Abstract: Variants of the bacteriophage B103 DNA polymerase are described herein. The variant has improved properties, that include when compared to wild-type Phi29 DNA polymerase, at least one of the following: increased thermostability, improved reaction rate for DNA amplification, reduced background and a reduction of bias. Methods of using the DNA polymerase variant are also described herein.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for chemically capping polynucleotides having a 5? monophosphate. In some embodiments the method may comprise: combining an activated nucleoside 5? mono- or poly-phosphate with a population of polynucleotides that comprises polynucleotides having a 5? monophosphate, to produce a reaction mix; and incubating the reaction mix to produce reaction products that comprise a polynucleotide and a 5? nucleoside cap, linked by a 5? to 5? polyphosphate linkage. The chemical capping method described herein can be incorporated into a variety of cDNA synthesis methods.

Abstract: A bacteriophage RNA polymerase variant is provided. In some embodiments, the variant may have increased thermostability relative to the corresponding wild type bacteriophage RNA polymerase and/or wild type T7 RNA polymerase. Compositions, kits and methods that employ the variant are also provided.

Abstract: Ordered assembly of large numbers of fragments into a single large DNA have been improved in both frequency and fidelity of the assembled product. This has been achieved by novel compositions and methods that are utilized in a computer system that integrates comprehensive ligation data from multiple sources to provide optimized synthetic overhangs or overhangs from restriction endonuclease cleavage on DNA fragments for assembly by ligation. Intragenic cut sites are avoided by the use of a novel restriction endonuclease which recognizes 7 nucleotides (bases) and cuts DNA to create 4-base overhangs with the help of a synthetic activator oligonucleotide. Variations in ligation preferences by different ligases provide extra precision in assembly reactions. The use of the improved methods are exemplified by the successful assembly from 52 fragments of a viral genome and also a 52 fragment ordered assembly of a bacteria operon.

Abstract: Kits and methods are described that are directed to specific and sensitive methods of target nucleic acid detection and more specifically detecting target nucleic acids directly from biological samples. The kits and methods were developed to be easy to use involving a minimum number of steps and giving rapid and consistent results either at point of care or in high throughput situations. The kits and methods utilize in various combinations, reversible inhibitors of kit components, thermolabile enzymes, poloxamers, various salts, indicators and one or more Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) primer sets for detecting single and/or multiple targets and variants of the targets including SARS-CoV-2 targets and variants thereof in a single reaction. The kits and methods permit detection of the target nucleic with similar sensitivity regardless of the presence of undefined mutations that may enhance the virulence of cells or viruses containing the undefined mutations.

Abstract: A composition and its uses and additionally a kit are provided. The composition is a synthetic self-complementary oligonucleotide that has a double-stranded region and a loop, wherein the double-stranded region contains a binding sequence for PaqCl. Additionally, the oligonucleotide includes unligatable 3? and 5? ends that cannot be cleaved by PaqCl. This oligonucleotide composition has been combined with PaqCl or a variant of PaqCl Type IIS restriction endonuclease in a reaction mixture, where the reaction mixture includes PaqCl or variant that can further be combined with a ligase and optionally a deadenylase, crowding molecule such as PEG and/or a repair enzyme such as Endo MS. The kit includes the oligonucleotide and Type IIS restriction endonuclease in the same or different containers.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to methods for preparing a library for sequencing. For example, a method may comprise (a) in a coupled reaction, (i) contacting a population of nucleic acid fragments with a tailing enzyme to produce tailed fragments, and (ii) ligating to the tailed fragments a sequencing adapter with a ligase to produce adapter-tagged fragments; and/or separating adapter-tagged fragments from the tailing enzyme and the ligase to produce separated adapter-tagged fragments and, optionally, separated tailing enzyme and/or separated ligase. In some embodiments, a tailing enzyme and/or a ligase used in library preparation may be immobilized enzymes.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other things, are various compositions and methods for analyzing chromatin. In some embodiments, the composition may comprise a mixture of a nicking enzyme, four dNTPs, at least one labeled dNTP and, optionally, a polymerase. In some embodiments, this method may comprise: obtaining a sample comprising chromatin, reacting the sample with the composition to selectively label the open chromatin in the sample, and analyzing the labeled sample.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for making an cDNA library, comprising adding an affinity tag-labeled GMP to the 5? end of targeted RNA species in a sample by optionally decapping followed by incubating the sample with an affinity tag-labeled GTP and a capping enzyme, enriching for RNA comprising the affinity tag-labeled GMP using an affinity matrix that binds to the affinity tag, reverse transcribing the enriched RNA to produce a population of cDNAs, and adding a tail to the 3? end of the population of cDNAs using a terminal transferase, to produce an cDNA library.

