Sep 26, 2025

Public workspaceSanger Tree of Life HMW DNA Extraction: Automated MagAttract v.3

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.4r3l21684g1y/v1
Sanger Tree of Life HMW DNA Extraction: Automated MagAttract v.3
  • Graeme Oatley1,
  • Amy Denton1,
  • Anna Kovalevskaia2,
  • Caroline Howard1
  • 1Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA;
  • 2Wellcome Sanger Institute
  • Tree of Life at the Wellcome Sanger Institute
  • Earth BioGenome Project
Amy Denton
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.4r3l21684g1y/v1
Protocol Citation: Graeme Oatley, Amy Denton, Anna Kovalevskaia, Caroline Howard 2025. Sanger Tree of Life HMW DNA Extraction: Automated MagAttract v.3. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.4r3l21684g1y/v1
Manuscript citation:
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License,  which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: September 04, 2025
Last Modified: September 26, 2025
Protocol Integer ID: 226419
Keywords: HMW DNA extraction, magnetic bead extraction, automated DNA extraction, solid phase reversible immobilisation, reference genome, long read sequencing, sanger tree of life hmw dna extraction, hmw dna extraction, automated extraction of hmw dna, qiagen magattract hmw dna extraction kit, hmw dna fragmentation, hmw dna pooling, hmw dna, dna extraction, more dna from these smaller samples, automated extraction, taxonomic group, sanger tree of life, tree of life programme, automated magattract, KingFisher Apex, KingFisher, life hmw dna extraction, recovery of hmw dna, spri of hmw dna, acronym hmw, yield of dna, genome size of the species, high molecular weight spri, dna
Funders Acknowledgements:
Wellcome Trust
Grant ID: 206194
Wellcome Trust
Grant ID: 218328
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Grant ID: GBMF8897
Abstract
This protocol is for the automated extraction and SPRI of HMW DNA from multiple different tissue samples from a variety of species intended for long-read sequencing using the Qiagen MagAttract HMW DNA extraction kit and the Thermo Fisher KingFisher™ Apex. This process is effective for the majority of taxonomic groups covered by the Tree of Life Programme, excluding plants and fungi. The output of this protocol is HMW DNA, which depending upon yield and genome size of the species, can be directed towards either HMW DNA Pooling, HMW DNA Fragmentation: Opentrons® OT-2 for PacBio LI, HMW DNA Fragmentation: Diagenode Megaruptor® 3 for LI PacBio or HMW DNA Fragmentation: Covaris g-Tube for ULI PacBio. This protocol was adapted from Sanger Tree of Life HMW DNA Extraction: Automated MagAttract v.2 to include an overnight elution step in order to maximise the yield of DNA, as well as an updated pre-shear SPRI to improve recovery of HMW DNA.

Acronym
HMW: high molecular weight
SPRI: solid-phase reversible immobilisation
LI: low input
ULI: ultra-low input
Guidelines
  • For the lysis buffer master mix, prepare enough for n+1 samples to account for pipetting errors.
  • Keep samples on dry ice to maintain temperature and prevent nucleic acid degradation until the lysis buffer is ready to be added to them.
  • For the 0.45X SPRI, the DNA and AMPure beads should not sit together in the sample plate for more than 5 minutes before starting the KingFisher™ Apex.
  • An experienced operator can expect to comfortably process up to 32 samples, with approximately 2–3 hours handling time over a start to finish period of 4–5 hours. This estimation includes the utilisation of the KingFisher™ Apex for both the extraction and SPRI protocols, and excludes the overnight elution and subsequent QC checks.

