucleotide extension (SNE) reaction and multicolour detection in a DNA sequencer was developed to screen for eight mutations in the human beta-globin gene: IVSI.110, cd39, IVSI.1, IVSI.6, IVSII.745, HbC, HbS and cd6. The method has been validated on a large number of samples for the two most common mutations causing beta-thalassemia in the Mediterranean area (IVSI.110 and cd39). The development of a high-throughput, fast and reliable method to assay beta-thalassemia mutations represents a significant improvement in molecular diagnosis of this disease. The multicolour detection and the use of multiple injections further enhances the throughput of mutational screening by the DNA sequencer and facilitates automated genotyping for routine molecular diagnostics.

Miniaturized platforms for the detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms

Conventional methods for detecting single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the most common form of genetic variation in human beings, are mostly limited by their analysis time and throughputs. In contrast, advances in microfabrication technology have led to the development of miniaturized platforms that can potentially provide rapid high-throughput analysis at small sample volumes. This review highlights some of the recent developments in the miniaturization of SNP detection platforms, including microarray-based, bead-based microfluidic and microelectrophoresis-based platforms. Particular attention is paid to their ease of fabrication, analysis time, and level of throughput.

Multiplex SNP typing by bioluminometric assay coupled with terminator incorporation (BATI)

A multiplex single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing platform using ‘bioluminometric assay coupled with terminator [2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside triphosphates (ddNTPs)] incorporation’ (named ‘BATI’ for short) was developed. All of the reactions are carried out in a single reaction chamber containing target DNAs, DNA polymerase, reagents necessary for converting PPi into ATP and reagents for luciferase reaction. Each of the four ddNTPs is dispensed into the reaction chamber in turn. PPi is released by a nucleotide incorporation reaction and is used to produce ATP when the ddNTP dispensed is complementary to the base in a template. The ATP is used in a luciferase reaction to release visible light. Only 1 nt is incorporated into a template at a time because ddNTPs do not have a 3′ hydroxyl group. This feature greatly simplifies a sequencing spectrum. The luminescence is proportional to the amount of template incorporated. Only one peak appears in the spectrum of a homozygote sample, and two peaks at the same intensity appear for a heterozygote sample. In comparison with pyrosequencing using dNTP, the spectrum obtained by BATI is very simple, and it is very easy to determine SNPs accurately from it. As only one base is extended at a time and the extension signals are quantitative, the observed spectrum pattern is uniquely determined even for a sample containing multiplex SNPs. We have successfully used BATI to type various samples containing plural target sequence areas. The measurements can be carried out with an inexpensive and small luminometer using a photodiode array as the detector. It takes only a few minutes to determine multiplex SNPs. These results indicate that this novel multiplexed approach can significantly decrease the cost of SNP typing and increase the typing throughput with an inexpensive and small luminometer.

A gel-free SNP genotyping method: bioluminometric assay coupled with modified primer extension reactions (BAMPER) directly from double-stranded PCR products

Inexpensive, high-throughput genotyping methods are needed for analyzing human genetic variations. We have successfully applied the regular bioluminometric assay coupled with modified primer extension reactions (BAMPER) method to single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing as well as the allele frequency determination for various SNPs. This method includes the production of single-strand target DNA from a genome and a primer extension reaction coupled with inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) detection by a bioluminometric assay. It is an efficient way to get accurate allele frequencies for various SNPs, while single-strand DNA preparation is labor intensive. The procedure can be simplified in the typing of SNPs. We demonstrate that a modified BAMPER method in which we need not prepare a single-strand DNA can be carried out in one tube. A PCR product is directly used as a template for SNP typing in the new BAMPER method. Generally, tremendous amounts of PPi are produced in a PCR process, as well as many residual dNTPs, and residual PCR primers remain in the PCR products, which cause a large background signal in a bioluminometric assay. Here, shrimp alkaline phosphatase (SAP) and E. coli exonuclease I were used to degrade these components prior to BAMPER detection. The specific primer extension reactions in BAMPER were carried out under thermocycle conditions. The primers were extended to produce large amounts of PPi only when their bases at 3'-termini were complementary to the target. The extension products, PPis, were converted to ATP to be analyzed using the luciferin-luciferase detection system. We successfully demonstrated that PCR products can be directly genotyped by BAMPER in one tube for SNPs with various GC contents. As all reactions can be carried out in a single tube, the method will be useful for realizing a fully automated genotyping system.