Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for enzymes with altered properties that involve a systematic approach to mutagenesis and a screening assay that permits selection of the desired proteins. Embodiments of the method are particularly suited for modifying specific properties of restriction endonucleases such as star activity. The compositions includes restriction endonucleases with reduced star activity as defined by an overall fidelity index improvement factor.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for engineering mutant enzymes with reduced star activity where the mutant enzymes have a fidelity index (FI) in a specified buffer that is greater than the FI of the non-mutated enzyme in the same buffer.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for identifying any of the presence, location and phasing of methylated and/or hydroxymethylated cytosines in nucleic acids including long stretches of DNA. In some embodiments, the method may comprise reacting a first portion (aliquot) of a nucleic acid sample with a dioxygenase and optionally a glucosyltransferase in a reaction mixture containing the nucleic acid followed by a reaction with a cytidine deaminase to detect and optionally map 5mC in a DNA. Optionally, a second portion can be reacted with glucosyltransferase followed by reaction with a cytidine deaminase to detect and optionally map 5hmC in a DNA.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for engineering mutant enzymes with reduced star activity where the mutant enzymes have a fidelity index (FI) In a specified buffer that is greater than the FI of the non-mutated enzyme in the same buffer.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for enzymes with altered properties that involve a systematic approach to mutagenesis and a screening assay that permits selection of the desired proteins. Embodiments of the method are particularly suited for modifying specific properties of restriction endonucleases such as star activity. The compositions includes restriction endonucleases with reduced star activity as defined by an overall fidelity index improvement factor.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for identifying any of the presence, location and phasing of methylated and/or hydroxymethylated cytosines in nucleic acids including long stretches of DNA. In some embodiments, the method may comprise reacting a first portion (aliquot) of a nucleic acid sample with a dioxygenase and optionally a glucosyltransferase in a reaction mixture containing the nucleic acid followed by a reaction with a cytidine deaminase to detect and optionally map 5mC in a DNA. Optionally, a second portion can be reacted with glucosyltransferase followed by reaction with a cytidine deaminase to detect and optionally map 5hmC in a DNA.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and kits are provided that enable the detection, analysis and/or sequencing of small or large target RNA molecules whether synthetic, purified or within a biological fluid, or in cell lysate that may contain non-target RNA and other contaminating molecules without the need for depletion or purification steps that diminish what might already be low concentrations of the target molecule. The methods, compositions and kits rely on the use of a Group II Intron reverse transcriptase (Intron-RT) that have strand displacing properties and can generate concatemers in cDNA by rolling circle transcription of circRNAs that may be naturally circular or circularized in vitro from linear RNA.

Abstract: Compositions are provided for 3? adapters and methods of use are provided that include methods requiring a plurality of ligation steps involving a single-stranded target polynucleotide and 3? and 5? adapters. Embodiments of the 3? adapters comprise a cleavable linker positioned between a single-stranded region and a double-stranded region. Upon ligating the 3? adapters, the single-stranded region is released by cleaving the cleavable linker.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of use are provided that among other things, allow for efficient adapter ligation to small RNAs. Embodiments of the compositions include partially double stranded polynucleotides for use as 3? adapters that contain a cleavable linker positioned between a single-stranded region and a double-stranded region. Upon ligating the 3? adapters, the single-stranded region is released by cleaving the cleavable linker.

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 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: 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: Methods and compositions are provided for engineering mutant enzymes with reduced star activity where the mutant enzymes have a fidelity index (FI) in a specified buffer that is greater than the FI of the non-mutated enzyme in the same buffer.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for enzymes with altered properties that involve a systematic approach to mutagenesis and a screening assay that permits selection of the desired proteins. Embodiments of the method are particularly suited for modifying specific properties of restriction endonucleases such as star activity. The compositions includes restriction endonucleases with reduced star activity as defined by an overall fidelity index improvement factor.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for identifying any of the presence, location and phasing of methylated and/or hydroxymethylated cytosines in nucleic acids including long stretches of DNA. In some embodiments, the method may comprise reacting a first portion (aliquot) of a nucleic acid sample with a dioxygenase and optionally a glucosyltransferase in a reaction mixture containing the nucleic acid followed by a reaction with a cytidine deaminase to detect and optionally map 5mC in a DNA. Optionally, a second portion can be reacted with glucosyltransferase followed by reaction with a cytidine deaminase to detect and optionally map 5hmC in a DNA.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for engineering mutant enzymes with reduced star activity where the mutant enzymes have a fidelity index (FI) in a specified buffer that is greater than the FI of the non-mutated enzyme in the same buffer.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for identifying any of the presence, location and phasing of methylated and/or hydroxymethylated cytosines in nucleic acids including long stretches of DNA. In some embodiments, the method may comprise reacting a first portion (aliquot) of a nucleic acid sample with a dioxygenase and optionally a glucosyltransferase in a reaction mixture containing the nucleic acid followed by a reaction with a cytidine deaminase to detect and optionally map 5mC in a DNA. Optionally, a second portion can be reacted with glucosyltransferase followed by reaction with a cytidine deaminase to detect and optionally map 5hmC in a DNA.

Abstract: Compositions are provided for 3? adapters and methods of use are provided that include methods requiring a plurality of ligation steps involving a single-stranded target polynucleotide and 3? and 5? adapters. Embodiments of the 3? adapters comprise a cleavable linker positioned between a single-stranded region and a double-stranded region. Upon ligating the 3? adapters, the single-stranded region is released by cleaving the cleavable linker.

Abstract: A method for identifying the 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 optionally reacting a second portion of the sample with a dioxygenase 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 that is more efficient at converting methylcytosine to carboxymethylcytosine is also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein in some embodiments is a non-naturally occurring variant of a wild type restriction enzyme defined by SEQ ID NO: 20, wherein the variant has at least a 2 fold increase in cleavage at 5-? glucosylhydroxymethylcytosine (5?ghmC) compared with methylcytosine relative to the wild type enzyme. Methods for examining hydroxymethylation of a DNA sample using the variant enzyme are also provided.