DNA sequencing by the Sanger
method
The standard DNA sequencing technique is the Sanger method,
named for its developer, Frederick Sanger, who shared the 1980
Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This method begins with the use of
special enzymes to synthesize fragments of DNA that terminate
when a selected base appears in the stretch of DNA being
sequenced. These fragments are then sorted according to size
sequenced. These fragments are then sorted according to size
by placing them in a slab of polymeric gel and applying an
electric field -- a technique called electrophoresis. Because of
DNA's negative charge, the fragments move across the gel toward
the positive electrode. The shorter the fragment, the faster it
moves. Typically, each of the terminating bases within the
collection of fragments is tagged with a radioactive probe for
identification.
DNA sequencing example
Problem Statement: Consider the following DNA
sequence (from firefly luciferase). Draw the sequencing
gel pattern that forms as a result of sequencing the
following template DNA with ddNTP as the capper.
atgaccatgattacg...
Solution:
Given DNA template: 5'-atgaccatgattacg...-3'
DNA synthesized: 3'-tactggtactaatgc...-5'
DNA sequencing example
Given DNA template: 5'-atgaccatgattacg...-3'
DNA synthesized: 3'-tactggtactaatgc...-5'
Gel pattern: +-------------------------+
lane ddATP | W | | || |
lane ddTTP | W | | | | | |
lane ddCTP | W | | | |
lane ddCTP | W | | | |
lane ddGTP | W || | |
+-------------------------+
Electric Field +
Decreasing size
where "W" indicates the well position, and "|"
denotes the DNA bands on the sequencing gel.
A sequencing gel
This picture is a radiograph. The dark color of the lines is
proportional to the radioactivity from 32P labeled adenonsine
in the transcribed DNA sample.
Reading a sequencing gel
You begin at the right, which are the smallest DNA fragments.
The sequence that you read will be in the 5'-3' direction.
This sequence will be exactly the same as the RNA that
would be generated to encode a protein. The difference is that
the T bases in DNA will be replaced by U residues. As an example,
in the problem given, the smallest DNA fragment on the sequencing
gel is in the C lane, so the first base is a C. The next largest band
gel is in the C lane, so the first base is a C. The next largest band
is in the G lane, so the DNA fragment of length 2 ends in G.
Therefore the sequence of the first two bases is CG.
The sequence of the first 30 or so bases of the DNA are:
CGTAATCATGGTCATATGAAGCTGGGCCGGGCCGTGC....
When this is made as RNA, its sequence would be:
CGUAAUCATGGUCAUAUGAAGCUGGGCCGGGCCGUGC....
Note that the information content is the same, only the T's have
been replaced by U's!.
The codon table
5 -Base Middle Base 3 -Base
U(=T) C A G
Phe Ser Tyr Cys U(=T)
U(=T)
Phe Ser Tyr Cys C
Leu Ser Term Term A
Leu Ser Term Trp G
Leu Pro His Arg U(=T)
C
Leu Pro His Arg C
Leu Pro His Arg C
Leu Pro Gln Arg A
Leu Pro Gln Arg G
A Ile Thr Asn Ser U(=T)
Ile Thr Asn Ser C
Ile Thr Lys Arg A
Met Thr Lys Arg G
G Val Ala Asp Gly U(=T)
Val Ala Asp Gly C
Val Ala Glu Gly A
Val Ala Glu Gly G
Translating the DNA
sequence
The order of amino acids in any protein is specificed by the
order of nucleotide bases in the DNA.
Each amino acid is coded by the particular sequence of three bases.
To convert a DNA sequence
First, find the starting codon. The starting codon is always
the codon for the amino acid methionine. This codon is
AUG in the RNA (or ATG in the DNA):
AUG in the RNA (or ATG in the DNA):
GCGCGGGUCCGGGCAUGAAGCUGGGCCGGGCCGUGC....
Met
In this particular example the next codon is AAG. The first base
(5'end) is A, so that selects the 3rd major row of the table. The
second base (middle base) is A, so that selects the 3rd column of
the table. The last base of the codon is G, selecting the last line in
the block of four.
Translating the DNA
sequence
This entry AAG in the table is Lysine (Lys).
Therefore the second amino acid is Lysine.
The first few residues, and their DNA sequence, are as follows
(color coded to indicate the correct location in the
codon table):
Met Lys Leu Gly Arg & ...
Met Lys Leu Gly Arg & ...
AUG AAG CUG GGC CGG GCC GUG C..
This procedure is exactly what cells do when they synthesize
proteins based on the mRNA sequence. The process of translation
in cells occurs in a large complex called the ribosome.
Automated procedure for DNA
sequencing
A computer read-out of the gel generates a  false color image
where each color corresponds to a base. Then the intensities are
translated into peaks that represent the sequence.
High-throughput seqeuncing:
Capillary electrophoresis
The human genome project Sheath flow
has spurred an effort to
Laser
develop faster, higher
Sheath flow cuvette
Focusing
lens
throughput, and less
expensive technologies
expensive technologies
for DNA sequencing.
Capillary electrophoresis
Beam block
Collection Lensc
Collection Lensc
(CE) separation has many
PMT
filter
advantages over slab gel
separations. CE separations are faster and are capable of producing
greater resolution. CE instruments can use tens and even
hundreds of capillaries simultaneously. The figure show a simple
CE setup where the fluorescently-labeled DNA is detected as it
exits the capillary.
Sieving matrix for CE
It is not easy to analyze DNA in capillaries filled only with
buffer. That is because DNA fragments of different lengths
have the same charge to mass ratio. To separate DNA fragments
of different sizes the capillary needs to be filled with sieving
matrix, such as linear polyacrylamide (acrylamide polymerized
without bis-acrylamide).This material is not rigid like a cross-
without bis-acrylamide).This material is not rigid like a cross-
linked gel but looks much like glycerol. With a little bit of
effort it can be pumped in and out of the capillaries. To simulate
the separation characteristics of an agarose gel one can use
hydroxyethylcellulose. It is not much more viscous then water
and can easily be pumped into the capilliaries.
Fluorescent end labeling of
DNA