Abstract
The in-vitro nick translation reaction used to label DNA to high specific activity also produces aberrant DNA structures known as "snapback" hairpin loops. Hairpin structures are precluded from participating in precise DNA-DNA hybridization interactions. Three nick translation systems were all found to yield significant quantities of snapback hairpins, as determined by their resistance to S1 endonuclease digestion following denaturation. The relative quantities of hairpins produced correlated with both the mass average size of the final DNA probe product synthesized as well as the overall rate of the nick translation reaction. Decreases in the amount of exogenous DNase I used in nick translation reactions produced significant decreases in the amount of hairpin loop structures formed. Hairpins could be effectively removed from nick-translated DNAs by employing hydroxylapatite column chromatography. Strategies to reduce hairpin formation during nick translation and the removal of hairpins from nick-translated DNAs are presented.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-15 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1985 |
Keywords
- DNase I, generation of snapback hairpin DNA loops in response to
- Nick translation
- S1 endonuclease, resmstance of DNA to
- chromatography of snapback DNA with hydroxylapatite
- endonuclease, resistance of DNA to S1
- hydroxylapatite chromatography, removal of snapback DNA by
- labeled DNA probes
- polymerase, generation of snapback hairpin DNA loops in response to
- snapback hairpin loops of DNA
- translation, snapback hairpin DNA loops during nick
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Bioengineering
- Biochemistry
- Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology