Routine DNA sequencing of 1000 bases in less than one hour by capillary electrophoresis with replaceable linear polyacrylamide solutions.

Long, accurate reads are an important factor for high-throughput de novo DNA sequencing. In previous work from this laboratory, a separation matrix of high-weight-average molecular mass (HMM) linear polyacrylamide (LPA) at a concentration of 2% (w/w) was used to separate 1000 bases of DNA sequence in 80 min with an accuracy close to 97% (Carrilho, E.; et al. Anal. Chem. 1996, 68, 3305-3313). In the present work, significantly improved speed and sequencing accuracy have been achieved by further optimization of factors affecting electrophoretic separation and data processing. A replaceable matrix containing a mixture of 2.0% (w/w) HMM (9 MDa) and 0.5% (w/w) low-weight-average molecular mass (50 kDa) LPA was employed to enhance the separation of DNA sequencing fragments in CE. Experimental conditions, such as electric field strength and column temperature, as well as internal diameter of the capillary column, have been optimized for this mixed separation matrix. Under these conditions, in combination with energy-transfer (BigDye) dye-labeled primers for high signal-to-noise ratio and a newly developed expert system for base calling, the electrophoretic separation of 1000 DNA sequencing fragments of both standard (M13mp18) and cloned single-stranded templates from human chromosome 17 could be routinely achieved in less than 55 min, with a base-calling accuracy between 98 and 99%. Identical read length, accuracy, and migration time were achieved in more than 300 consecutive runs in a single column.