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Method of multiplex ligase chain reaction

  • US 5,869,252 A
  • Filed: 12/18/1996
  • Issued: 02/09/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of performing multiplex ligase chain reaction comprising the steps of:

  • (a providing a single reaction solution containing nucleic acid of a sample as single-stranded nucleic acid, said sample putatively having one or more of a plurality of target nucleic acid sequences;

    b) for each putative target sequence, providing in the reaction solution at least four nucleic acid probes (a probe set), wherein;

    i) the first and second of said probes are primary probes, and the third and fourth of said probes are secondary nucleic acid probes;

    ii) the first probe is a single strand that hybridizes to a first segment of a primary strand of the target nucleic acid;

    iii) the second probe is a single strand that hybridizes to a second segment of said primary strand of the target nucleic acid;

    iv) the 5'"'"' end of the first segment of said primary strand of the target is positioned relative to the 3'"'"' end of the second segment of said primary strand of the target to enable joining of the first probe to the second probe when said probes are hybridized to said primary strand of said target nucleic acid, thus forming a reorganized primary molecule having a first portion and a second portion;

    v) the third probe hybridizes to a first portion of the reorganized primary molecule; and

    vi) the fourth probe hybridizes to a second portion of the reorganized primary molecule, the first portion of the reorganized primary molecule being positioned relative to the second portion of the reorganized primary molecule to enable joining of the third probe to the fourth probe when said third and fourth probes are hybridized to said reorganized primary molecule, thus forming a reorganized secondary molecule; and

    wherein for each putative target sequence, said probe set is balanced such that each probe set is provided at a concentration that enables said joining in the presence of each of the other probe sets and wherein each probe set produces a detectable product after the same number of amplification cycles; and

    c. repeating the following cycle;

    i) hybridizing said probes with nucleic acid in said sample;

    ii) performing said joining to form said reorganized molecules; and

    iii) denaturing nucleic acid in said sample;

    whereby with successive cycles the quantity of reorganized primary and secondary molecules is increased for each putative target sequence present in the reaction solution.

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