PERFORMING NUCLEIC ACID REACTIONS

Abstract: Apparatus for performing nucleic acid reactions or manipulations comprises at least one reaction vessel containing a predetermined amount of a reagent for a nucleic acid reaction in a dried state adapted to be reconstituted by addition of aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence. The reagent preferably comprises a mixture of enzyme and reaction buffer and includes all components of the reaction except the nucleic acid substrate. Reactions and manipulations exemplified include restriction, DNA modification, cDNA synthesis, and dideoxy sequencing.

Description: This invention relates to a method and equipment for performing nucleic acid reactions and for manipulating nucleic acids (by performing two or more such reactions in sequence). Present methods involve many manipulations in small test tubes - ­ usually microfuge tubes of approximately 1.8ml capacity, and suffer in particular from two shortcomings:- a) Enzymes, buffers, nucleotides and other reagents have to be transferred from stock tubes kept at -20°C to tubes containing the nucleic acid sequences. b) Present methods require the researcher to handle large numbers of tubes, pre-mix several solutions and repeatedly pipet very small volumes, which makes such operations, tedious, lengthy, prone to error and difficult to automate This invention is based on the idea of simplifying such manipulations by pre-dispensing and drying some or all of the reagents involved. Certain nucleic acid enzymes are commercially available in bulk as the freeze dried solid, but have not, so far as is known, been supplied in pre-dispensed form. EPA 198413 describes a machine for performing assays, in which capture and conjugate reagents may be provided in freeze-dried form. WOA 8403715 describes a nucleic acid assay method and kit, in which enzymes and other reagents may be present separately in lyophilized form. WOA 8403444 describes an antibody capture plate assay, in which antibodies may be provided in lyophilized form. EPA 187699 and EPA 223618 describe machines for automated DNA sequencing operations, in which reagents are dispensed in fluid form. In one aspect, the invention provides apparatus for performing a nucleic acid reaction, comprising a reaction vessel containing a predetermined amount of a reagent for a nucleic acid reaction, comprising a mixture of enzyme and buffer and including components of the reaction except a nucleic acid substrate, in a dried state adapted to be reconstituted by addition of aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of performing a nucleic acid reaction, by adding to such a vessel aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence and incubating the vessel. In another aspect, the invention provides apparatus for performing nucleic acid manipulations, comprising a first and at least one subsequent reaction vessel, each vessel containing a predetermined amount of a reagent for a nucleic acid reaction in a dried state adapted to be reactivated by addition of aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence, and means for adding to the first vessel aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence and for transferring a fluid reaction product from the first vessel to the or each subsequent vessel. In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of performing a nucleic acid manipulation by use of such apparatus. The nature of the nucleic acid sequence is not important. It may for example be DNA or RNA or a natural or synthetic oligomer. The reagent for a nucleic acid reaction is preferably an enzyme or a substrate for such an enzyme, which may optionally be labelled with a radioactive or other marker. Examples of enzymes include restriction enzymes, nucleic acid polymerases and nucleic acid modification enzymes. Examples of substrates include nucleotides and derivatives thereof, and nucleic acid chains. Generally, the reagent is pre-dispensed in liquid form and dried in the reaction vessel. Drying conditions may be at elevated or ambient temperature, or at lower temperature as by freeze-drying or lyophilisation. Some reagents may require stabilizers while drying down. It is generally convenient to dry down a buffered solution of the reagent, thus giving rise to a dried mixture of reagent and buffer. When the reagent is an enzyme, the dried mixture preferably includes all components of the reaction (except a nucleic acid substrate) including for example a cofactor, and a substrate for the