DNA/RNA Synthesis

Standard oligonucleotide synthesis is provided at variety of scales ranging from 40nMole to 10µMole. Two instruments support our DNA synthesis service. An Applied Biosystems model 394 allows for synthesis from 40nMole up to 10µMole, and can synthesize 4 oligonucleotides at a time. An Applied Biosystems model 3900 48 column DNA synthesizer provides a much higher throughput for us, synthesizing 48 20mers in approximately two hours, with scales ranging from 40nMole to 1µMole. Additionally, larger custom synthesis scales ranging from 25µMole to 50mMole can also be provided. Synthetic DNA and RNA oligomers can be synthesized with a wide variety of modified bases or sugars, or can be labeled with many different molecules including biotin, fluorescein, rhodamine or cyanin derivatives, as well as the incorporation of functional linkers such as amine or thiol linkers. The facility has been very successful in providing FRET probes and molecular beacons. These specialty oligonucleotides can be synthesized more cost-effectively in our facility than by commercial sources. Antisense synthesis chemistries available include phosphorothioate substitution and methyl-phosphonate chemistry. Oligonucleotides can be provided as crude products, or if requested can be purified by reversed phase HPLC for an additional charge.

The Biopolymer/Genomics Facility has extensive experience with synthesis of RNA molecules. More recently, there has been a great demand for siRNA synthesis. Like other specialty oligonucleotides, our facility can synthesize high quality SiRNAs more cost-effectively than commercial sources. Desalting by reversed phase HPLC is provided at no cost for this service.

A number of standard primers are available as 'Ready Made'. These HPLC purified oligonucleotides are provided in 10µg aliquots at a concentration of 1µg/µl. At present, the oligonucleotides available as Ready Made include:

• Universal Forward
• Universal Reverse
• T7
• T3
• SP6
• Oligo-dT(20mer)
• Random primer (hexamer)