cDNA-PCR Sequencing V14 (SQK-PCS114)

Oxford Nanopore Technologies
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PromethION: Protocol

cDNA-PCR Sequencing V14 (SQK-PCS114) V PCS_9200_v114_revC_06Dec2023

The fastest and simplest protocol for full-length cDNA sequencing

  • Offering highest yield
  • Higher yields than traditional cDNA synthesis
  • Splice variants and fusion transcripts
  • Compatible with R10.4.1 flow cells

For Research Use Only

This is an Early Access product For more information about our Early Access programmes, please see this article on product release phases.

FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY

Overview

The fastest and simplest protocol for full-length cDNA sequencing

  • Offering highest yield
  • Higher yields than traditional cDNA synthesis
  • Splice variants and fusion transcripts
  • Compatible with R10.4.1 flow cells

For Research Use Only

This is an Early Access product For more information about our Early Access programmes, please see this article on product release phases.

Document version: PCS_9200_v114_revC_06Dec2023

1. Overview of the protocol

IMPORTANT

This is an Early Access product

For more information about our Early Access programmes, please see this article on product release phases.

Please ensure you always use the most recent version of the protocol.

Introduction to the cDNA-PCR protocol

This protocol describes how to carry out sequencing of cDNA using a strand-switching method and the cDNA-PCR Sequencing Kit V14 (SQK-PCS114). During the strand-switching step, a UMI is incorporated, before the double-stranded cDNA is amplified by PCR using primers containing 5' tags. The Rapid Sequencing Adapters are then added to the amplified sample.

A control experiment can be completed first using RNA Control Sample (RCS) from the RNA Control Expansion (EXP-RCS001) as your input to troubleshoot your library preparation or to become familiar with the protocol.

Steps in the sequencing workflow:

Prepare for your experiment

You will need to:

  • Extract your RNA, and check its length, quantity and purity using the Input DNA/RNA QC protocol. The quality checks performed during the protocol are essential in ensuring experimental success.
  • Ensure you have your sequencing kit, the correct equipment and third-party reagents
  • Download the software for acquiring and analysing your data
  • Check your flow cell to ensure it has enough pores for a good sequencing run

Library preparation

The table below is an overview of the steps required in the library preparation, including timings and stopping points.

Library preparation step Process Time Stop option
Reverse transcription and strand-switching Prepare full-length cDNA from Poly(A)+ RNA (or total RNA) 170 minutes -20°C overnight
Selecting for full-length transcripts by PCR Amplify the cDNA by PCR using rapid attachment primers during the PCR step 40 minutes 4°C short-term storage or for repeated use, such as re-loading your flow cell.
-80°C for single-use long-term storage.
Adapter ligation Attach the sequencing adapters to the to the PCR products. 5 minutes We strongly recommend sequencing your library as soon as it is adapted.
Priming and loading the flow cell Prime the flow cell and load the prepared cDNA library for sequencing 5 minutes

PCS114 workflow

Sequencing and analysis

You will need to:

  • Start a sequencing run using the MinKNOW software, which will collect raw data from the device and convert it into basecalled reads
  • Optional: Start the EPI2ME software and select a workflow for further analysis, e.g. metagenomic analysis or drug resistance mapping
IMPORTANT

Compatibility of this protocol

This protocol should only be used in combination with:

2. Equipment and consumables

Materials
  • 10 ng enriched RNA (Poly(A)+ RNA or ribodepleted) or 500 ng total RNA
  • cDNA-PCR Sequencing Kit V14 (SQK-PCS114)
Consumables
  • PromethION Flow Cell
  • NEBNext® Quick Ligation Reaction Buffer (NEB, B6058)
  • T4 DNA Ligase 2M U/ml (NEB, cat # M0202M)
  • RNaseOUT™, 40 U/μl (Life Technologies, cat # 10777019)
  • Lambda Exonuclease (NEB, Cat # M0262L)
  • Thermolabile Exonuclease I (NEB, cat # M0568)
  • USER (Uracil-Specific Excision Reagent) Enzyme (NEB, cat # M5505L)
  • 10 mM dNTP solution (e.g. NEB N0447)
  • Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase (200 U/µl) with 5x RT Buffer (ThermoFisher, cat # EP0751)
  • LongAmp Hot Start Taq 2X Master Mix (NEB, M0533)
  • Agencourt RNAClean XP beads (Beckman Coulter™, cat # A63987)
  • Agencourt AMPure XP beads (Beckman Coulter™, A63881)
  • Qubit RNA HS Assay Kit (ThermoFisher, cat # Q32852)
  • Qubit dsDNA HS Assay Kit (ThermoFisher, cat # Q32851)
  • Nuclease-free water (e.g. ThermoFisher, AM9937)
  • Freshly prepared 70% ethanol in nuclease-free water
  • 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tubes
  • Qubit™ Assay Tubes (Invitrogen, Q32856)
  • 0.2 ml thin-walled PCR tubes
Equipment
  • PromethION device
  • PromethION Flow Cell Light Shield
  • Hula mixer (gentle rotator mixer)
  • Magnetic rack, suitable for 1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes
  • Microfuge
  • Vortex mixer
  • Thermal cycler
  • Qubit fluorometer (or equivalent for QC check)
  • Agilent Bioanalyzer (or equivalent)
  • P1000 pipette and tips
  • P200 pipette and tips
  • P100 pipette and tips
  • P20 pipette and tips
  • P10 pipette and tips
  • P2 pipette and tips
  • Ice bucket with ice
  • Timer

For this protocol, you will need 10 ng enriched RNA (Poly(A)+ RNA or ribodepleted) or 500 ng total RNA.

