ChIP-seq FAQs

The ChIP Elute Kit allows for DNA elution from Protein A/G agarose or magnetic beads and cross-linking reversal in a single step. This kit is significantly faster and more convenient than traditional methods. The ChIP Elute Kit takes only one hour (including DNA purification), while traditional methods make take up to overnight. Since single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is produced using the ChIP Elute method, this method is appropriate for ChIP experiments that are followed by qPCR, or ChIP-seq experiments if using a DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit (which are fully compatible with ssDNA inputs). Using the ChIP Elute method in combination with the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit makes ChIP-seq less tedious and time-consuming.

Yes. Sequencing libraries generated from DNA eluted with either the ChIP Elute Kit or traditional methods show comparable sequencing metrics.

Yes. The ChIP Elute Kit includes column-based DNA purification and concentration. ChIP DNA prepared using this kit is directly compatible with the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit without further purification.

• If you use another method for cross-linking reversal and DNA elution, we recommend the NucleoSpin Gel and PCR Clean-Up kit along with Buffer NTB (available separately; Cat. # 740595.150), which is specially formulated to accommodate samples with high SDS concentrations.

Note: If your DNA is single-stranded, you will need to use Buffer NTC (Cat. # 740654.100) with the NucleoSpin Gel and PCR Clean-Up kit.

Yes. We have analyzed DNA from H3K4me3 pull-downs using 10,000–1 million cells, using the ChIP Elute Kit at the end of our ChIP workflow followed by a DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit. We obtained a reasonable yield from 10,000 cells using 18 PCR cycles.

No. Residual RNases in the sample may compromise the success of library preparation. Furthermore, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase will not use RNA as a template in the T-tailing step, and the use of a poly(dA) primer, instead of a poly(dT) primer, makes priming to RNA unlikely.

DNA fragments longer than 100 bp can be used with the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit. If desired, fragments several kb in length can easily be amplified; however, this kit has been tested specifically with ChIP DNA fragments ranging from 100 to 500 bp (with an average of 200–400 bp). The PCR cycling guidelines in the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq User Manual are based on DNA fragments in this range. If your DNA is substantially longer or shorter, the optimal number of PCR cycles will need to be determined empirically.

In ligation-based kits, a pre-PCR cleanup step is required to remove adapter dimers. The DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit does not use ligation, and high-quality ChIP-seq libraries can be obtained without size selection. However, specific applications such as identification of transcription factor binding sites may benefit from stringent size selection. We have found that pre-PCR size selection reduces the complexity of the final library, with increased PCR duplicates (see our tech note for more information). Our single-tube workflow allows for size selection and cleanup following the PCR step, and our protocol provides guidance for more or less stringent size selection. We have found that the basic protocol (Option 1) removes larger PCR fragments (that do not cluster well) without compromising library complexity.

Together, the DNA SMART Oligo, DNA SMART Poly(dA) Primer, and the Indexing Primers for Illumina add 153 bp to the initial DNA fragment length.

We do not recommend running the final libraries on an agarose gel. To minimize biases, ChIP-seq libraries (as well as other types of next-generation sequencing libraries) should not be overamplified. The low concentration of the final library makes visualization on agarose gels very difficult. Instead, we recommend quantifying the libraries with a Qubit 2.0 Fluorometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) with the Qubit dsDNA HS Assay Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Cat. # Q32851 and Q32854). To evaluate library quality, run 1 µl of the library on an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer using the High Sensitivity DNA Kit (Agilent, Cat. # 5067-4626).

Note: For optimal resolution, if the library concentration is >2 ng/µl, dilute the library in water or Library Elution Buffer to a concentration of 1–2 ng/µl prior to running on the Agilent Bioanalyzer.

Our guidelines typically result in a final library yield of >5 ng/µl (>20–25 nM). Lower yield (2–3 ng/µl) may be typical for very low inputs (100 pg), but is still enough for sequencing. If you obtain >25 ng/µl, consider reducing the number of cycles to minimize potential biases.

Indexed adapters for Illumina sequencing are present in the PCR primers used to amplify the ChIP-seq library. The Index 1 (i7) sequence is found on the Reverse PCR Primer HT while the Index 2 (i5) sequence is found on the Forward PCR Primer HT. When selecting settings for sequencing, HT indexes should be used. The specific sequence of the indexes on these primers is the same as the standard Illumina HT indexes, and can also be found in the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit User Manual.



Overview of template switching in the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit. The Index 1 (i7) sequence (indicated in yellow) is found on the Reverse PCR Primer HT while the Index 2 (i5) sequence (indicated in pink) is found on the Forward PCR Primer HT.

There are three versions of the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit. They all contain PCR primers with indexes identical to those in the Illumina TruSeq DNA HT Sample Prep Kit. Forward PCR Primers contain the i5 index, and Reverse PCR Primers contain the i7 index.

• The 12-reaction kit (Cat. # 634865) includes 1 forward primer (with an index identical to D502) and 12 reverse primers (with indexes identical to D701–D712)
• The 48-reaction kit A (Cat. # 634866) includes 4 forward primers (with indexes identical to D501–D504) and 12 reverse primers (with indexes identical to D701–D712)
• The 48-reaction kit B (Cat. # 634867) includes 4 forward primers (with indexes identical to D505–D508) and 12 reverse primers (with indexes identical to D701–D712)

Together, the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit - 48 A and the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit - 48 B can be used to generate libraries incorporating all 96 high-throughput Illumina indexes. The nucleotide sequences for the indexes can be found in the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit User Manual.

ChIP-seq libraries generated with the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit contain adapters and indexes for Illumina sequencing. There are three versions of this kit that allow production of either 12 or 48 indexed libraries. It is also possible to use both versions of the 48-reaction kit (the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit - 48 A and B) to generate the full 96 high-throughput Illumina indexes. Not all indexes can be pooled together; consult the Illumina literature (such as the "TruSeq^® DNA Sample Preparation Guide") for appropriate pooling guidelines. If needed, compare the index sequences in the DNA SMART ChIP-Seq Kit User Manual with Illumina adapter sequences.

Single-end sequencing with Read 1 is generally sufficient for ChIP-seq. However, if paired-end sequencing is desired, you should use the DNA SMART Custom Read2 Seq Primer provided in the kit (if your sequencing facility accepts custom primers). The custom primer can be used on an Illumina MiSeq^® instrument or sent along with your samples to your sequencing facility for a HiSeq^® run.

You should trim three nucleotides from the 5' end of your reads (Read 1). Optionally, you may also trim Illumina adapter sequences and stretches of poly(T), particularly if you read more than 50 nucleotides, as sequences from short inserts will contain the T-tail that is added in the library construction process.

The lower limit of the AMPure bead size selection is not a perfect cutoff; a small proportion of the PCR products in the final library may have short inserts. In these cases, the sequencing from Read 1 will read through the T-tail added during library synthesis.