Automation of the Maxam-Gilbert chemical sequencing reactions

Biotechniques. 1994 Jun;16(6):1088-92, 1094-5.

Abstract

A practical automated method of Maxam-Gilbert chemical sequencing reactions that uses solid-phase chromatography methods to purify DNA following chemical modification and cleavage is described in this report. The automation has primarily been made possible by using specially designed BioPak mini-columns, compatible with the Biomek 1000 automated workstation, which can be utilized in a manner similar to that of standard pipet tips. This automated chromatographic sequencing method produces rapid and reliable data as verified by sequencing a known human factor IX exon VIII gene fragment. The procedure presented in this report is a prototype for a single-fragment reaction and can easily be expanded to perform reactions on as many as 8 fragments at a time. The automation eliminates the tedious and time-consuming steps in the original method and increases the rate of sequence acquisition. This technology makes the Maxam-Gilbert chemical sequencing protocol more accessible, especially in large-scale, automated sequencing projects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Technical Report

MeSH terms

  • Autoanalysis / methods*
  • Autoradiography
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromatography / methods
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / isolation & purification
  • Exons
  • Factor IX / genetics
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA*

Substances

  • Factor IX
  • DNA