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Nucleic acid sequence detection employing amplification probes

  • US 6,177,243 B1
  • Filed: 12/05/1997
  • Issued: 01/23/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, said method employing at least one pair of probes characterized by having sequences homologous to adjacent portions of said target nucleic acid sequence and each probe having at least one side chain which non-covalently binds to a side chain of the other probe of the pair to form a stem upon base pairing of said probes to said target nucleic acid sequence, at least one of said side chains having an activatable group, which upon activation during stem formation forms a covalent cross-link with the other side chain member of said stem, said method comprising:

  • a) combining said sample with said at least one pair of said probes under conditions of base pairing between said probes and said target nucleic acid to produce an assay medium, whereby probes binding to said target nucleic acid form said stem;

    b) activating said activatable group, whereby a covalent cross-link occurs between said side chain members of said stem; and

    c) detecting the presence of cross-linked pairs of probes as indicative of the presence of said target sequence in said sample.

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