Additional Notes:
  • FluidX tubes are used throughout the Tree of Life programme in order to track samples, therefore rather than the microcentrifuge tubes which have been mentioned in this protocol for DNA storage, all routine DNA extracts are stored in FluidX tubes.
  • Both the KingFisher™ Apex protocol scripts and the KFX.files have been made available for this protocol – the KFX.files require ‘BindIx software for KingFisher Apex’ to allow the KingFisher™ Apex protocols to be viewed on a PC or laptop. Alternatively, the files can be transferred directly onto a KingFisher™ Apex instrument using a USB.
Materials
  • 1.5 mL DNA Lo-Bind microcentrifuge tubes (Eppendorf Cat. no. 0030108051)
  • 2 mL DNA Lo-Bind microcentrifuge tubes (Eppendorf Cat. no. 0030108078)
  • 1.5 mL BioMasher II tubes and pestles (sterile) (Takara Cat. no. 9791A)
  • Thermo Fisher KingFisher™ 1 mL 96-well Deep-well plates (Thermo Fisher Cat. no. 95040450)
  • Thermo Fisher KingFisher™ 200 µL standard 96-well plate (Thermo Fisher Cat. no. 97002084)
  • Thermo Fisher KingFisher™ 96 Tip Comb (Thermo Fisher Cat. no. 97002570)
  • Qiagen MagAttract HMW DNA extraction kit (Qiagen Cat. no. 67563)
  • Dry ice
  • 1 x phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)
  • 100% absolute ethanol
  • 15 mL or 50 mL centrifuge tubes
  • AMPure PB beads (Pacific Biosciences Cat. no. 100-265-900)
  • Buffer EB (Qiagen Cat. no. 19086)

Equipment:
  • Pipettes for 0.5–1000 μL and filtered tips
  • Wide bore tips (200 μL and 1000 μL, filtered if available)
  • Corning® CoolRack CF45 (Cat. no. 432051) or equivalent
  • Diagnocine PowerMasher II tissue disruptor (Cat. no. FNK-891300)
  • Thermo Fisher KingFisher™ Apex instrument (Cat. no. 5400930)
  • Eppendorf ThermoMixer C (Cat. no. 5382000031)
  • Eppendorf SmartBlock 2.0 mL (Cat. no. 5362000035)
  • Vortexer (Vortex Genie™ 2 SI-0266)
  • Mini centrifuge (Cat. no. SS-6050) or similar
  • DynaMag™-2 magnetic rack (Cat. no. 12321D) (or similar)
  • Timer


KingFisher™ Apex DNA Extraction Protocol Script:
KFX file: Download Qiagen MagAttract Overnight elution.kfxQiagen MagAttract Overnight elution.kfx2KB

  1. Pick Up Tip - Tip Plate
  2. DNA Binding - Sample Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: Off Heating & Cooling: Off Mixing 1# 00:05:00 Fast Postmix: Off Collect beads: On 5 Count 2 Seconds
  3. Collect Beads 1 - Sample Plate Collect beads: Count 5 Collect time 1 Second
  4. Wash 1 - MW1 Wash 1 Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: On 00:00:10 Bottom mix Heating & Cooling: Off Mixing 1# 00:01:00 Fast Postmix: Off Collect beads: On 5 Count 1 Second
  5. Collect Beads 2 - MW1 Wash 1 Plate Collect beads: Count 5 Collect time: 1 Second
  6. Wash 2 - MW1 Wash 2 Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: On 00:00:10 Bottom mix Heating & Cooling: Off Mixing 1# 00:01:00 Fast Postmix: Off Collect beads: On 5 Count 1 Second
  7. Collect Beads 3 - MW1 Wash 2 Plate Collect beads: Count 5 Collect time: 1 Second
  8. Wash 3 - PE Wash 1 Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: On 00:00:10 Bottom mix Heating & Cooling: Off Mixing 1# 00:01:00 Fast Postmix: Off Collect beads: On 5 Count 1 Second
  9. Collect Bead 4 - PE Wash 1 Plate Collect beads: Count 5 Collect time: 1 Second
  10. Wash 4 - PE Wash 2 Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: On 00:00:10 Bottom mix Heating & Cooling: Off Mixing 1# 00:01:00 Fast Postmix: Off Collect beads: On 5 Count 1 Second
  11. Collect Bead 5 - PE Wash 2 Plate Collect beads: Count 5 Collect time 1 Second
  12. Water Rinse - NFW Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: Off Heating & Cooling: Off Mixing 1# 00:00:00 Postmix: Off Collect beads: On 5 Count 1 Second
  13. Dry - NFW Plate Duration: 00:01:00 Dry Type: Above Well
  14. Elute - Elution Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: On 00:00:00 Heating & Cooling: On 25°C Pre-heat: Off Mixing 1# 00:00:05 Medium Looping: 1 2# 00:05:00 Slow Postmix: Off Collect beads: Off
  15. Leave Tip - Tip Plate