Third-party reagents

We have validated and recommend the use of all the third-party reagents used in this protocol. Alternatives have not been tested by Oxford Nanopore Technologies.

For all third-party reagents, we recommend following the manufacturer's instructions to prepare the reagents for use.

Check your flow cell

We highly recommend that you check the number of pores in your flow cell prior to starting a sequencing experiment. This should be done within 12 weeks of purchasing for MinION/GridION/PromethION or within four weeks of purchasing Flongle Flow Cells. Oxford Nanopore Technologies will replace any flow cell with fewer than the number of pores in the table below, when the result is reported within two days of performing the flow cell check, and when the storage recommendations have been followed. To do the flow cell check, please follow the instructions in the Flow Cell Check document.

Flow cell Minimum number of active pores covered by warranty
Flongle Flow Cell 50
MinION/GridION Flow Cell 800
PromethION Flow Cell 5000

cDNA-PCR Sequencing Kit V14 (SQK-PCS114) contents

SQK PCS114 Kit content

Name Acronym Cap colour No. of vials Fill volume per vial (µl)
Strand Switching Primer II SSPII Violet 1 20
RT Primer RTP Yellow 1 10
cDNA RT Adapter CRTA Amber 1 10
Annealing Buffer AB Orange 1 10
Rapid Adapter RA Green 1 15
Adapter Buffer ADB Clear 1 100
cDNA Primer cPRM White cap, grey label 1 40
Elution Buffer EB Black 1 500
Short Fragment Buffer SFB Clear 1 1,800
Sequencing Buffer SB Red 1 700
Library Beads LIB Pink 1 600
Library Solution LIS White cap, pink label 1 600
Flow Cell Tether FCT Purple 1 200
Flow Cell Flush FCF Clear cap, light blue label 1 8,000

3. Reverse transcription and strand-switching

Materials
  • 10 ng enriched RNA (Poly(A)+ RNA or ribodepleted) or 500 ng total RNA
  • cDNA RT Adapter (CRTA)
  • Annealing Buffer (AB)
  • Short Fragment Buffer (SFB)
  • RT Primer (RTP)
  • Strand Switching Primer II (SSPII)
Consumables
  • Nuclease-free water (e.g. ThermoFisher, cat # AM9937)
  • NEBNext® Quick Ligation Reaction Buffer (NEB, B6058)
  • T4 DNA Ligase 2M U/ml (NEB, cat # M0202M)
  • Lambda Exonuclease (NEB, Cat # M0262L)
  • USER (Uracil-Specific Excision Reagent) Enzyme (NEB, cat # M5505L)
  • Agencourt RNAClean XP beads (Beckman Coulter™, cat # A63987)
  • 10 mM dNTP solution (e.g. NEB cat # N0447)
  • Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase (200 U/µl) with 5x RT Buffer (ThermoFisher, cat # EP0751)
  • RNaseOUT™, 40 U/μl (Life Technologies, cat # 10777019)
  • 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tubes
  • 0.2 ml thin-walled PCR tubes
  • Qubit RNA HS Assay Kit (ThermoFisher, cat # Q32852)
  • Qubit™ Assay Tubes (Invitrogen, Q32856)
Equipment
  • Microfuge
  • Thermal cycler
  • P1000 pipette and tips
  • P200 pipette and tips
  • P100 pipette and tips
  • P20 pipette and tips
  • P10 pipette and tips
  • P2 pipette and tips
  • Qubit fluorometer (or equivalent for QC check)
CHECKPOINT

Check your flow cell.

We recommend performing a flow cell check before starting your library prep to ensure you have a flow cell with enough pores for a good sequencing run.

See the flow cell check instructions in the MinKNOW protocol for more information.

TIP

Preparing the laboratory for handling RNA samples:

For optimal results, we recommend preparing your laboratory space and equipment prior to handling RNA to ensure the presence of RNAse and contaminants is minimal:

  • Clean the lab bench space where you will carry out the work with RNaZap and tech wipes.
  • Clean all equipment such as pippettes, tube racks, centrifuge and vortex with RNaZap and tech wipes.
  • Use fresh tip boxes and reagents to minimise risk of contamination.

Thaw the following reagents, then spin down briefly using a microfuge and mix as indicated in the table below. Then place the reagents on ice.

Reagent 1. Thaw at room temperature 2. Briefly spin down 3. Mix well by pipetting
cDNA RT Adapter (CRTA) ✓ ✓ ✓
Annealing Buffer (AB) ✓ ✓ ✓
Short Fragment Buffer (SFB) ✓ ✓ ✓
RT Primer (RTP) ✓ ✓ ✓
Strand Switching Primer II (SSPII) ✓ ✓ ✓
NEBNext® Quick Ligation Reaction Buffer ✓ ✓ Mix by vortexing
T4 DNA Ligase 2M U/ml Not frozen ✓ ✓
RNaseOUT Not frozen ✓ ✓
Lambda Exonuclease Not frozen ✓ ✓
Uracil-Specific Excision Reagent (USER) Not frozen ✓ ✓
10 mM dNTP solution ✓ ✓ ✓
Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase Not frozen ✓ ✓
Maxima H Minus 5x RT Buffer ✓ ✓ Mix by vortexing
IMPORTANT

It is important that the NEBNext Quick Ligation Reaction Buffer is mixed well by vortexing.