enzyme where two or more substrates are required for reaction. In the context of enzymes, the term "buffer" is used to include all the other components, not merely those concerned with pH control, used to maintain the enzyme. In practice, two different buffers are used, a storage (or dilution or reconstitution) buffer to preserve the enzyme from loss of essential function during storage, and a reaction (or assay or activity) buffer to maintain conditions for the enzyme to perform its essential function. The overall composition of these two buffers are different, although individual components may overlap. The storage buffer typically contains glycerol or protein such as albumin. The reaction buffer typically contains salts, e.g. sodium, magnesium or potassium chloride or sulphate, and nucleotides or poly­ nucleotides, which act as co-factors. The reaction buffer would not contain glycerol. The pH conditions maintained by the two buffers are often different. There follow details of the storage and reaction buffers for three commercially available enzymes to illustrate these differences: Bam H1 restriction endonuclease supplied by GIBCO BRL in freeze-dried form Storage Reaction 50mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5) 20mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) 0.5mM Na₂EDTA 100mM NaCl 1mM DTT 7mM MgCl₂ 500µg/ml BSA 2mM 2-mercaptoethanol 50% (v/v) glycerol Reverse transcriptase RAV-2 from Amersham International plc. Storage Reaction 200mM phosphate (K⁺)(pH7.2) 50mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.3) 2mM DTT 10mM MgCl₂ 0.2% Nonidet P-40 (TM) 50mM KCl 50% glycerol 3mM DTT 20µg/ml Poly A, oligo dT 0.1% Nonidet P-40 E. coli DNA polymerase 1 "Klenow fragment" from Amersham International plc Storage Reaction 50mM phosphate (K⁺)(pH6.5) 67mM phosphate (K⁺)(pH7.4) 10mM 2-mercaptoethanol 6.7mM MgCl₂ 50% glycerol 1mM 2-mercaptoethanol 33µM dNTP According to this invenion, the reagent preferably comprises a dried down mixture of an enzyme and its reaction (not its storage) buffer. The arrangement has the advantage that no preparation is required of the aqueous fluid containing the nucleic acid sequence required to complete the ingredients needed for the nucleic acid reaction. For example, a solution of the nucleic acid sequence in water or in any convenient aqueous fluid could be used. While it would be perfectly possible (though not preferred) to include a simple reaction component such as NaCl with the nucleic acid sequence, the inclusion of a complex or macro­ molecular reaction component would tend to negate the value of the invention. It is suprising that the process permits extended stable storage of reaction mixtures, unlike enzymes stored in aqueous reaction buffer. It has been found that:- - Enzymes for nucleic acid manipulation can be dried without loss of essential function; - Substrates for those enzymes can be dried without loss of essential function; - Reconstitution of enzymes and substrates with an aqueous solution of nucleic acid sequence will allow rapid manipulation of the nucleic acid sequence; - Dried substrates and enzymes can be stored for periods in excess of six months at -20°C without loss of essential function; - Dried substrates and enzymes can be transported without loss of essential function. Disposable reaction vessels are available commercially. For example, Dynatech supplies "Removawells" in strips of 12, which are suitable for nucleic acid manipulations. According to a preferred feature of this invention, predetermined amounts of the reagents for nucleic acid reactions are pre-dispensed into disposable reaction vessels. The advantages of such a system include:- - Wells containing lyophilised enzymes or substrates can be easily stored at convenient temperatures; e.g. room temperature, 4°C or -20°C. - Wells are used once and then discarded, with no risk of contamination; - Wells can be used in labelled racks, thus avoiding the need to label individual vessels; - Reduced manipulation, by avoiding the need to aliquot enzymes, substrates or buffers; - All apparatus and support equipment can be supplied in one format convenient for use; - Well adapted to automation. - Better reproducibility from experiment to experiment. The nature of nucleic acid reaction or manipulation envisaged is not critical to the invention. The following experimental section gives details of four such manipulations: restriction; nuclease digestion; DNA modification; cDNA synthesis; sequencing. But the invention is equally