Adapter dimer formation is a well-known challenge during Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) library preparation. When adapters ligate to each other instead of to target DNA or RNA fragments, the resulting dimers consume valuable sequencing capacity and reduce the quality of downstream data.
Chemically-modified adapters offer an effective solution to this problem. By incorporating modifications that prevent self-ligation, these adapters dramatically reduce dimer formation without compromising ligation efficiency to the intended targets.
This technology was presented by TriLink Biotechnologies at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2014 meeting. TriLink's approach uses proprietary chemical modifications on adapter oligonucleotides that block unwanted adapter–adapter interactions while preserving full functionality for library construction.
Why adapter dimers matter
In small RNA and other low-input NGS workflows, adapter dimers can dominate the final library. This wastes sequencing reads, increases per-sample costs, and can obscure low-abundance sequences. Preventing dimer formation at the chemistry level — rather than relying solely on post-ligation size selection — yields cleaner libraries and more usable data per run.
A practical approach
Researchers can incorporate chemically-modified adapters into existing NGS library prep workflows with minimal protocol changes. Combined with high-quality reagents such as CleanAmp™ dNTPs, these adapters help produce robust, high-complexity libraries suitable for a wide range of sequencing applications.
For laboratories seeking to improve NGS library quality and reduce wasted reads, chemically-modified adapters represent a straightforward and effective upgrade to standard protocols.