Check for any visible precipitate; vortexing for at least 30 seconds may be required to solubilise all precipitate.

OPTIONAL ACTION

To run a control experiment, replace your sample input with 10 μl diluted RNA Control Sample (RCS) from the RNA Control Expansion (EXP-RCS001) as follows:


  • Thaw the RNA Control Sample (RCS) at room temperature, briefly spin down and mix well by pipetting.
  • Dilute the RNA Control Sample (RCS) in a 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tube as follows:

Reagent Volume
RNA Control Sample (RCS) 1 μl
Nuclease-free water 14 μl
Total 15 μl

Note: This will provide enough volume for 1 sample, adjust your volumes accordingly for the number of samples you wish to run in your control experiment.

  • Mix thoroughly by pipetting 10-20 times and briefly spin down.
  • Use the 10 μl of diluted RNA Control Sample (RCS) as your RNA input.

Prepare the RNA sample(s) in nuclease-free water:

  • Transfer 10 ng Poly(A)+ RNA, or 500 ng total RNA into a 0.2 ml thin-walled PCR tube
  • Adjust the volume up to 10 µl with nuclease-free water
  • Mix by flicking the tube to avoid unwanted shearing
  • Spin down briefly in a microfuge

Prepare the following reaction in a 0.2 ml PCR tube:

Reagent Volume
RNA 10 μl
cDNA RT Adapter (CRTA) 1 μl
Annealing Buffer (AB) 1 μl
Total volume 12 μl
TIP

The cDNA RT Adapter (CRTA) is a double stranded adapter with a poly(T) overhang which anneals to the very end of the poly(A) tail of the RNA strand. This ensures that the full length of the RNA is reverse transcribed and that the poly(A) length can be estimated accurately. Annealing Buffer (AB) has been included to improve CRTA ligation.

Ensure the components are thoroughly mixed by flicking the tube and spin down.

Incubate the reactions in the thermal cycler at 60°C for 5 mins, then cool for 5 minutes at room temperature.

To the same 0.2 ml PCR tube, add the following:

Reagent Volume
RNA sample (from previous step) 12 μl
NEBNext® Quick Ligation Reaction Buffer 3.6 μl
T4 DNA Ligase 2M U/ml 1.4 μl
RNaseOUT 1 μl
Total volume (including all reagents) 18 μl

Ensure the components are thoroughly mixed by flicking the tube and spin down.

Incubate for 10 minutes at room temperature.

To each of the 0.2 ml PCR tubes, add the following:

Reagent Volume
RNA sample (from previous step) 18 µl
Lambda Exonuclease 1 µl
USER (Uracil-Specific Excision Reagent) 1 µl
Total volume (including all reagents) 20 µl
TIP

The Lambda Exonuclease and Uracil-Specific Excision Reagent (USER) are third-party reagents used in the preparation of the reverse transcription step. Lambda Exonuclease and USER digest the bottom strand of the ligated CRTA so that the RT Primer (RTP) can bind the CRTA sequence as a primer for the reverse transcription of the RNA.

Ensure the components are thoroughly mixed by flicking the tube and spin down.

Incubate for 5 minutes at 37°C in the thermal cycler.

Transfer the sample to a clean 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tube.

Resuspend the RNase-free XP beads by vortexing.

Add 36 µl of resuspended RNase-free XP beads to the reaction and mix gently by flicking the tube.

Incubate on a Hula mixer (rotator mixer) for 5 minutes at room temperature.

Spin down the sample and pellet on a magnet. Keep the tube on the magnet, and pipette off the supernatant when clear and colourless.

Keep the tubes on the magnet and wash the beads with 100 µl of Short Fragment Buffer (SFB) as follows:

  1. Wash the beads with 100 µl of Short Fragment Buffer (SFB).
  2. Keeping the magnetic rack on the benchtop, rotate the tube by 180°. Wait for the beads to migrate towards the magnet and to form a pellet.
  3. Rotate the tube 180° again (back to the starting position), and wait for the beads to pellet again.
  4. Without disturbing the pellet, remove the Short Fragment Buffer (SFB) using a pipette and discard.

Repeat the previous step.

Spin down and place the tube back on the magnet. Pipette off any residual buffer. Briefly allow to dry for ~30 seconds, but do not dry the pellet to the point of cracking.

Remove the tube from the magnetic rack and resuspend pellet in 12 µl of nuclease-free water.

Incubate at room temperature for 10 minutes.

Pellet the beads on a magnet until the eluate is clear and colourless.

Remove and retain 12 µl of eluate into a clean 0.2 ml thin-walled PCR tube.

To the same 0.2 ml PCR tube, add the following:

Reagent Volume
Eluted sample (from previous step) 12 μl
RT Primer (RTP) 1 μl
dNTPs (10 mM) 1 μl
Total volume (including all reagents) 14 μl
TIP

RT Primer (RTP) is a single stranded primer and binds upstream of the poly(A) tail of the RNA transcript to prime for reverse transcription.

Ensure the components are thoroughly mixed by flicking the tube and spin down.

Incubate the reaction for 5 minutes at room temperature.

To the same 0.2 ml PCR tube, add the following:

Reagent Volume
RT primed RNA (from previous step) 14 μl
Maxima H Minus 5x RT Buffer 4.5 μl
RNaseOUT 1 μl
Strand Switching Primer II (SSPII) 2 μl
Total (including all reagents) 21.5 μl
TIP

Strand Switching Primer II (SSPII) base pairs to the deoxycytidine present at the 5' end of the first cDNA strand synthesised. This allows the reverse transcriptase to "strand-switch" for synthesis of the second cDNA strand.

Ensure the components are thoroughly mixed by flicking the tube and spin down.

Incubate at 42°C for 2 minutes in the thermal cycler.

Add 1 µl of Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase. The total volume is now 22.5 µl.

Ensure the components are thoroughly mixed by flicking the tube and spin down.

Incubate using the following protocol using a thermal cycler:

Cycle step Temperature Time No. of cycles
Reverse transcription and strand-switching 42°C 30 mins 1
Heat inactivation 85°C 5 mins 1
Hold 4°C ∞
END OF STEP

Take your samples forward into the next step. However, at this point it is also possible to store the sample at -20°C overnight.

4. Selecting for full-length transcripts by PCR

Materials
  • cDNA Primer (cPRM)
  • Elution Buffer (EB)
Consumables
  • Nuclease-free water (e.g. ThermoFisher, cat # AM9937)
  • LongAmp Hot Start Taq 2X Master Mix (NEB, M0533)
  • Thermolabile Exonuclease I (NEB, cat # M0568)
  • Agencourt AMPure XP beads (Beckman Coulter™ cat # A63881)
  • Freshly prepared 70% ethanol in nuclease-free water
  • 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tubes
  • Qubit dsDNA HS Assay Kit (Invitrogen, Q32851)
  • Qubit™ Assay Tubes (Invitrogen, Q32856)
Equipment
  • Thermal cycler
  • Vortex mixer
  • Hula mixer (gentle rotator mixer)
  • Magnetic rack, suitable for 1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes
  • Ice bucket with ice
  • P1000 pipette and tips
  • P200 pipette and tips
  • P100 pipette and tips
  • P20 pipette and tips
  • P10 pipette and tips
  • P2 pipette and tips
  • Qubit fluorometer (or equivalent for QC check)
  • Agilent Bioanalyzer (or equivalent)
IMPORTANT

The 22.5 μl of reverse-transcribed sample is used to make 4x 50 μl PCR reactions which will be pooled at a later stage, with 5 μl of reverse-transcribed sample in each PCR reaction. Do NOT use all 22.5 μl of the reverse transcription reaction in a single PCR reaction.

Reverse transcriptase is a PCR inhibitor and the RT material must be diluted enough for PCR to take place.

Thaw the cDNA Primer (cPRM), Elution Buffer (EB). LongAmp Hot Start Taq 2X Master Mix and Thermolabile Exonuclease I at room temperature, spin down and pipette mix. Store the reagents on ice.

Spin down the reverse-transcribed RNA sample.

Prepare four fresh 0.2 ml PCR tubes and add 5 μl of reverse-transcribed sample per tube.

In each of the 0.2 ml PCR tubes containing the reverse-transcribed sample, prepare the following reaction at room temperature:

Reagent Volume
Reverse-transcribed sample (from previous step) 5 μl
cDNA Primer (cPRM) 1.5 μl
Nuclease-free water 18.5 μl
2x LongAmp Hot Start Taq Master Mix 25 μl
Total (including all reagents) 50 μl

Mix gently by pipetting.

Amplify using the following cycling conditions.

Cycle step Temperature Time No. of cycles
Initial denaturation 95°C 30 secs 1
Denaturation 95°C 15 secs 10-18*
Annealing 62°C 15 secs 10-18*
Extension 65°C 60 secs per kb 10-18*
Final extension 65°C 6 mins 1
Hold 4°C ∞

*We recommend 14 cycles as a starting point. However, the number of cycles can be adjusted between the values shown according to experimental needs.

For further information, please read The effect of varying the number of PCR cycles in the PCR-cDNA Sequencing Kit document.

Add 1 μl Thermolabile Exonuclease I directly to each PCR tube. Mix by flicking the tube and briefly spin down.

TIP

The Thermolabile Exonuclease I is added to remove any excess primers which have not successfully annealed.

Incubate the reaction at 37°C for 5 minutes, followed by 80°C for 2 minutes in the thermal cycler.

Pool the four PCR reactions (total 204 μl) in a clean 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tube.

Resuspend the AMPure XP beads by vortexing.

Add 140 µl of resuspended AMPure XP beads to the reaction.

Incubate on a Hula mixer (rotator mixer) for 5 minutes at room temperature.

Prepare 1 ml of fresh 70% ethanol in nuclease-free water.

Spin down the sample and pellet on a magnet. Keep the tube on the magnet, and pipette off the supernatant.

Keep the tube on the magnet and wash the beads with 500 µl of freshly-prepared 70% ethanol without disturbing the pellet. Remove the ethanol using a pipette and discard.

Repeat the previous step.

Spin down and place the tube back on the magnet. Pipette off any residual ethanol. Allow to dry for ~30 seconds, but do not dry the pellet to the point of cracking.

Remove the tube from the magnetic rack and resuspend pellet in 12 µl of Elution Buffer (EB).

Incubate at room temperature for 10 minutes.

Pellet the beads on the magnet until the eluate is clear and colourless.

Remove and retain 12 µl of eluate into a clean 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tube.

  • Remove and retain the eluate which contains the cDNA library in a clean 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tube
  • Dispose of the pelleted beads

For each sample, analyse 1 µl of the amplified cDNA for size, quantity and quality using a Qubit fluorometer and Agilent Bioanalyzer (or equivalent) for a QC check.

IMPORTANT

Sometimes a high-molecular weight product is visible in the wells of the gel when the PCR products are run, instead of the expected smear. These libraries are typically associated with poor sequencing performance. We have found that repeating the PCR with fewer cycles can remedy this.

Take forward 50 fmol of amplified cDNA and make the volume up to 31 μl in Elution Buffer (EB).

Mass Molarity if fragment length = 0.5 kb Molarity if fragment length = 1.5 kb Molarity if fragment length = 3 kb
5 ng 16 fmol 5 fmol 3 fmol
10 ng 32 fmol 11 fmol 5 fmol
15 ng 49 fmol 16 fmol 8 fmol
20 ng 65 fmol 22 fmol 11 fmol
25 ng 81 fmol 27 fmol 13 fmol
50 ng 154 fmol 51 fmol 26 fmol
100 ng 324 fmol 108 fmol 54 fmol

If the quantity of amplified cDNA is above 50 fmol, the remaining cDNA can be frozen and stored for another sequencing experiment (in this case, library preparation would start from the Adapter Addition step). We recommend avoiding multiple freeze-thaw cycles to prevent DNA degradation.

TIP

Library storage recommendations

We recommend storing libraries in Eppendorf DNA LoBind tubes at 4°C for short-term storage or repeated use, for example, re-loading flow cells between washes. For single use and long-term storage of more than 3 months, we recommend storing libraries at -80°C in Eppendorf DNA LoBind tubes.

5. Adapter addition

Materials
  • Rapid Adapter (RA)
  • Adapter Buffer (ADB)
  • Elution Buffer (EB)
Consumables
  • 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tubes
Equipment
  • Microfuge
  • Ice bucket with ice
  • P1000 pipette and tips
  • P200 pipette and tips
  • P100 pipette and tips
  • P20 pipette and tips
  • P10 pipette and tips
  • P2 pipette and tips
IMPORTANT

The Rapid Adapter (RA) used in this kit and protocol is not interchangeable with other sequencing adapters.

Thaw the kit components at room temperature, spin down briefly using a microfuge and mix by pipetting as indicated by the table below:

Reagent 1. Thaw at room temperature 2. Briefly spin down 3. Mix well by pipetting
Rapid Adapter (RA) Not frozen ✓ ✓
Adapter Buffer (ADB) Not frozen ✓ ✓

In a fresh 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tube, dilute the Rapid Adapter (RA) as follows and pipette mix:

Reagents Volume
Rapid Adapter (RA) 1.5 μl
Adapter Buffer (ADB) 3.5 μl
Total 5 μl

Add 1 μl of the diluted Rapid Adapter (RA) to the amplified cDNA library, making the total volume 32 μl.

Mix gently by flicking the tube, and spin down.

Incubate the reaction for 5 minutes at room temperature.

Spin down briefly.

END OF STEP

The prepared library is used for loading onto the flow cell. Store the library on ice until ready to load.

6. Priming and loading the PromethION flow cell

Materials
  • Flow Cell Flush (FCF)
  • Flow Cell Tether (FCT)
  • Library Solution (LIS)
  • Library Beads (LIB)
  • Sequencing Buffer (SB)
Consumables
  • PromethION Flow Cell
  • 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tubes
Equipment
  • PromethION 2 Solo device
  • PromethION sequencing device
  • PromethION Flow Cell Light Shield
  • P1000 pipette and tips
  • P200 pipette and tips
  • P20 pipette and tips
IMPORTANT

This kit is only compatible with R10.4.1 flow cells (FLO-PRO114M).

Using the Library Solution

For most sequencing experiments, use the Library Beads (LIB) for loading your library onto the flow cell. However, for viscous libraries it may be difficult to load with the beads and may be appropriate to load using the Library Solution (LIS).

Thaw the Sequencing Buffer (SB), Library Beads (LIB) or Library Solution (LIS, if using), Flow Cell Tether (FCT) and Flow Cell Flush (FCF) at room temperature before mixing by vortexing. Then spin down and store on ice.

Prepare the flow cell priming mix in a suitable tube for the number of flow cells to flush. Once combined, mix well by briefly vortexing.

Reagent Volume per flow cell
Flow Cell Tether (FCT) 30 µl
Flow Cell Flush (FCF) 1170 µl
Total volume 1,200 µl
IMPORTANT

After taking flow cells out of the fridge, wait 20 minutes before inserting the flow cell into the PromethION for the flow cell to come to room temperature. Condensation can form on the flow cell in humid environments. Inspect the gold connector pins on the top and underside of the flow cell for condensation and wipe off with a lint-free wipe if any is observed. Ensure the heat pad (black pad) is present on the underside of the flow cell.

For PromethION 2 Solo, load the flow cell(s) as follows:

  1. Place the flow cell flat on the metal plate.

  2. Slide the flow cell into the docking port until the gold pins or green board cannot be seen.

J2068 FC-into-P2-animation V5

For the PromethION 24/48, load the flow cell(s) into the docking ports:

  1. Line up the flow cell with the connector horizontally and vertically before smoothly inserting into position.
  2. Press down firmly onto the flow cell and ensure the latch engages and clicks into place.

Step 1a V3

Step 1B

IMPORTANT

Insertion of the flow cells at the wrong angle can cause damage to the pins on the PromethION and affect your sequencing results. If you find the pins on a PromethION position are damaged, please contact support@nanoporetech.com for assistance.

Screenshot 2021-04-08 at 12.08.37

Slide the inlet port cover clockwise to open.

Prom loading 2

IMPORTANT

Take care when drawing back buffer from the flow cell. Do not remove more than 20-30 µl, and make sure that the array of pores are covered by buffer at all times. Introducing air bubbles into the array can irreversibly damage pores.

After opening the inlet port, draw back a small volume to remove any air bubbles:

  1. Set a P1000 pipette tip to 200 µl.
  2. Insert the tip into the inlet port.
  3. Turn the wheel until the dial shows 220-230 µl, or until you see a small volume of buffer entering the pipette tip.

Step 3 v1

Load 500 µl of the priming mix into the flow cell via the inlet port, avoiding the introduction of air bubbles. Wait five minutes. During this time, prepare the library for loading using the next steps in the protocol.

Step 4 v1

Thoroughly mix the contents of the Library Beads (LIB) by pipetting.

IMPORTANT

The Library Beads (LIB) tube contains a suspension of beads. These beads settle very quickly. It is vital that they are mixed immediately before use.

We recommend using the Library Beads (LIB) for most sequencing experiments. However, the Library Solution (LIS) is available for more viscous libraries.

In a new 1.5 ml Eppendorf DNA LoBind tube, prepare the library for loading as follows:

Reagent Volume per flow cell
Sequencing Buffer (SB) 100 µl
Library Beads (LIB) thoroughly mixed before use, or Library Solution (LIS) 68 µl
DNA library 32 µl
Total 200 µl

Note: Library loading volume has been increased to improve array coverage.

Complete the flow cell priming by slowly loading 500 µl of the priming mix into the inlet port.

Step 5 v1

Mix the prepared library gently by pipetting up and down just prior to loading.

Load 200 µl of library into the inlet port using a P1000 pipette.

Step 6 v1

Close the valve to seal the inlet port.

Step 7 V2

IMPORTANT

Install the light shield on your flow cell as soon as library has been loaded for optimal sequencing output.

We recommend leaving the light shield on the flow cell when library is loaded, including during any washing and reloading steps. The shield can be removed when the library has been removed from the flow cell.

If the light shield has been removed from the flow cell, install the light shield as follows:

  1. Align the inlet port cut out of the light shield with the inlet port cover on the flow cell. The leading edge of the light shield should sit above the flow cell ID.
  2. Firmly press the light shield around the inlet port cover. The inlet port clip will click into place underneath the inlet port cover.

J2264 - Light shield animation PromethION Flow Cell 8a FAW

J2264 - Light shield animation PromethION Flow Cell 8b FAW

END OF STEP

Close the PromethION lid when ready to start a sequencing run on MinKNOW.

Wait a minimum of 10 minutes after loading the flow cells onto the PromethION before initiating any experiments. This will help to increase the sequencing output.

7. Data acquisition and basecalling

How to start sequencing

Once you have loaded your flow cell, the sequencing run can be started on MinKNOW, our sequencing software that controls the device, data acquisition and real-time basecalling. For more detailed information on setting up and using MinKNOW, please see the MinKNOW protocol.

MinKNOW can be used and set up to sequence in multiple ways:

  • On a computer either direcly or remotely connected to a sequencing device.
  • Directly on a GridION, MinION Mk1C or PromethION 24/48 sequencing device.

For more information on using MinKNOW on a sequencing device, please see the device user manuals:

To start a sequencing run on MinKNOW:

1. Navigate to the start page and click Start sequencing.

2. Fill in your experiment details, such as name and flow cell position and sample ID.

3. Select the sequencing kit used in the library preparation on the Kit page.

4. Configure the sequencing and output parameters for your sequencing run or keep to the default settings on the Run configuration tab.

Note: If basecalling was turned off when a sequencing run was set up, basecalling can be performed post-run on MinKNOW. For more information, please see the MinKNOW protocol.

5. Click Start to initiate the sequencing run.

Data analysis after sequencing

After sequencing has completed on MinKNOW, the flow cell can be reused or returned, as outlined in the Flow cell reuse and returns section.

After sequencing and basecalling, the data can be analysed. For further information about options for basecalling and post-basecalling analysis, please refer to the Data Analysis document.

In the Downstream analysis section, we outline further options for analysing your data.

8. Flow cell reuse and returns

Materials
  • Flow Cell Wash Kit (EXP-WSH004)

After your sequencing experiment is complete, if you would like to reuse the flow cell, please follow the Flow Cell Wash Kit protocol and store the washed flow cell at 2-8°C.

The Flow Cell Wash Kit protocol is available on the Nanopore Community.

Alternatively, follow the returns procedure to flush out the flow cell ready to send back to Oxford Nanopore.

Instructions for returning flow cells can be found here.

Note: All flow cells must be flushed with deionised water before returning the product.

IMPORTANT

If you encounter issues or have questions about your sequencing experiment, please refer to the Troubleshooting Guide that can be found in the online version of this protocol.

9. Downstream analysis

Post-basecalling analysis

There are several options for further analysing your basecalled data:

1. EPI2ME workflows

For in-depth data analysis, Oxford Nanopore Technologies offers a range of bioinformatics tutorials and workflows available in EPI2ME, which are available in the EPI2ME section of the Community. The platform provides a vehicle where workflows deposited in GitHub by our Research and Applications teams can be showcased with descriptive texts, functional bioinformatics code and example data.

2. Research analysis tools

Oxford Nanopore Technologies' Research division has created a number of analysis tools, that are available in the Oxford Nanopore GitHub repository. The tools are aimed at advanced users, and contain instructions for how to install and run the software. They are provided as-is, with minimal support.

3. Community-developed analysis tools

If a data analysis method for your research question is not provided in any of the resources above, please refer to the resource centre and search for bioinformatics tools for your application. Numerous members of the Nanopore Community have developed their own tools and pipelines for analysing nanopore sequencing data, most of which are available on GitHub. Please be aware that these tools are not supported by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, and are not guaranteed to be compatible with the latest chemistry/software configuration.

10. Issues during DNA/RNA extraction and library preparation

Below is a list of the most commonly encountered issues, with some suggested causes and solutions.

We also have an FAQ section available on the Nanopore Community Support section.

If you have tried our suggested solutions and the issue still persists, please contact Technical Support via email (support@nanoporetech.com) or via LiveChat in the Nanopore Community.

Low sample quality

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
Low DNA purity (Nanodrop reading for DNA OD 260/280 is <1.8 and OD 260/230 is <2.0–2.2) The DNA extraction method does not provide the required purity The effects of contaminants are shown in the Contaminants document. Please try an alternative extraction method that does not result in contaminant carryover.

Consider performing an additional SPRI clean-up step.
Low RNA integrity (RNA integrity number <9.5 RIN, or the rRNA band is shown as a smear on the gel) The RNA degraded during extraction Try a different RNA extraction method. For more info on RIN, please see the RNA Integrity Number document. Further information can be found in the DNA/RNA Handling page.
RNA has a shorter than expected fragment length The RNA degraded during extraction Try a different RNA extraction method. For more info on RIN, please see the RNA Integrity Number document. Further information can be found in the DNA/RNA Handling page.

We recommend working in an RNase-free environment, and to keep your lab equipment RNase-free when working with RNA.

Low DNA recovery after AMPure bead clean-up

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
Low recovery DNA loss due to a lower than intended AMPure beads-to-sample ratio 1. AMPure beads settle quickly, so ensure they are well resuspended before adding them to the sample.

2. When the AMPure beads-to-sample ratio is lower than 0.4:1, DNA fragments of any size will be lost during the clean-up.
Low recovery DNA fragments are shorter than expected The lower the AMPure beads-to-sample ratio, the more stringent the selection against short fragments. Please always determine the input DNA length on an agarose gel (or other gel electrophoresis methods) and then calculate the appropriate amount of AMPure beads to use. SPRI cleanup
Low recovery after end-prep The wash step used ethanol <70% DNA will be eluted from the beads when using ethanol <70%. Make sure to use the correct percentage.

11. Issues during the sequencing run

Below is a list of the most commonly encountered issues, with some suggested causes and solutions.

We also have an FAQ section available on the Nanopore Community Support section.

If you have tried our suggested solutions and the issue still persists, please contact Technical Support via email (support@nanoporetech.com) or via LiveChat in the Nanopore Community.

Fewer pores at the start of sequencing than after Flow Cell Check

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
MinKNOW reported a lower number of pores at the start of sequencing than the number reported by the Flow Cell Check An air bubble was introduced into the nanopore array After the Flow Cell Check it is essential to remove any air bubbles near the priming port before priming the flow cell. If not removed, the air bubble can travel to the nanopore array and irreversibly damage the nanopores that have been exposed to air. The best practice to prevent this from happening is demonstrated in this video.
MinKNOW reported a lower number of pores at the start of sequencing than the number reported by the Flow Cell Check The flow cell is not correctly inserted into the device Stop the sequencing run, remove the flow cell from the sequencing device and insert it again, checking that the flow cell is firmly seated in the device and that it has reached the target temperature. If applicable, try a different position on the device (GridION/PromethION).
MinKNOW reported a lower number of pores at the start of sequencing than the number reported by the Flow Cell Check Contaminations in the library damaged or blocked the pores The pore count during the Flow Cell Check is performed using the QC DNA molecules present in the flow cell storage buffer. At the start of sequencing, the library itself is used to estimate the number of active pores. Because of this, variability of about 10% in the number of pores is expected. A significantly lower pore count reported at the start of sequencing can be due to contaminants in the library that have damaged the membranes or blocked the pores. Alternative DNA/RNA extraction or purification methods may be needed to improve the purity of the input material. The effects of contaminants are shown in the Contaminants Know-how piece. Please try an alternative extraction method that does not result in contaminant carryover.

MinKNOW script failed

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
MinKNOW shows "Script failed"
Restart the computer and then restart MinKNOW. If the issue persists, please collect the MinKNOW log files and contact Technical Support. If you do not have another sequencing device available, we recommend storing the flow cell and the loaded library at 4°C and contact Technical Support for further storage guidance.

Pore occupancy below 40%

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
Pore occupancy <40% Not enough library was loaded on the flow cell Ensure you load the recommended amount of good quality library in the relevant library prep protocol onto your flow cell. Please quantify the library before loading and calculate mols using tools like the Promega Biomath Calculator, choosing "dsDNA: µg to pmol"
Pore occupancy close to 0 The Ligation Sequencing Kit was used, and sequencing adapters did not ligate to the DNA Make sure to use the NEBNext Quick Ligation Module (E6056) and Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ligation Buffer (LNB, provided in the sequencing kit) at the sequencing adapter ligation step, and use the correct amount of each reagent. A Lambda control library can be prepared to test the integrity of the third-party reagents.
Pore occupancy close to 0 The Ligation Sequencing Kit was used, and ethanol was used instead of LFB or SFB at the wash step after sequencing adapter ligation Ethanol can denature the motor protein on the sequencing adapters. Make sure the LFB or SFB buffer was used after ligation of sequencing adapters.
Pore occupancy close to 0 No tether on the flow cell Tethers are adding during flow cell priming (FLT/FCT tube). Make sure FLT/FCT was added to FB/FCF before priming.

Shorter than expected read length

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
Shorter than expected read length Unwanted fragmentation of DNA sample Read length reflects input DNA fragment length. Input DNA can be fragmented during extraction and library prep.

1. Please review the Extraction Methods in the Nanopore Community for best practice for extraction.

2. Visualise the input DNA fragment length distribution on an agarose gel before proceeding to the library prep. DNA gel2 In the image above, Sample 1 is of high molecular weight, whereas Sample 2 has been fragmented.

3. During library prep, avoid pipetting and vortexing when mixing reagents. Flicking or inverting the tube is sufficient.

Large proportion of unavailable pores

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
Large proportion of unavailable pores (shown as blue in the channels panel and pore activity plot)

image2022-3-25 10-43-25 The pore activity plot above shows an increasing proportion of "unavailable" pores over time.		 Contaminants are present in the sample Some contaminants can be cleared from the pores by the unblocking function built into MinKNOW. If this is successful, the pore status will change to "sequencing pore". If the portion of unavailable pores stays large or increases:

1. A nuclease flush using the Flow Cell Wash Kit (EXP-WSH004) can be performed, or
2. Run several cycles of PCR to try and dilute any contaminants that may be causing problems.

Large proportion of inactive pores

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
Large proportion of inactive/unavailable pores (shown as light blue in the channels panel and pore activity plot. Pores or membranes are irreversibly damaged) Air bubbles have been introduced into the flow cell Air bubbles introduced through flow cell priming and library loading can irreversibly damage the pores. Watch the Priming and loading your flow cell video for best practice
Large proportion of inactive/unavailable pores Certain compounds co-purified with DNA Known compounds, include polysaccharides, typically associate with plant genomic DNA.

1. Please refer to the Plant leaf DNA extraction method.
2. Clean-up using the QIAGEN PowerClean Pro kit.
3. Perform a whole genome amplification with the original gDNA sample using the QIAGEN REPLI-g kit.
Large proportion of inactive/unavailable pores Contaminants are present in the sample The effects of contaminants are shown in the Contaminants Know-how piece. Please try an alternative extraction method that does not result in contaminant carryover.

Reduction in sequencing speed and q-score later into the run

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
Reduction in sequencing speed and q-score later into the run For Kit 9 chemistry (e.g. SQK-LSK109), fast fuel consumption is typically seen when the flow cell is overloaded with library (please see the appropriate protocol for your DNA library to see the recommendation). Add more fuel to the flow cell by following the instructions in the MinKNOW protocol. In future experiments, load lower amounts of library to the flow cell.

Temperature fluctuation

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
Temperature fluctuation The flow cell has lost contact with the device Check that there is a heat pad covering the metal plate on the back of the flow cell. Re-insert the flow cell and press it down to make sure the connector pins are firmly in contact with the device. If the problem persists, please contact Technical Services.

Failed to reach target temperature

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
MinKNOW shows "Failed to reach target temperature" The instrument was placed in a location that is colder than normal room temperature, or a location with poor ventilation (which leads to the flow cells overheating) MinKNOW has a default timeframe for the flow cell to reach the target temperature. Once the timeframe is exceeded, an error message will appear and the sequencing experiment will continue. However, sequencing at an incorrect temperature may lead to a decrease in throughput and lower q-scores. Please adjust the location of the sequencing device to ensure that it is placed at room temperature with good ventilation, then re-start the process in MinKNOW. Please refer to this FAQ for more information on MinION temperature control.

Guppy – no input .fast5 was found or basecalled

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
No input .fast5 was found or basecalled input_path did not point to the .fast5 file location The --input_path has to be followed by the full file path to the .fast5 files to be basecalled, and the location has to be accessible either locally or remotely through SSH.
No input .fast5 was found or basecalled The .fast5 files were in a subfolder at the input_path location To allow Guppy to look into subfolders, add the --recursive flag to the command

Guppy – no Pass or Fail folders were generated after basecalling

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
No Pass or Fail folders were generated after basecalling The --qscore_filtering flag was not included in the command The --qscore_filtering flag enables filtering of reads into Pass and Fail folders inside the output folder, based on their strand q-score. When performing live basecalling in MinKNOW, a q-score of 7 (corresponding to a basecall accuracy of ~80%) is used to separate reads into Pass and Fail folders.

Guppy – unusually slow processing on a GPU computer

Observation Possible cause Comments and actions
Unusually slow processing on a GPU computer The --device flag wasn't included in the command The --device flag specifies a GPU device to use for accelerate basecalling. If not included in the command, GPU will not be used. GPUs are counted from zero. An example is --device cuda:0 cuda:1, when 2 GPUs are specified to use by the Guppy command.

Last updated: 4/19/2024

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