suitable for other nucleic acid reactions and manipulations, including sequencing by use of non-radioactive labels; ligation; and SI nuclease digestion. The wells used in the Examples were Dynatech Immunolon II "Removawells". Example 1 Restriction Endonuclease Digestion All enzymes were dried down at room temperature in 60µl of 1x core buffer: 50mM Tris pH 8.0, 50mM NaCl, 10mM MgCl₂ using a high capacity vacuum pump connected to a desiccator. Once dried, enzymes have been left at -20°C in a sealed plastic container for 3 days before use. 40 units of enzyme retained sufficient activity to digest 1ug of pBR322 at 37°C in 2 hours. The following restriction enzymes have been dried down in this manner. All retain activity when reconstituted with solutions containing DNA. EcoRI BamHI HindIII PstI SalI PvuII HincII BglI EcoRV Example 2 DNA Modifying Ezymes Three enzymes, polynucleotide kinase (PNK) (4U), T4 DNA ligase (2.5U) and DNA poII (Klenow) (3U) were dried down in 30µl TE buffer (10mM Tris-HCl, 1mM EDTA pH 8.0). In the cases of PNK and ligase, the solutions contained ATP at 1mM concentration. The enzymes were resuspended by adding DNA resuspended in 30ul of 1x buffer (67mM Tris-HCl (pH7.4), 10mM MgCl₂, 1mM ATP) and reactions were carried out as normal. 5′ endlabelling (PNK) and filling-in (Klenow) were monitored by incorporation of a radioactive label followed by autoradiography. Both enzymes were found to work efficiently. Ligation efficiency was judged by gel electrophoresis of the ligation mixtures and was found to be as efficient as control ligations carried out under standard conditions. Example 3 cDNA Synthesis The components were Oligo-dT Human placental ribonuclease inhibitor Reverse transcriptase (avian myeloblastoma virus) 4 dNTP's (including a trace amount of radioactively labelled dCTP) Reverse transcriptase buffer (reaction buffer, see above). All these first strand components sufficient to transcribe 1µg of mRNA were dried down together. They were resuspended by adding 1µg globin RNA in 50µl water and the first strand reaction was allowed to proceed as recommended in a cDNA synthesis manual (Amersham International RPN 1256). Total incorporation of ³²P was measured. The reaction was shown to work. Example 4 Dideoxy Sequencing 1. Preparation of wells The sequencing solutions were prepared and premixed as follows: A reaction: A 0.01M stock solution of dATP was diluted to 0.0005M. Wells were labelled P, K, A, C, G, T, CHA, CHC, CHG, CHT. To these were added the following: P: 15-mer sequencing primer (2ng) 10 x Klenow buffer (0.05M Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 0.05M NaCl, 0.01M MgCl₂) 1.5µl K: 1 unit DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment). A: 1.0µl of solution A°; 1.0µl of solution ddA (2′3′ dideoxyadenosine triphosphate). C: 1.0µl of solution C°; 1.0µl of solution ddC. G: 1.0µl of solution G°; 1.0µl of solution ddG. T: 1.0µl of solution T°; 1.0µl of solution ddT. CHA: 1.0µl of 0.0005M mixture of all four dNTPs. CHC: 1.0µl of 0.0005M mixture of all four dNTPs. CHG: 1.0µl of 0.0005M mixture of all four dNTPs. CHT: 1.0µl of 0.0005M mixture of all four dNTPs. A° C° G° T° 0.5mM dATP 1µl 20µl 20µl 20µl 0.5mM dCTP 20µl 1µl 20µl 20µl 0.5mM dGTP 20µl 20µl 1µl 20µl 0.5mM dTTP 20µl 20µl 20µl 1µl 1 x TE buffer 20µl 20µl 20µl 20µl The wells were dried down, sealed with clear tape and stored at -20°C. 2. The Sequencing Reactions 1. 13µl of the DNA to be sequenced (in water or TE buffer) was added to well P. The cover seal was replaced and the well was placed at 90°C for 5 minutes. The template/primer mix was then allowed to cool down to room temperature (approx. 5 minutes). 2. The mixture was transferred to well K. 3. 2µl radioactive label ([α³²P]dATP or [α³⁵S]dATP S)was added to the template/primer/enzyme (tpe) mixture. 4. 3.5µl of the tpe mix was added to each of the four wells A, C, G, T. The cover seals were replaced. 5. The wells were incubated in an incubator for 15 (³²P) or 20 (³⁵S) minutes. 6. The contents of each of the four wells labelled A, C, G, T were transferred to four wells labelled CHA, CHC, CHG, CHT. The cover seals were replaced. 7. Incubations were continued for 15 or 20 minutes, again depending on the radiolabel. 8. 3µl of loading buffer were added. 9. The wells were placed at 90°C for 3 minutes and the fluid reaction products were loaded on a sequencing gel. Results 1. Autoradiograph of ³²P labelled DNA after electrophoresis. The result showed: 1. Good resolution of DNA. 2. Sequencing ladder can be read easily. 