Detecting molecular complexes
First Claim
1. A method of determining the presence or amount of a molecular complex in a sample, the molecular complex comprising at least a first component and a second component, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a binding compound specific for the first component, the binding compound having a polynucleotide attached thereto by a cleavable linkage;
providing a cleaving probe specific for the second component, the cleaving probe having a cleaving agent capable of generating a reactive species within an effective proximity, and the reactive species being capable of cleaving the cleavable linkage;
combining with the sample in an assay mixture the binding compound and the cleaving probe so that the binding compound and cleaving probe specifically bind to the first and second components, respectively, and so that whenever the first component and the second component are in a molecular complex, the cleavable linkage is within the effective proximity of the cleaving agent and are cleaved by the reactive species, and the polynucleotide is released; and
determining the presence or amount of the molecular complex by the released polynucleotide.
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Abstract
The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting the presence of, or for measuring amounts of, molecular complexes, particularly complexes comprising two or more proteins, such as receptor complexes of cell surface membranes. In one aspect of the invention, reagent pairs are provided that comprise a cleaving probe that specifically binds to at least one component of a molecular complex and one or more signaling reagents that specifically bind to one or more components of the molecular complex, at least one of which is different from the component to which the cleaving probe is attached. Each signaling reagent comprises a binding compound specific for a component of the molecular complex and a signaling polynucleotide attached thereto by a cleavable linkage. When the reagent pairs are bound to the same molecular complex, the cleaving probe may be induced to generate a reactive species that is capable of cleaving cleavable linkages within an effective proximity, thereby releasing a signaling polynucleotide by which the molecular complex is detected.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of determining the presence or amount of a molecular complex in a sample, the molecular complex comprising at least a first component and a second component, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a binding compound specific for the first component, the binding compound having a polynucleotide attached thereto by a cleavable linkage;
providing a cleaving probe specific for the second component, the cleaving probe having a cleaving agent capable of generating a reactive species within an effective proximity, and the reactive species being capable of cleaving the cleavable linkage;
combining with the sample in an assay mixture the binding compound and the cleaving probe so that the binding compound and cleaving probe specifically bind to the first and second components, respectively, and so that whenever the first component and the second component are in a molecular complex, the cleavable linkage is within the effective proximity of the cleaving agent and are cleaved by the reactive species, and the polynucleotide is released; and
determining the presence or amount of the molecular complex by the released polynucleotide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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- 9. A composition comprising a plurality of binding compounds each having a polynucleotide attached by a cleavable linkage and each having a specificity for an antigen, such that each different binding compound has a different polynucleotide attached, and such that a binding compound having specificity for a different antigen has a different polynucleotide attached.
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12. A composition comprising:
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(a) one or more binding compounds each having a polynucleotide attached by a cleavable linkage and each having a specificity for a molecular complex, such that each different binding compound has a different polynucleotide attached, and such that a binding compound having specificity for a different antigenic determinant of the molecular complex has a different polynucleotide attached; and
(b) a cleaving probe specific for the molecular complex, the cleaving probe having a cleaving agent for generating an reactive species for cleaving the cleavable linkage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification