Real-time detection of nucleotide incorporation during complementary DNA strand synthesis

Real-time observation of DNA strand synthesis by using a supercritical angle fluorescence detection apparatus for surface-selective fluorescence detection is described. DNA template molecules were immobilized on a glass surface and the synthesis of the complementary strand was observed after addition of enzyme, dTTP, dATP, dGTP, and fluorescently labeled dCTP (d, deoxy; TP, triphosphate; T, A, G, and C, nucleobases). The fluorescence increase during the Klenow-fragment-catalyzed polymerization depends on the number of labeled dCTP nucleotides incorporated. The efficiency of this reaction is of the same order of magnitude as that of a bimolecular hybridization reaction.