PCR, real-time PCR, primers, column and SPRI clean-up of reactions

 

Preparation of PCR primer stocks and working solutions

 

stocks

spin freezedried stocks, 1min full speed

add sterile H2O (molecular biology grade) to a final concentration of 100µM

working solutions

485µl sterile H2O (molecular biology grade)

+ 15µl primer stock

--> 3µM  

 

DNA column purification (Qiagen PCR clean-up / Qiaquick Gel Extraction)

Loading

mix reaction + 5Vol PBI buffer in Epi

place column in collection tube

load on column

spin 1min, full speed, RT

discard floughthrough

 

alternatively for gel extraction of DNA bands

cut bands on blue light table (DeLong lab), or on UV Transilluminator (Thompson lab) with clean     razor blade

transfer into Epi

weigh Epis (~1g) and gel slices

+3Vol/weight (300µl/100mg) GC buffer

incubate tubes at 50˚C, 10min, vortex gently every 2min

+ 1 Vol/weight (100µl/100mg) Isopropanol (improves yield especially for fragments below 500bp                             or above 4kb)

mix by inverting tube

place column in collection tube

load on column (if volume to big for column, then load, spin, discard flowthrough, and load rest)

spin 1min, full speed, RT

discard floughthrough

 

Washing

+750µl PE buffer (seal bottle tight to avoid EtOH evaporation)

spin 1min, full speed, RT

discard floughthrough

place column back in empty collection tube

Drying

spin (to dry) 30sec, full speed, RT

turn column in collection tube by 180˚

spin (to dry) 1min, full speed, RT

discard floughthrough and collection tube

place column in new Epi

dry open column under laminar air flow for 2min

Elution

+35-50µl EB or sterile H2O (molecular biology grade)

incubate at least for 5min

spin (to elute DNA) 30sec, full speed, RT

turn column in Epi by 180˚

spin (to elute DNA) 1min, full speed, RT

discard column and store Epi with DNA

 

SPRI clean up and primer/dimer removal (Agencourt AMPure XP beads)

Preparations:

adjust PCR reaction to 50µl with EB

vortex SPRI beads 1600rpm, 10sec

aliquot 45µl of beads into one 1.5ml tube per library

Binding to beads

add 50µl PCR reaction to beads

mix by pipetting/vortex 1600rpm

incubate for 5-7min

separate on magnet for 2min

remove and discard SN while tube stays on magnet

Wash - removal of salts, enzymes and low molecular weight DNA

wash beads carefully twice with 70% EtOH while tube stays on magnet (do not disturb bead      pellet)

incubate for 30sec

remove all SN

repeat

Dry

air dry on magnet for 15min

Elution

remove tube from magnet, add 20µl EB

vortex 1600rpm, 10sec

incubate at RT for 5min

separate on magnet for 2min

collect SN and transfer into new 1.5ml tube

 

Quantitative real-time PCR

Mastermix

    for 200µl (8x) reaction:

 

    10.525µl    H2O

    5µl           5x Phusion Pol buffer

    0.5µl        dNTP mix 10mM

    3.3+3.3µl  primers, 3µM

    2µl           template (try different 10 fold dilutions)

    0.125µl     SYBR Green I

    0.25µl        Pol (Phusion)

 

    prepare reaction in PCR tubes (or 96well plate) with optical covers that fit the utilized    

real-time PCR

 

cycle at         1) 98˚C, 20''

               2) 98˚C, 15''

               3) specific Annealing Temp˚C, 20''

               4) 72˚C, 20'' (for fragments shorther than 1kb)

               5) go back to step 2 45x

 

    always use at least 3 replicates per sample

    always include 3 replicates of a non-template (H2O) control