Method and materials for bisulfite conversion of cytosine to uracil

摘要

The invention provides methods and materials for conversion of cytosine to uracil. In some embodiments, a nucleic acid, such as gDNA, is reacted with at least one bisulfite salt having the formula X⁺HSO₃^- or Y⁺²(HSO₃³¹)₂; wherein X⁺ is ammonium ion, a tetraalkyl ammonium ion, or a group 1A ion other than sodium; and Y⁺² is a group 2A ion or a group 7B ion; under conditions effective to convert at least one cytosine nucleobase to a uracil nucleobase. In some embodiments, X⁺ comprises at least one of lithium ion, potassium ion, ammonium ion, tetraalkylammonium ion, magnesium ion, manganese ion and calcium ion. In some embodiments, the reacting is performed optionally in the presence of a polyamine catalyst and/or a quaternary amine catalyst. Also provided are kits that can be used to carry out methods of the invention.