Detection of large rearrangements in a hereditary pan-cancer panel using next-generation sequencing.

Background: Healthcare providers increasingly use information about pathogenic variants in cancer predisposition genes, including sequence variants and large rearrangements (LRs), in medical management decisions. While sequence variant detection is typically robust, LRs can be difficult to detect and characterize and may be underreported as a cause for hereditary cancer risk. This report describes the outcomes of hereditary cancer genetic testing using a comprehensive strategy that employs next-generation sequencing (NGS) for LR detection, coupled with LR confirmation using repeat hybrid capture NGS, microarray comparative genomic hybridization (microarray-CGH), and/or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA).

Synthesis and polymerase incorporation of β,γ-modified α-l-threofuranosyl thymine triphosphate mimics.

Three β,γ-modified α-l-threofuranosyl nucleoside triphosphates were synthesized. The β,γ-modified tTTPs undergo a single incorporation event with HIV RT but undergo multiple incorporations to form full-length product with engineered thermophilic polymerases.

Enhancing aptamer function and stability via in vitro selection using modified nucleic acids.

Nucleic acid aptamers have emerged as a promising alternative to antibodies for use as recognition elements in therapeutics, bioimaging, and analytical applications. A key benefit that aptamers possess relative to antibodies is their ability to be chemically synthesized. This advantage, coupled with the broad range of modified nucleotide building blocks that can be constructed using chemical synthesis, has enabled the discovery and development of modified aptamers having extraordinary affinity, specificity, and biostability.

Fluorescent RNA labeling using self-alkylating ribozymes.

The ability to fluorescently label specific RNA sequences is of significant utility for both in vitro and live cell applications. Currently, most RNA labeling methods utilize RNA-nucleic acid or RNA-protein molecular recognition. However, in the search for improved RNA labeling methods, harnessing the small-molecule recognition capabilities of RNA is rapidly emerging as a promising alternative.