Methods, compositions and kits for the improved detection of small RNA molecules

• US 8,980,558 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Igor Vassily Kutyavin
• Original Assignee: Igor Vassily Kutyavin
• Inventors: Kutyavin, Igor Vassily
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Jezia
• Application Number:
  US14/097,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20140170666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 435/6.1, 435/91.1, 435/91.2, 536/4.1, 536/23.1, 536/24.3
• US Class Current: 435/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6832 Enhancement of hybridisation reaction
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6853 using modified primers or templates
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2521/107 RNA dependent DNA polymerase,(i.e. reverse transcriptase)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2525/117 incorporating modified base
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2525/207 siRNA, miRNA

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions, methods and kits for use in the detection of small RNA sequences, which allow for rapid and robust amplification and detection. The methods provide improved sensitivity and efficiency in the amplification-based detection of small RNA sequences by incorporating one or more base-modified duplex-stabilizing dNTPs during reverse transcription and/or amplification.

Claims

1. A method for amplifying a small RNA target sequence less than about 100 nucleotides in length, which comprises:

(a) contacting a sample comprising the small RNA target sequence with;

(i) a primer that is sufficiently complementary to the small RNA target sequence to hybridize thereto, and

(ii) an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase having reverse transcriptase activity;

(b) synthesizing cDNA complementary to the small RNA target sequence in the presence of a mixture of dNTPs comprising at least one base-modified, duplex-stabilizing dNTP that is a substrate for the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase; and

(c) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction using amplification primers that are sufficiently complementary to the small RNA target sequence and its complement to hybridize thereto and produce amplification products in the presence of DNA polymerase.

2. The method of claim 1, where the mixture of dNTPs comprises a base-modified, duplex-stabilizing dNTP that is a pyrimidine substituted at the 5-position.

3. The method of claim 1, where the mixture of dNTPs comprises a base-modified, duplex-stabilizing dNTP having the formula:

4. The method of claim 1, where the mixture of dNTPs comprises a base-modified, duplex-stabilizing dNTP selected from d(2-amA)TP, d(5-PrU)TP and/or d(5-PrC)TP.

5. The method of claim 1, where the mixture of dNTPs comprises at least two of (2-amA)TP, d(5-PrU)TP and d(5-PrC)TP and/or dGTP.

6. The method of claim 1, where the small RNA target sequence is about 10 to 30 nucleotides in length.

7. The method of claim 1, where the small RNA target sequence is a miRNA sequence.

8. The method of claim 1, where the primer has incorporated therein one or more base-modified duplex-stabilizing dNTPs.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(d) treating the cDNA formed in step (b) to provide single-stranded cDNA;

(e) contacting the single-stranded cDNA with a second primer that is sufficiently complementary to the cDNA to hybridize thereto and initiate synthesis of an extension product in the presence of a DNA polymerase to produce a double-stranded cDNA molecule.

10. The method of claim 1, where the nucleic acid amplification reaction is a polymerase chain reaction.

11. The method of claim 1, where one or more of the amplification primers comprises base-modified duplex-stabilizing dNTPs incorporated therein.

12. The method of claim 1, where the amplification reaction is performed in the presence of a mixture of deoxynucleoside 5′

-triphosphates containing at least one base-modified duplex-stabilizing dNTP.