Cleavage of 3'-end-labeled DNA in hot aqueous solutions of different amines is comparatively examined for overall rate of DNA scission as well as for potential differences in the preference of the various amines for cleavage at the different bases. Under comparable conditions (0.5 M amine, 0.3 M NaCl, 90 degrees C), piperidine, diethylamine, morpholine, and ethylenediamine produce the same set of labeled fragments, at approximately equal overall cleavage rates. The same set of fragments is also obtained with diisopropylamine, triethylamine, and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, but at markedly lower overall cleavage rates. Solvolysis in aqueous piperidine or aqueous diethylamine leads to DNA scission predominantly at A sites, followed by G and C sites, and least frequently at T sites. In contrast, morpholine, ethylenediamine, diisopropylamine, triethylamine, and diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane cleave the DNA predominantly at G sites. Therefore, use of one of the latter amines allows clear distinction of G bands and C bands, which could not be distinguished by the criterion of band intensity in the original one-lane sequencing method based on cleavage in hot aqueous piperidine (B. Ambrose and R. Pless (1985) Biochemistry 24, 6194-6200). The effect of varying the salt concentration on the cleavage distribution obtained with various amines is also examined, and a rationale is given for the influence of salt concentration and amine basicity on the relative rate of cleavage at G sites.