Method for determining the nucleotide sequence of a polynucleotide

Abstract

The invention provides a kit and a solid phase sequencing method for determining the sequence of nucelic acid molecules, and particularly the sequence of regions of nucleic acid molecules in which variation from the normal sequence is associated with disease.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for determining the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule which comprises the steps of: 
 (A) arraying a set of nested primer oligonucleotides onto a solid support, each array position containing a different array member having a predetermined sequence;    (B) incubating oligonucleotides of said array in the presence of a preparation of said nucleic acid molecules, a polymerase and at least one chain terminator nucleotide; wherein said incubation is under conditions sufficient to permit DNA hybridization to occur between the oligonucleotides of said incubation and said nucleic acid molecules; wherein said incubation is conducted in the substantial absence of any non-chain terminator nucleotides;    (C) (1) in the case wherein the 3′ terminal nucleotide of an oligonucleotide is hybridized to said nucleic acid molecule, permitting oligonucleotides hybridized to nucleic acid molecules to be extended by polymerase-mediated incorporation of a single chain terminator nucleotide residue onto the 3′ terminus of said hybridized oligonucleotide, wherein for each hybridized oligonucleotide being so extended, said incorporated nucleotide residue is complementary to the nucleotide residue immediately 5′ to the nucleotide residue of the nucleic acid molecule that is hybridized with that oligonucleotide's 3′ terminal nucleotide residue; then performing step (D); 
 (2) in the case wherein the 3′ terminal nucleotide of an oligonucleotide is not hybridized to said nucleic acid molecule, either: 
 (a) not permitting oligonucleotides hybridized to nucleic acid molecules to be extended by polymerase-mediated incorporation of a single chain terminator nucleotide residue onto the 3′ terminus of said hybridized oligonucleotide, or  
 (b) permitting the removal of any non-hybridized nucleotide residues from the 3′ terminus of said hybridized oligonucleotides, so as to form a truncated primer oligonucleotide whose 3′ terminus is hybridized to said nucleic acid molecule, and then permitting polymerase-mediated incorporation of a single chain terminator nucleotide residue onto the 3′ terminus of said hybridized truncated oligonucleotide, wherein for each hybridized truncated oligonucleotide being so extended, said incorporated nucleotide residue is complementary to the nucleotide residue immediately 5′ to the nucleotide residue of the nucleic acid molecule that is hybridized with that truncated oligonucleotide's 3′ terminal nucleotide residue; then performing step (D);  
 
   (D) determining, at each array position at which an oligonucleotide has incorporated a single chain terminator nucleotide residue, the identity of the incorporated chain terminator nucleotide residue; and    (E) determining the nucleotide sequence of said nucleic acid molecule from the determined identity of the incorporated nucleotide of primer oligonucleotides of said array, and known sequence of the oligonucleotide at each array position.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each array position contains a primer oligonucleotide that is capable of hybridizing to a region of said nucleic acid molecule.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polymerase is a Thermosequenase class polymerase.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polymerase is a Klenow class polymerase.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein in step (C), at least some array positions contain nucleic acid molecules hybridized to oligonucleotides said whose 3′ terminal nucleotide is not hybridized to the nucleic acid molecule, and wherein step (C)(1) is conducted for such oligonucleotides.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said array is a random oligonucleotide array.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said array is a nested oligonucleotide array.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said nested array contains oligonucleotide members having all possible permutations of nucleotides over a region of from 1 to 20 bases.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method is conducted in the presence of at least four chain terminator nucleotide species, at least one of which is labeled.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein all of said chain terminator nucleotide species are labeled, and wherein the label of any such species can be distinguished from the label of any other species present.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule is a DNA molecule.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule is RNA.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method is performed both on said nucleic acid molecule, and on a complement of said nucleic acid molecule.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said DNA is genomic DNA of a human or non-human mammal.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said DNA is human genomic DNA.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said DNA is suspected to contain a genetic variation associated with a disease, and said method is employed to determine whether said DNA contains said variation.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said disease is cancer or cystic fibrosis.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said oligonucleotides are immobilized onto said solid support.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said support is plastic or glass.  
     
     
         20 . A kit for determining the sequence of a nucleic acid molecule which comprises a solid support containing an array of spaced apart receptacles for oligonucleotides, each receptacle containing a different primer oligonucleotide.  
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein each array receptacle additionally contains at least four chain terminator nucleotide species, at least one of which is labeled.  
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein all of said chain terminator nucleotide species are labeled, and wherein the label of any such species can be distinguished from the label of any other species present.  
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein said kit determines the nucleotide sequence of DNA suspected to contain a genetic variation associated with a disease, and wherein said kit permits sufficient determination of nucleotide sequence to determine whether said DNA contains said variation.  
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 23 , wherein said disease is cancer or cystic fibrosis.