ABI SOLiD sequencing is a form of DNA sequencing. DNA sequencing encompasses biochemical methods for determining the order of the nucleotide bases, adenine, guanine, cytosine, 5-methyl cytosine, and thymine, in a DNA oligonucleotide which is described by McKernan, Blanchard, Kotler and Costa. [1] and Valouev et al [2] and Cloonan et al [3]

The advent of DNA sequencing has significantly accelerated biological research and discovery. The rapid speed of sequencing attainable with modern DNA sequencing technology has been instrumental in the large-scale sequencing of the human genome, in the Human Genome Project and now the Human Epigenome Project. Related projects, often by scientific collaboration across continents, have generated the complete DNA sequences of many animal, plant, and microbial genomes. Now that many of these mammalian genomes have been sequenced scientists are attempting to provide an epigenetic map of DNA methylation for each tissue type within the body. They started by mapping chromosomes 6, 20 and 22 for a variety of tissues varying from sperm to heart muscle.

The SOLiD method provided by ABI is one of many new sequencing technologies that has emerged recently. For scientists, it is important to compare the various methods and biases relevant for each type of sequencing. Other methods exist to sequence bisulfite converted DNA such as pyrosequencing and direct bisulfite sequencing.

When sequencing bisulfite converted DNA to study DNA methylation the techniques need to be even more sensitive due to the reduced form of the DNA. When DNA is converted using bisulfite, the non-methylated Cs are converted to Ts while the methylated Cs remain the same. Therefore, using standard sequencing equipment the detection of a C indicates it was methylated in the initial sample while the detection of a T at a former C site indicates it was unmethylated.

The SOLiD method utilizes random 8-mer probes with the 1st and 2nd position containing dinucleotides which are semi-degeneratively labeled with a fluorescent dye. Probes are labeled with one of the four fluorescent dyes. The color of a fluorescent dye indicates 4 of 16 possible dinucleotides in the 1st and 2nd position of the probe. A random probe is ligated to a phosphorylated primer annealed to the template only when the labeled nucleotides complement the 1st and 2nd nucleotide on the template.

After visualizing the color, the fluorescent tag is removed by cleaving the extended probe between the fifth and sixth positions. The process is repeated and every fifth dinucleotide position is recorded. Next, the system is reset with frame shifted primers to generate the recording for 5 frames of sequence termed " n-1, n-2, n-3, and n-4 positions" .[4]

As a result every base is read in two different dinucleotide frames and error correction can be performed to deliver raw read accuracy in excess 99.9%. Since the sequencing is labelled according to dinculeotides, SOLiD sequencing of bisulfite converted DNA does not produce 3 color DNA sequence as the dincleotide content of Bisulfite converted DNA is not as drastically altered as is the individual base composition.

Template Quality and Quantity

Reference: BigDye Terminator v1.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit Protocol, Applied Biosystems 2002 (Part# 4337036A), BigDye Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit Protocol, Applied Biosystems 2002 (Part# 4337035A)

The success of your sequencing reaction depends upon the quality and quantity of DNA template. The capillary system is very sensitive to contaminants such as proteins, RNA and residual salts. Not only is the quality of result affected by such contaminants but the presence of proteins and high concentrations of DNA can reduce the life of the capillary array. For detailed information on DNA template preparation, DNA template quality and quantity, primer design and quantitation, refer to Performing DNA Sequencing Reactions, Section 3 in the Applied Biosystem's Automated DNA Sequencing Chemistry Guide (Part# 4305080).

Template Quality: Potential contaminants include proteins, RNA, residual salts, excess PCR primers, dNTPs, enzyme and buffer components (from PCR amplification). The DNA should be examined by agarose gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometry in order to assess the quality of the template.

Template Quantity: Template quantitation is critical for successful sequencing reactions. The preferred method for quantitation is by gel electrophoresis with a DNA mass ladder standard.

1. Recommended amount of template and primer to use in a cycle sequencing reaction: 

Reaction Set-Up

2. Recommended Reaction Set-ups using BDTv1.1/BDTv3.1:

Mix well and spin briefly.

3. Cycling Conditions

96°C for 1 min
　　96°C for 10 sec
　　50°C for 5 sec
　　60°C for 4 min
　　Repeat steps 2-4 for 25-30 times and then hold at 4°C until ready to purify.

Proceed to Clean-Up of Sequencing Reactions for CE