Probe Construction

Our probes are random sheared fragments of DNA made from a variety of sources, cosmid, vector, and even yeast DNA depending upon the nature of the hybridization. The probes are created by taking a random primer and creating a complementary copy of DNA. However, the probe has dioxigenin-11-dUTP which will be incorporated instead of dTTP but will not cause elongation termination like a dideoxynucleotide. The dioxigenin molecule is recognized by the primary antibody.

Sonication and Repair of DNA

1-Pipet 14 µl of dH2O into a 1.5-ml microfuge tube.

2-Pipet 1 µl of DNA into the tube and incubate at 95°C for 10 minutes.

3-Chill sample on ice/NaCl solution for 3 minutes. Keep the Eppendorf on ice.

A solution of NaCl and ice will result in a supercooled solution.

4-Sonicate to shear the DNA.

5-Add 2 µl of hexanucleotide mixture

This is a solution of random hexamers. These will bind to random se quences of the sonicated DNA and serve as markers to start the exten sion.

6-Add 2 µl of dNTP labelling mixture.

This mixture of dNTP is composed of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dioxigenin -11-dUTP label which will be inorporated instead of a dTTP. The dioxigenin is the antigenic molecule recognized by the primary antibody.

7-Add 1 µl of Klenow fragment enzyme.

A Klenow fragment is an enzyme that has polymerase activity but no exonuclease activity.

8-Centrifuge briefly and incubate for a minimum of 1 hr (preferably overnight) at 37 °C.

9-Add 2 µl of of 0.2 M EDTA (pH 8.0)

Addition of EDTA inactivates the Klenow fragment.

Recovery of DNA Probe

1-Add 2.5 µl of 3 M sodium acetate (pH 8.0)

2-Add 75 µl of -70 °C Ethanol. Mix well

Addition of NaOAc and EtOH will cause the DNA to precipitate out of solution.

3-Chill tube for a minimum of 30 min at -70 °C or -20 °C overnight.

4-Centrifuge at 12,000 x g for 10 min. Decant.

5-Add 50 µl of chilled 70% EtOH. Centrifuge for 10 min at 12,000 x g.

Removes salts and other contaminants.

6-Decant and dry under vacuum.

7-Resuspend in 50 µl of TE (pH 8.0). Incubate at 37 °C for about 30 min.

TE ( pH 8.0 )


Last Updated December 12, 1996
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