Single-base extension

Single-base extension (SBE) is a method for determining the identity of a nucleotide base at a specific position along a nucleic acid. The method is used to identify a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).

In the method, an oligonucleotide primer hybridizes to a complementary region along the nucleic acid, to form a duplex, with the primer’s terminal 3’ end directly adjacent to the nucleotide base to be identified. The oligonucleotide primer is enzymatically extended by a single base in the presence of all four nucleotide terminators; the nucleotide terminator complementary to the base in the template being interrogated is incorporated and identified. The presence of all four terminators ensures that no further extension occurs beyond the single incorporated base. Many approaches can be taken for determining the identity of a terminator, including fluorescence labeling, mass labeling for mass spectrometry, measuring enzyme activity using a protein moiety, and isotope labeling.

The method was invented by Philip Goelet, Michael Knapp, Richard Douglas and Stephen Anderson while working at the company Molecular Tool. This approach was designed for high-throughput SNP genotyping and was originally called "Genetic Bit Analysis" (GBA). Illumina, Inc. utilizes this method in their Infinium technology (http://www.illumina.com/technology/beadarray-technology/infinium-hd-assay.html) to measure DNA methylation levels in the human genome.

References

• Philip Goelet, Michael R. Knapp, Stephen Anderson, (1999), U.S. Patent No 5,888,819. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.