Non-cross-linked polyacrylamide is a very convenient medium for the separation of DNA sequencing fragments in capillary electrophoresis. We demonstrate DNA sequencing with this matrix at an electric field of 200 V/cm and at room temperature. Resolution is observed to decrease exponentially with fragment length. Fragments 570 bases in length generate a resolution of 0.5, which is adequate for sequence identification.

The mobility of DNA sequencing fragments was measured in Long-Ranger gels at an electric field ranging from 200 to 1200 V cm-1 and in noncross-linked polyacrylamide at electric fields ranging from 100 to 300 V cm-1. In both cases, N*, the fragment length that denotes the onset of biased reptation with orientation, is inversely proportional to electric field. The inverse dependence of N* is inconsistent with the original biased reptation model but is consistent with modern models of DNA migration. While separation speed increases dramatically with electric field, the number of bases determined in a separation decreases in proportion to field strength. We present a DNA sequencing run at an electric field of 1200 V cm-1. Roughly 200 bases of sequence are determined in 3.5 min.

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