Detection of biological molecules by differential partitioning of enzyme substrates and products
First Claim
1. An optical probe for detecting a fluorescent molecule, comprising:
- an optical waveguide; and
a partitioning element optically coupled to the optical waveguide;
wherein the fluorescent molecule is selectively partitioned into the partitioning element in accordance with a partition constant (Kfs), such that fluorescence of the fluorescent molecule is coupled into the waveguide.
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Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting a biological molecule associated with enzyme activity in a sample. The invention is applicable to detecting a microorganism associated with an enzyme in a sample such as water, food, soil, or a biological sample. According to a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, a sample containing an enzyme of interest or a microorganism associated with the enzyme is combined with a suitable substrate, and a fluorescent product of the enzyme-substrate reaction is selectively detected. The fluorescent product is detected with a partitioning element or optical probe/partitioning element of the invention. In one embodiment the partitioning element provides for partitioning of only the fluorescent product molecule into the probe. The invention also provides an automated system for monitoring for biological contamination of water or other samples.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An optical probe for detecting a fluorescent molecule, comprising:
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an optical waveguide; and a partitioning element optically coupled to the optical waveguide; wherein the fluorescent molecule is selectively partitioned into the partitioning element in accordance with a partition constant (Kfs), such that fluorescence of the fluorescent molecule is coupled into the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for detecting a fluorescent molecule, comprising:
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providing an optical waveguide; providing a partitioning element optically coupled to the optical waveguide, wherein the fluorescent molecule is selectively partitioned into the partitioning element in accordance with a partition constant (Kfs)such that fluorescence of the fluorescent molecule is coupled into the optical waveguide; and detecting fluorescence of the fluorescent molecule coupled into the optical waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification