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Nucleic acid-based detection

  • US 6,680,377 B1
  • Filed: 05/12/2000
  • Issued: 01/20/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An aptamer beacon that binds to a specific non-nucleic acid target molecule, the aptamer beacon comprisingan oligonucleotide comprising a loop portion, a first segment, and a second segment complementary to the first segment, wherein the first and second segments connected by the loop portion form a stem portion when hybridized together;

  • wherein a portion of the oligonucleotide comprises a binding region that has a secondary or tertiary conformation that changes to a different secondary or tertiary conformation upon specifically binding to the non-nucleic acid target molecule;

    a first reporter moiety attached to the first segment; and

    a second reporter moiety attached to the second segment, wherein the first and second reporter moieties interact to produce a detectable signal when the distance between them is changed;

    wherein specific binding of the target molecule to the binding region causes a change in conformation of the aptamer beacon that separates the first and second segments, thereby altering the distance between the first and second reporter moieties, and produces a detectable signal.

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