D-Strap tm DNA Sequencing Chemistry

50591-98-I D-Strap(tm) DNA Sequencing Chemistry--Fidelity Systems, Inc., 7961 Cessna Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20879-4117; (301) 527-0804 Dr. Sergei Kozyavkin, Principal Investigator Dr. Sergei Kozyavkin, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82577 Amount: $75,000 A novel strategy is needed to assure its complete automation and high productivity of genomics technology. Recently, a new enzyme was incorporated into a sequencing reaction, enabling automated reading directly from microbial genomic DNA. This project will develop reagents and protocols for a? D-Strap? sequencing strategy that combines this automated sequencing directly from genomic DNA with available information on the evolution of genomes. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of this approach to sequence genomes of known or non-classified organisms of close or distant evolutionary relationship. Simple assays will also be developed to accelerate technology development, streamline problem management, and enable quality control/quality assurance for new products and protocols. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: D-Strap reagents should impact genomics at multiple levels. They will eliminate unnecessary and repetitive stages from sequencing projects and enable new approaches to comparative genomics. D-Strap should be compatible with automated operations at sequencing factories or service facilities as well as individual research by bench scientists. _