High-Density Labeling of DNA for Single Molecule Sequencing

Two unusual enzymatic activities are required for the realization of a single molecule sequencing: a polymerase for copying a deoxyribonuclease (DNA) target into complementary flurophore-labeled DNA, and an exonuclease for the successive hydrolysis of the completely dye-labeled DNA. Recently, we found that the wild-type Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I is well-suited for the synthesis of DNA in a reaction set-up that contains exclusively specific rhodamine-labeled analogs of the natural pyrimidine nucleotides (dCTP and dTTP). This protocol describes the procedure used for the preparation of DNA that is labeled at all pyrimidine bases of one strand, as well as an example of enzymatic downstream processing of the DNA product.