3. Little background and no compression or "stuttering" of enzyme. 2. Essentially similar results were obtained when using a ³⁵S radiolabel. Example 4b Dideoxy Sequencing This example is identical to Example 4, except for the following modifications. 1. The radiolabel was predispensed and dried in a well. 2. Additional transfer involved. A. Preparation of wells. 1µl of [α -³²P] dATP and [α ³⁵SdATP α-S] was dispensed into a well marked RL, dried and stored at -20°C. The wells were thus labelled. P K RL A C G T CHA, CHC CHG CHT B. Sequencing reaction Steps 3 and 4 of Example 4 were replaced by the following: 3. The mixture was transferred from well K into well RL. 4. 3.5µl of the mix in RL was transferred to each of the four wells A, C, G, T. Cover seals were replaced. Proceed as from step 5 in Example 4. Results Results showed as in Example 4. Example 4c Dideoxy sequencing This is indentical to Example 4 and Example 4b except with the following modifications. The wells once dried were stored at 4°C, 20°C, 37°C. Example Results The results showed: 1. Good resolution of DNA 2. Sequencing ladder can be read easily. 3. For wells stored for 1 month or more; results were as in 1 and 2 for the wells stored at 4°C, 20°C - deterioration of result in the case of wells stored at 37°C. Example 4d Dideoxy sequencing with heat stable DNA Polymerase from Thermus Aquaticus (Taq Polymerase). The conditions were identical except for the following: 1. Preparation of wells. Well 'K' replaced by well TP. TP: 3 units of Taq Polymerase. 2. Sequencing reactions. As in Example 4, except: Step 5 becomes: 5. The wells were incubated in an incubator at 55°C for 15 (³²P) and 20 (³⁵S) minutes. Step 7 becomes: 7. Incubations were continued at 55°C for 15 or 20 minutes. Results Results showed: 1. Good resolution of DNA. 2. Sequencing ladder can easily be read to greater than 80 nucleotides. Example 4e Dideoxy sequencing This is identical to Example 4d except with the following modifications. Sequencing reactions. Step 1 becomes: 1. 13µl DNA to be sequenced (in water or TE buffer) was added to well P. Step 3 becomes: 3. 2µl radioactive label ([α ³²P]dATP or [α ³⁵S] SdATP αS) was added to the mixture. The cover seal was replaced and the well placed at 65°C for 3 minutes. The well was then allowed to cool to room temperature. Continue as step 4 of Example 4d. Results Results showed as in Example 4d. Example 5 Dideoxy sequencing with modified T7 polymerase (Sequenase TM ). Sequencing solutions and reaction conditions were as recommended by manufacturer. The sequencing solutions were prepared and premixed as follows: e.g. Labelling mix: a 5 x labelling mix 7.5µM GTP 7.5µM dCTP 7.5µM dTTP was diluted to 1 x concentration. e.g. Termination mixes: ddATP (tA) mix: 80µM dGTP, 80µM dATP 80µM dCTP, 80µM dTTP 8µM ddATP, 50µM NaCl Wells were labelled P T7 LM tA tC tG tT P: 1µl M13 universal primer (l7mer) (3.2ng) 2µl Buffer (5x) 200mM Tris HCl pH7.5 100mM MgCl₂ 250mM NaCl. T7: 3 units of modified T7 DNA Polymerase LM: 1µl DTT (0.1M) 2µl 1 x labelling mix tA: 2.5µl of ddATP termination mix tC: 2.5µl of ddCTP termination mix tG: 2.5µl of ddGTP termination mix tT: 2.5µl of ddTTP termination mix The wells were dried down, sealed and stored at -20°C. The Sequencing Reaction 1. 25µl of DNA template to be sequenced (in water or TE buffer) was added to well P. The cover seal was replaced. 2. The template primer mix was incubated at 65°C for 2 minutes, and then allowed to cool to room temperature. 3. The mixture was then transferred to well T7. 4. 1µl radioactive label ([α ³²P]-dATP, [³⁵S-dATPαS]) was added to well T7. 5. The contents of well T7 were transferred to LM well and incubated at room temperature for 5 minutes 6. 6µl sub aliquots of the mix now in LM well were transferred into consecutive tA tC tG tT wells and incubated at 37°C for 5 minutes. 7. 4µl of loading buffer was added to each termination well. 8. Wells were placed at 90°C for 3 minutes, and then the fluid reaction products loaded onto a sequencing gel. Results 1. Autoradiogram of ³⁵S labelled DNA after electrophoresis. The results showed: 1. Good resolution of DNA. 2. Sequencing ladder can be read easily, for at least 200 nucleotides. 3. Little background and no compression or stuttering of the enzyme. 