
Tobias Ambjörnsson
Senior lecturer

Visualizing the entire DNA from a chromosome in a single frame
Author
Summary, in English
The contiguity and phase of sequence information are intrinsic to obtain complete understanding of the genome and its relationship to phenotype. We report the fabrication and application of a novel nanochannel design that folds megabase lengths of genomic DNA into a systematic back-and-forth meandering path. Such meandering nanochannels enabled us to visualize the complete 5.7 Mbp (1mm) stained DNA length of a Schizosaccharomyces pombe chromosome in a single frame of a CCD. We were able to hold the DNA in situ while implementing partial denaturation to obtain a barcode pattern that we could match to a reference map using the Poland-Scheraga model for DNA melting. The facility to compose such long linear lengths of genomic DNA in one field of view enabled us to directly visualize a repeat motif, count the repeat unit number, and chart its location in the genome by reference to unique barcode motifs found at measurable distances from the repeat. Meandering nanochannel dimensions can easily be tailored to human chromosome scales, which would enable the whole genome to be visualized in seconds. (C) 2015 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Department/s
- Computational Biology and Biological Physics - Undergoing reorganization
- Atomic Physics
- BioCARE: Biomarkers in Cancer Medicine improving Health Care, Education and Innovation
- Solid State Physics
- NanoLund: Centre for Nanoscience
Publishing year
2015
Language
English
Publication/Series
Biomicrofluidics
Volume
9
Issue
4
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Topic
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
- Other Physics Topics
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1932-1058