Method for screening DNA binding

A library employable for assaying DNA binding affinity and sequence selectivity, the library comprising:

• a plurality of hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides, each hairpin deoxyoligonucleotide including
• a single strand hairpin section consisting of a non-variable sequence of unpaired deoxynucleotide bases;
• and
• a double strand section including a variable sequence of paired deoxynucleotide bases, the variable sequence having a set length of between 4 and 14 deoxynucleotide bases, the variable sequence being known or identifiable;
• the double strand section being attached to the single strand hairpin section;
• said plurality of hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides including substantially all possible sequences within the set length of the variable sequence;
• each hairpin deoxyoligonucleotide within said plurality being physically separate from all other hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides within said plurality.

An array of DNA binding reagents for determining DNA binding affinity and sequence selectivity of a test molecule, the array comprising:

• a plurality of hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides, and
• an aqueous solvent employable for use in a fluorescent intercalator displacement assay,
• the hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides being dissolved in said aqueous solvent and having a concentration sufficient for use in the screening assay for DNA binding, each hairpin deoxyoligonucleotide within said plurality being physically separate from all other hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides within said plurality, each hairpin deoxyoligonucleotide including a single strand hairpin section and a double strand section, the single strand hairpin section consisting of a non-variable sequence of unpaired deoxynucleotide bases, the double strand section including a variable sequence of paired deoxynucleotide bases, the variable sequence having a set length of between 4 and 14 deoxynucleotide bases, the variable sequence being known or identifiable, the double strand section being attached to the single strand hairpin section;
• said plurality of hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides including substantially all possible sequences within the set length of the variable sequence.

An article for use in a fluorescent intercalator displacement assay for determining DNA binding affinity and sequence selectivity of a test molecule, the article comprising:

• one or more microtiter plates, each microtiter plate having an array of microtiter wells, and
• a plurality of hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides, each hairpin deoxyoligonucleotide being physically separate from all other hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides within said plurality and being individually contained within and corresponding to one of the microtiter wells, each hairpin deoxyoligonucleotide being present within its corresponding microtiter well with sufficient quantity for use in the fluorescent intercalator displacement assay, each hairpin deoxyoligonucleotide including a single strand hairpin section and a double strand section, the single strand hairpin section consisting of a non-variable sequence of unpaired deoxynucleotide bases, the double strand section including a variable sequence of paired deoxynucleotide bases, the variable sequence having a set length of between 4 and 14 deoxynucleotide bases, the variable sequence being known or identifiable, the double strand section being attached to the single strand hairpin section;
• said plurality of hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides including substantially all possible sequences within the set length of the variable sequence;
• said microtiter plates having a sufficient total number of microtiter wells for containing all of said plurality of hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides.