Method for increasing the sensitivity of nucleic acid hybridization assays
First Claim
1. The hybridization assay method for detecting a specific polynucleotide target sequence wherein a nucleic acid containing target sample in single stranded form is affixed to a support, contacted thereon under hybridizing conditions with a non-radioactive reporter group labeled single-stranded polynucleotide probe having a sequence complementary to the target sequence, said probe being bound to said affixed sample when the target is present, said probe hybridizing with said target sequence, then removing the unbound portion of said probe from said support, and detecting the presence of said probe by means of its reporter group, wherein the sensitivity of the assay is increased by employing the additional steps comprising:
- (a) after removal of the unbound portion of the probe, dehybridizing the bound portion;
(b) concentrating the dehybridized separated probe onto a solid support; and
(c) detecting the presence of said probe on said solid support by means of said non-radioactive reporter group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improvement in the sensitivity of hybridization assays for detecting polynucleotide target sequences is provided by selective dehybridization of the bound portion of the probe, separation of the dehybridized portion from the support and the residual sample, and concentrating the separated probe before detecting its presence by means of its reporter group. The concentration step can be carried out by adsorption of the dehybridized probe onto a basic ion exchange material. A displacer sequence having greater binding affinity for the target polynucleotide sequence may be used to dehybridize the bound probe portion for subsequent concentration.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. The hybridization assay method for detecting a specific polynucleotide target sequence wherein a nucleic acid containing target sample in single stranded form is affixed to a support, contacted thereon under hybridizing conditions with a non-radioactive reporter group labeled single-stranded polynucleotide probe having a sequence complementary to the target sequence, said probe being bound to said affixed sample when the target is present, said probe hybridizing with said target sequence, then removing the unbound portion of said probe from said support, and detecting the presence of said probe by means of its reporter group, wherein the sensitivity of the assay is increased by employing the additional steps comprising:
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(a) after removal of the unbound portion of the probe, dehybridizing the bound portion; (b) concentrating the dehybridized separated probe onto a solid support; and (c) detecting the presence of said probe on said solid support by means of said non-radioactive reporter group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A hybridization assay method for detecting a specific target sequence wherein a nucleic acid sample in single-stranded form is affixed to a support, contacted thereon with a non-radioactively labelled polynucleotide probe having a single-stranded sequence complementary to the target sequence to be directed, said probe comprising a sequence of 10 to 50 nucleotide units and having a reporter group attached thereto, said probe being bound to said affixed sample when the specific target is present, removing the unbound portion of said probe from said support, and detecting the presence of said probe by means of its reporter group, wherein the sensitivity to the assay is increased by employing the additional steps comprising:
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(a) after removal of the unbound portion of the probe, dehybridizing the bound portion and forming an aqueous solution thereof; (b) contacting the separated solution with an anion exchange material for binding said probe so as to concentrate said probe onto the anion exchange material; and (c) detecting its presence on said anion exchange material by means of said non-radioactive reporter groups. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. The hybridization assay method for detecting a specific polynucleotide target sequence wherein a nucleic acid sample containing target in single-stranded form is affixed to a support, contacted thereon under hybridizing conditions with a polynucleotide probe having a single-stranded sequence complementary to a characterizing target sequence to be detected, said probe comprising a sequence of from 10 to 50 nucleotide units and having a fluorescent label attached thereto, probe being bound to said affixed sample when the specific target is present, said complementary sequence of the probe hybridizing with said target sequence, removing the unbound portion of said portion of said probe from said support, and detecting the presence of said probe by means of its reporter group, wherein the sensitivity of the assay is increased by employing the additional steps comprising:
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(a) after removal of the unbound portion of the probe, dehybridizing the bound portion of the probe and forming an aqueous solution thereof; (b) contacting the separated solution with an anion exchange material comprising a substrate selected from cross-linked dextran or glass with substituted amino group provided thereon so as to concentrate the probe on said anion exchange material; and (c) detecting the presence of said probe on said anion exchange material by means of said fluorescent label. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification