Process for aligning macromolecules on a surface by passage through a meniscus

• US 6,054,327 A
• Filed: 03/23/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique, Institut Pasteur
• Original Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique, Institut Pasteur
• Inventors: Heslot, Fran.cedilla.ois, Bensimon, Aaron, Bensimon, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Naff, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/045,680
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 435/6, 435/7.1, 435/174, 435/178, 435/180, 435/181, 435/182, 435/182.1, 536/22.1, 536/25.4, 536/124, 536/127, 935/77, 935/78, 935/19, 436/518, 436/524
• US Class Current: 436/518
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00576 fluorophore
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00608 DNA chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0061 The surface being organic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00626 Covalent
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00628 Ionic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0063 Other, e.g. van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00637 by coating it with another layer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00677 Ex-situ synthesis followed by deposition on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/68 involving nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6816 characterised by the detection means C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/682 Signal amplification
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6834 Enzymatic or biochemical coupling of nucleic acids to a solid phase
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/518 characterised by the immobilisation of the nucleic acid sample or target
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6803 : General methods of protein analysis not limited to specific proteins or families of proteins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/969 : Multiple layering of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/97 : Test strip or test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 530/81 : Carrier - bound or immobilized peptides or proteins and the preparation thereof, e.g. biological cell or cell fragment as carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 530/811 : Peptides or proteins is immobilized on, or in, an inorganic carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/143333 : Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/145555 : Hetero-N

Abstract

Macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, lipids or polysaccharides are aligned on a support surface by passing the macromolecules through a meniscus of a solvent containing the macromolecules. The meniscus may be that of a solvent between two surfaces at an interface of the solvent with air. One end of a macromolecule is attached to one surface which may be a glass surface and another end is free. The meniscus is moved relative to the surface to which the end is attached such as by evaporating the solvent or by moving the surface. As the macromolecule passes through the meniscus, the macromolecule aligns on the surface perpendicular to the meniscus. This method may be used in assaying, measuring intramolecular distance and/or separating of macromolecules.

Claims

1. A process for aligning a macromolecule on a surface, wherein the process comprises:

(a) providing a solvent for the macromolecule between two surfaces where one surface is an anchoring surface to which one end of the macromolecule is anchored by a bond and another end of the macromolecule is free, and where the solvent forms a meniscus between and perpendicular to the surfaces at an interface of the solvent with air between the surfaces; and

(b) moving the meniscus and solvent between the surfaces so that the macromolecule passes through the meniscus into air at the interface whereby the macromolecule is aligned on the anchoring surface perpendicular to the meniscus without breaking the bond that anchors the end of the macromolecule to the surface.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the macromolecule is a protein, a lipid, a polysaccharide, or a derivative thereof.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the macromolecule is an antibody, an antigen, a ligand, a receptor of a ligand, or a derivative thereof.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the macromolecule is a protein capable of specifically recognizing and attaching a second protein in a sample.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the macromolecule is a protein.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring surface comprises (a) an exposed reactive group having an affinity for the macromolecule, or (b) a molecule with biological activity capable of recognizing the macromolecule.

7. A process according to claim 6, wherein the molecule with biological activity is biotin, avidin, streptavidin, or derivatives thereof, an antigen, or an antibody.

8. A product of the process of claim 1.