Method of identifying hairpin dna probes by partial fold analysis
AssigneeUniversity of Rochester
InventorsBenjamin MILLER, Christopher STROHSAHL
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Abstract
Methods of identifying molecular beacons in which a secondary structure prediction algorithm is employed to identify oligonucleotide sequences within a target gene having the requisite hairpin structure. Isolated oligonucleotides, molecular beacons prepared from those oligonucleotides, and their use are also disclosed.
Claims20
An isolated molecular beacon comprising:
- a hairpin nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes over its full length to a target nucleic acid sequence;
- a label tethered to one terminus of the hairpin nucleic acid molecule;
- and
- a quenching agent tethered to the other terminus of the hairpin nucleic acid molecule.
An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising first and second regions that are capable of self-hybridizing, under appropriate conditions, into a hairpin configuration, wherein the nucleic acid molecule has a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes over its full length to a target nucleic acid sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.