KingFisher™ Apex Bead Collection Protocol:

KFX file: Download Qiagen MagAttract Overnight elution_bead collection.kfxQiagen MagAttract Overnight elution_bead collection.kfx1KB

  1. Pick Up Tip - Tip Plate
  2. Elute - Elution Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: On 00:00:00 Heating & Cooling: On 25°C Pre-heat: On Mixing 1# 00:00:05 Medium Looping: 1 2# 00:02:00 Slow Postmix: On 00:00:00 Medium Collect beads: On 3 Count 1 Second
  3. Collect Beads - Elution Plate Collect beads: Count 5 Collect time: 1 Second
  4. Leave Tip - Tip Plate

KingFisher™ Apex 0.45X SPRI Protocol:


KFX file: Download 0.45X SPRI 30 min elution + mix.kfx0.45X SPRI 30 min elution + mix.kfx2KB


  1. Pick Up Tip - Tip Plate
  2. Mix - Sample Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: On 00:00:00 Heating & Cooling: Off Mixing: 1# 00:01:00 Slow 2# 00:01:00 Medium 3# 00:08:00 Paused Looping: 1 Tip position: Tip edge in liquid Postmix: Off Collect beads: On 10 Count 30 Seconds
  3. Wash 1 - Ethanol Wash Plate Pre-collect beads: On Release beads: Off Heating & Cooling: Off Mixing 1# 00:00:30 Slow Postmix: Off Collect beads: Off
  4. Wash 2 - Ethanol Wash Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: Off Heating & Cooling: Off Mixing 1# 00:00:30 Slow Postmix: Off Collect beads: Off
  5. Dry - Ethanol Wash Plate Duration: 00:01:00 Above well
  6. Elute - Elution Plate Pre-collect beads: Off Release beads: On 00:01:00 Slow Heating & Cooling: On 37℃ Preheat: On Mixing: 1# 00:00:50 Medium 2# 00:14:00 Slow 3# 00:00:10 Fast Looping: 2 Tip position: Tip edge in liquid Postmix: Off Collect beads: On 4 Count 30 Seconds
  7. Leave Tip - Ethanol Wash Plate


Protocol PDF: Download Sanger Tree of Life HMW DNA Extraction_ Automated MagAttract v.3.pdfSanger Tree of Life HMW DNA Extraction_ Automated MagAttract v.3.pdf195KB

Troubleshooting
Safety warnings
  • The operator must wear a lab coat, powder-free nitrile gloves and safety specs to perform the laboratory procedures in this protocol. Cotton glove liners are strongly recommended when handling the samples on dry ice.
  • Waste needs to be collected in a suitable container (e.g. plastic screw-top jar or Biobin) and disposed of in accordance with local regulations.
  • Liquid waste needs to be collected in a suitable container (e.g. glass screw-top jar) and disposed of in accordance with local regulations.
  • Do not open the door of the KingFisher™ Apex instrument whilst it is in operation.
Before start
  • Add 100% ethanol to the MW1 and PE wash buffers as per manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Set a heat block to 25 ºC.
  • Remove the AMPure PB beads from the fridge 30 minutes before starting the 0.45X SPRI KingFisher™ Apex protocol to bring them to room temperature.
Sample Lysis
Prepare a lysis buffer master mix:

ReagentVolume per sample
Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)200 µL
Proteinase K20 µL
RNase A4 µL
Buffer AL150 µL

