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AAT Bioquest

How do DdNTPs stop a sequencing reaction?

Posted September 25, 2020


Answer

Dideoxynucleotides triphosphates (DdNTPs) are chain-terminating nucleotides used in sequencing techniques (e.g. Sanger Sequencing) to analyze the nucleotide sequence of DNA. Because DdNTPs have a hydrogen molecule (-H) instead of a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the 3’-C of its deoxyribose, it cannot bind to any incoming nucleotides. Therefore, addition of DdNTPs during DNA replication can be used to terminate the synthesis reaction.

Additional resources

Four-color DNA sequencing with 3'-O-modified nucleotide reversible terminators and chemically cleavable fluorescent dideoxynucleotides

MagaDye™ 4 Color Sanger Sequencing Terminator Kit