2. Essentially similar results were obtained when using a ³²P radiolabel. Example 6 DNA ligation Wells were washed in ethanol, washed 3 times in double-distilled water and dried. The following solutions were used and mixed as described. T4 DNA ligase (6/19): 1.5U(Weiss)/µl in 25mM Tris/HCl, pH7.5, 1mM DTT. Ligation buffer (10x): 0.5M Tris/HCl, pH7.4, 10mM MgCl₁₂, 100mM DTT, 10mm ATP T4 DNA ligase solution was prepared: 40µl T4 DNA ligase 40µl ligation buffer (10x) 80µl double-distilled water. 4µl this solution was added to each well and lyophilised under vacuum until dry. This process was complete in 75 minutes. Dried wells were sealed and stored at -20°C. Assaying for ligase activity. Solutions used. EcoR V digested PBR322 DNA (10µg/µl), dephosphorylated with calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase. Hae 111 digested DNA (10µg/100µl). Assay mixture 2µl EcoR V /PBR322 DNA 2µl Hae 111 /DNA 16µl ddH₂O 1. 1.6µl DNA assay mixture was added to each well with 8.4µl double-distilled water. 2. Enzyme was gently resuspended using a pipette, the wells sealed and incubated at 37°C for 60 min. 3. 20µl double-distilled water was added to each well and mixed on ice. 4. 5µl each ligation was added to 80µl competent E.Coli NM554 in individual tubes. 5. Cells were left on ice for 30 minutes. 6. Cells were heated in a 42°C water bath for 45 seconds and placed on ice for 3 minutes. 7. 900µl L broth (10g/l NaCl; 10g/l Bactotryptone, 5g/l Bactoyeast extract) was added to each tube. 8. Tubes were shaken at 37°C for 60 minutes. 9. 10µl each sample was plated onto L agar (L broth with 15g/l Bactoagar), containing 25µg/ml ampicillin, and incubated overnight at 37°C. 10. Colonies were counted and used as the unit of assay. Results T4 DNA ligase dried in wells in the presence of buffers showed a 65% retention of activity when compared, in this assay, with identical samples of ligase prepared simultanlously but stored on ice and not lyophilised.

Claims: 1. Apparatus for performing a nucleic acid reaction, comprising a reaction vessel containing a predetermined amount of a reagent for a nucleic acid reaction, comprising a mixture of enzyme and buffer and including components of the reaction except a nucleic acid substrate, in a dried state adapted to be reconstituted by addition of aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence. 2. Apparatus for performing nucleic acid manipulations, comprising a first and at least one subsequent reaction vessel, each vessel containing a predetermined amount of a reagent for a nucleic acid reaction in a dried state adapted to be reactivated by addition of aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence, and means for adding to the first vessel aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence and for transferring a fluid reaction product from the first vessel to the or each subsequent vessel. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, for performing a dideoxy sequencing operation. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reagent is an enzyme capable of acting on nucleic acids or a substrate for such enzyme. 5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the or each reaction vessel contains a mixture of an enzyme and a buffer in a dried state. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the or each reaction vessel is disposable after a single use. 7. A method of performing a nucleic acid reaction, by providing a reaction vessel containing a predetermined amount of a reagent for the reaction, comprising a mixture of enzyme and buffer and including components of the reaction except a nucleic acid substrate, in a dried state, adding to the vessel aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence, and incubating the vessel. 8. A method of performing a nucleic acid manipulation, by providing a first and at least one subsequent vessel, each vessel containing a predetermined amount of a reagent for a nucleic acid reaction in a dried state, adding to the first vessel aqueous fluid containing a nucleic acid sequence, and transferring a fluid reaction product from the first vessel to the or each subsequent vessel. 9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the nucleic acid manipulation is a dideoxy sequencing operation. 10. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reagent is an enzyme capable of acting on nucleic acids or a substrate for such enzyme. 11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the or each vessel contains a mixture of an enzyme and a buffer in a dried state.

Inventors: MCKAY, IAN ALEXANDER, ORTLEPP, STEPHEN ANDREW
Applicants: AMERSHAM INTERNATIONAL PLC
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B01J19
IPC codes: C12Q1, C12N15, B01J19, C40B40