( The first precast gels f...)CastAway Precast Gels for Rapid Automated DNA Sequence Analysis

The first precast gels for automated sequencing and genetic analysis

Stephen Roemer Mary Jensen Harry Osterman Mark Vanek
LI-COR Biotechnology Division

LI-COR and Stratagene release the first commercially available precast gels for automated DNA sequencing and genetic analysis. Stratagenes CastAway gels* for the LI-COR system are provided polymerized and are ready to load in less than 30 minutes. Use the CastAway gels with LI-CORs IR² Automated DNA Analysis System to obtain more than 16,000 bases of sequence data or to analyze 1,440 genotypes per gel.

DNA sequence analysis remains an essential technology for elucidating gene structure and function. For more than a decade, automated methods have been developed to improve the throughput and accuracy of DNA sequencing and genotyping.^1,2,3,4 In general, the technology involves the real-time detection of fluorescently labeled DNA fragments as they move through a portion of an electrophoresis gel that is irradiated by a laser. The fluorescence emission is collected by a detector located at a fixed distance from the loading wells. The resultant signal produces a band pattern, which correlates to a DNA sequence or to a specific DNA fragment size for genotyping applications.

One limitation of automated DNA sequencers is the time required to cast gels used to separate DNA fragments electrophoretically. Hence, LI-COR and Stratagene adapted the CastAway precast sequencing gels⁵ for use on the Model 4200 (IR²) Automated DNA Analysis System.^6,7 By using precast gels on an infrared fluorescence automated DNA sequencer, convenience and throughput in DNA sequence analysis are improved.

Precast Gels

Figure 1

Pouring a slab gel the conventional way can take more than 2 hour
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