For cryoprepped/bead beaten samples:
Transfer a 25 mg cryoprepped/bead beaten sample into a 2 mL microcentrifuge tube, then hold on dry ice to keep the sample frozen.
Add 374 µL of the lysis buffer master mix to sample, then homogenise the sample and master mix by gently pipetting 10 times with a wide-bore pipette tip.
For PowerMashed samples (weight less than 25 mg):
Transfer sample into a 1.5 mL BioMasher II tube and add 374 µL lysis buffer.
Disrupt sample in lysis buffer using the Diagnocine PowerMasher II tissue disruptor and BioMasher pestle, until no large pieces remain or sample cannot be disrupted further (for more detailed instructions regarding powermashing, please refer to the Sanger Tree of Life Sample Homogenisation: Powermash protocol).
Transfer the entire contents of the BioMasher tube to a 2 mL microcentrifuge tube using a wide-bore tip.
Centrifuge all sample tubes briefly and incubate on the heat block at 25 ºC for 2 hours.
Loading and Running the KingFisher™ Apex for DNA Extraction
While samples are lysing, label nine 1 mL 96-well deep-well KingFisher™ plates and fill the number of wells required for the number of samples in each plate as follows:

PlateReagent(s) required
Tip plate96-well tip comb (no reagent)
Elution plate410 µL Buffer AE
NFW Wash 500 µL Nuclease-Free Water
PE Wash 2700 µL Buffer PE
PE Wash 1700 µL Buffer PE
MW1 Wash 2700 µL Buffer MW1
MW1 Wash 1700 µL Buffer MW1
Sample plate40 µL Suspension G magnetic + beads 280 µL Buffer MB


Once samples have completed lysing, remove sample tubes from the heat block and briefly centrifuge to spin down.
Using a wide-bore pipette tip, set the volume to 380 µL, transfer lysate from the sample tubes to individual wells in the sample plate, taking care not to transfer large pieces of debris if possible.
Select the required DNA extraction protocol in the protocol list on the KingFisher™ Apex (details in KingFisher™ Apex DNA Extraction Protocol section/attached file within the Materials section) and select using the play button.
Load the filled plates onto the instrument following the instructions provided on screen.
Once the final plate is loaded, the protocol will automatically begin; this takes approximately 40 minutes.
Once the protocol has completed, follow the on-screen instructions to remove plates from the instrument. Make sure to retain the Tip Plate containing the tip comb for future steps.
Seal the Elution Plate with a plate seal and leave overnight at room temperature to allow the DNA to elute.
The following morning, remove the plate seal and return to the KingFisher™ Apex in order to run the ‘bead collection’ protocol – select this protocol from the protocol list and load the Tip Plate and Elution Plate as prompted by the instrument.
Once the bead collection protocol has completed after approximately 5 minutes, follow the on-screen instructions to remove the plates from the instrument.
Inspect the Elution Plate for any magnetic beads in the wells. In the rare instance of magnetic beads remaining in the eluate (possible in viscous samples), these samples will need to be transferred to a 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube and placed on a magnetic rack. Allow around 5 minutes for the beads to migrate and take the clear eluate containing the DNA using a wide-bore pipette tip. Return samples back to their original well following bead removal.
The Elution Plate is now the ‘Sample Plate’ for the 0.45X SPRI.
Loading and Running the KingFisher™ Apex for the 0.45X SPRI
Set-up the KingFisher™ plates for the 0.45X SPRI as detailed below:

PlatePlate TypeReagent(s) required
Tip Plate1 mL Deep-well96-well tip comb (no reagent)
Sample Plate (Elution Plate from DNA Extraction Protocol)1 mL Deep-well380 µL DNA + 171 µL AMPure PB beads
Ethanol Wash Plate1 mL Deep-well1000 µL 80% EtOH (freshly made)
Elution Plate200 µL standard135 µL Buffer EB

Select the required 0.45X SPRI protocol in the protocol list on the KingFisher™ Apex (details below in KingFisher™ Apex 0.45X SPRI Protocol section/attached file within the Materials section) and select using the play button.
Load the filled plates onto the instrument following the instructions provided on screen.
Once the final plate is loaded, the protocol will automatically begin; this will take approximately 50 minutes.
Once the protocol has completed, follow the on-screen instructions to remove plates from the instrument.
Using a wide-bore pipette tip, transfer the 130 µL of eluate from the elution plate into microcentrifuge tubes.
Perform the required QC to determine quantity and quality of the DNA extracted.
Store the DNA at 4 ºC.
Protocol references