Thermoelectric method for sequencing DNA

Abstract

This study describes a novel, thermoelectric method for DNA sequencing in a microfluidic device. The method measures the heat released when DNA polymerase inserts a deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate into a primed DNA template. The study describes the principle of operation of a laminar flow microfluidic chip with a reaction zone that contains DNA template/primer complex immobilized to the inner surface of the device's lower channel wall. A thin-film thermopile attached to the external surface of the lower channel wall measures the dynamic change in temperature that results when Klenow polymerase inserts a deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate into the DNA template. The intrinsic rejection of common-mode thermal signals by the thermopile in combination with hydrodynamic focused flow allows for the measurement of temperature changes on the order of 10⁻⁴ K without control of ambient temperature. To demonstrate the method, we report the sequencing of a model oligonucleotide containing 12 bases. Results demonstrate that it is feasible to sequence DNA by measuring the heat released during nucleotide incorporation. This thermoelectric method for sequencing DNA may offer a novel new method of DNA sequencing for personalized medicine applications.