BEAMing up for detection and quantification of rare sequence variants

Nat Methods. 2006 Feb;3(2):95-7. doi: 10.1038/nmeth850.

Abstract

BEAMing allows the one-to-one conversion of a population of DNA fragments into a population of beads. We used rolling circle amplification to increase the number of copies bound to such beads by more than 100-fold. This allowed enumeration of mutant and wild-type sequences even when they were present at ratios less than 1:10,000 and was sensitive enough to directly quantify the error rate of DNA polymerases used for PCR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • DNA / analysis*
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Mutational Analysis / methods*
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism
  • Emulsions / chemistry
  • Exons / genetics
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microspheres
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / methods*
  • Oils / chemistry
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Emulsions
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Oils
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Water
  • DNA
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase