Single-stranded templates of bacteriophage M13 DNA containing 20-30 residues of uracil in place of thymine are generated during growth of the bacteriophage in an F' strain of E. coli carrying mutations in the ung and dut genes. This DNA is used as a template in the Kunkel method of oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis (Oligonucleotide-directed Mutagenesis of Single-stranded DNA). - [Read Preparation of Uracil-containing Single-stranded Bacteriophage M13 DNA Protocol]
Protocol uses FAM-(6-carboxy-fluorescein) or JOE-(6-carboxy-4', 5' -dichloro-2',7' -dimethoxy-fluorescein) labeled LUX (Light Upon eXtension) primers, which can quantify 100 or fewer copies of the target DNA in a background of nonspecific templates, over a broad dynamic range of less than 100-107 copies. It uses uracil deglycosylase (UDG) to minimize the risk of carryover contamination, and includes a melting curve analysis of the product. - [Read Real-Time PCR Protocol]