Abstract: Kits and methods are described that are directed to specific and sensitive methods of target nucleic acid detection and more specifically detecting target nucleic acids directly from biological samples. The kits and methods were developed to be easy to use involving a minimum number of steps and giving rapid and consistent results either at point of care or in high throughput situations. The kits and methods utilize in various combinations, reversible inhibitors of kit components, thermolabile enzymes, poloxamers, various salts, indicators and one or more Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) primer sets for detecting single and/or multiple targets and variants of the targets including SARS-CoV-2 targets and variants thereof in a single reaction. The kits and methods permit detection of the target nucleic with similar sensitivity regardless of the presence of undefined mutations that may enhance the virulence of cells or viruses containing the undefined mutations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to compositions, methods, and/or kits for producing vaccinia capping enzyme. For example, active, heterodimers of vaccinia capping enzyme may be produced as fusions comprising D1 and D12 subunits. Vaccinia capping enzyme fusion proteins may further comprise a linker.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and kits are provided for identifying the presence and location of a target in chromosomal DNA. A nicking endonuclease fused to a binding domain that binds to a constant region of an antibody (NEFP) is provided that may be used for binding to a target directly or via an antibody that binds to the target. The target may be a protein or structural feature of the DNA and its presence and location may correspond to a phenotype and/or pathology in a biopsy or other cell sample for diagnostic purposes. The background is reduced by the addition of a glycoaminoglycan (GAG) that reversibly inhibits binding of the NEFP to DNA. Nick translation in the presence of a strand displacing polymerase enables the incorporation of tagged nucleotides that (i) blocks re-nicking; (ii) facilitates immobilization of DNA fragments around the target for sequencing; and/or (iii) enables dye labelling of the chromosomal DNA within the cell nuclei for analysis by microscopy.

Abstract: A method for identifying any of the presence, location and phasing of modified cytosines (C) in long stretches of nucleic acids is provided. In some embodiments, the method may comprise (a) reacting a first portion of a nucleic acid sample containing at least one C and/or at least one modified C with a DNA glucosyltransferase and a cytidine deaminase to produce a first product and/or reacting a second portion of the sample with a dioxygenase, optionally a DNA glucosyltransferase and a cytidine deaminase to produce a second product and; (b) comparing the sequences from the first and optionally the second product obtained in (a), or amplification products thereof, with each other and/or an untreated reference sequence to determine which Cs in the initial nucleic acid fragment are modified. A modified TET methylcytosine dioxygenase with improved efficiency compared to unmodified TET2 at converting methylcytosine to carboxymethylcytosine is also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other things, are various compositions and methods for analyzing chromatin. In some embodiments, the composition may comprise a mixture of a nicking enzyme, four dNTPs, at least one labeled dNTP and, optionally, a polymerase. In some embodiments, this method may comprise: obtaining a sample comprising chromatin, reacting the sample with the composition to selectively label the open chromatin in the sample, and analyzing the labeled sample.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for optimizing ordered assembly of a plurality of polynucleotide fragments. The optimization involves providing sets of overhang sequences with preferred experimental conditions for high fidelity ordered assembly of polynucleotide fragments by ligation under selected experimental conditions. The methods and compositions provide the use of a computer system with inputs having a plurality of menus and outputs that include a variety of media interfaces. The computer system has access to a ligation frequency database to provide sets of overhang sequences for efficient joining of multiple fragments into the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: Methods are provided for a rapid, low cost approach to monitoring an amplification reaction. This includes monitoring the progress of isothermal or PCR amplification reactions to completion using pH-sensitive dyes that are either colored or fluorescent. Compositions are described that include a mixture of a DNA polymerase, deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate and Tris buffer in the range of 1.5 mM Tris to 5 mM Tris or equivalent.

Abstract: Kits and methods are provided for performing multiplex Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) reactions. These kits and methods are directed to specific and sensitive methods of target nucleic acid detection and more specifically pathogen diagnostics such as detection of Coronavirus. The kits and methods utilize a plurality of sets of oligonucleotide primers for targeting the viral nucleic acid target.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for capping RNA in an in vitro transcription mixture are provided that include a thermostable RNA polymerase variant and a cap analog such that when a DNA template is added to the mixture, and the mixture is then incubated under conditions for in vitro transcription, capped RNA is produced.

Abstract: Providing herein, among other things, are kits, compositions and methods that relate to DNA fragmentation. An embodiment of a composition provides combining: one or more enzymes capable of nick translating activity, a dNTP mix comprising at least one dNTP having a modified base, and at least one modification-sensitive nicking endonuclease that is prevented from nicking DNA if its recognition site contains the modified base. When the composition is added to a sample comprising a double-stranded DNA template that comprises recognition sites for the modification-sensitive nicking endonuclease, a reaction mix was produced which could be incubated for any time period in excess of about 5 minutes to produce fragments of a desired size of the double-stranded DNA template. In this method, the fragments produced include the modified base and, as such, are not re-nicked by the nicking endonuclease.

Abstract: A method for identifying any of the presence, location and phasing of modified cytosines (C) in long stretches of nucleic acids is provided. In some embodiments, the method may comprise (a) reacting a first portion of a nucleic acid sample containing at least one C and/or at least one modified C with a DNA glucosyltransferase and a cytidine deaminase to produce a first product and/or reacting a second portion of the sample with a dioxygenase, optionally a DNA glucosyltransferase and a cytidine deaminase to produce a second product and; (b) comparing the sequences from the first and optionally the second product obtained in (a), or amplification products thereof, with each other and/or an untreated reference sequence to determine which Cs in the initial nucleic acid fragment are modified. A modified TET methylcytosine dioxygenase with improved efficiency compared to unmodified TET2 at converting methylcytosine to carboxymethylcytosine is also provided.