Andreas Ruppert

Combined amplification and sequencing in a single reaction using two DNA polymerases with differential incorporation rates for dideoxynucleotides

We describe an approach, which combines the process of DNA amplification and sequence determination by using a pair of primers and two DNA polymerases with different incorporation rates for dideoxynucleotides. The process of target sequence amplification is carried out by the DNA polymerase with a low dideoxynucleotide incorporation rate while its polymerase counterpart with a high incorporation rate generates a sequence ladder. The needs for separate amplification via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or cloning into plasmids including the respective purification steps therefore can be avoided. In addition, the use of dye terminator chemistry enables the simultaneous generation of forward and reverse sequence ladders, which can be separated based on the streptavidin-biotin system when one amplification primer is biotinylated.