Polymerase specific error rates and profiles identified by single molecule sequencing

Mutat Res. 2016 Feb-Mar:784-785:39-45. doi: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2016.01.003. Epub 2016 Jan 19.

Abstract

DNA polymerases have an innate error rate which is polymerase and DNA context specific. Historically the mutational rate and profiles have been measured using a variety of methods, each with their own technical limitations. Here we used the unique properties of single molecule sequencing to evaluate the mutational rate and profiles of six DNA polymerases at the sequence level. In addition to accurately determining mutations in double strands, single molecule sequencing also captures direction specific transversions and transitions through the analysis of heteroduplexes. Not only did the error rates vary, but also the direction specific transitions differed among polymerases.

Keywords: Heteroduplex; Polymerase fidelity; Single molecule sequencing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Pairing
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / genetics
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Purines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods
  • Taq Polymerase / genetics
  • Taq Polymerase / metabolism

Substances

  • Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes
  • Purines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Taq Polymerase
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
  • pyrimidine
  • purine