Hybrid Molecular Probe
OwnerWeihong Tan, Chaoyong Yanginventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for analyzing a substance, in particular RNA in vivo, comprising a hybrid molecular probe, said probe comprising two single-stranded nucleic acid sequences tethered together with a polyethylene glycol polymer and fluorophores attached to either end of the sequences. When a probe of the invention hybridizes to a target substance (such as a target RKA sequence), fluorescence resonance energy transfer occurs between the two fluorophores to generate a visible signal.
Claims19
A probe having a high specifically for a target nucleic acid sequence, wherein the probe comprises at least two oligonucleotide strands, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer, and at least two fluorophores.
A method for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence comprising:
- a) applying to a sample comprising nucleic acid sequences a probe comprising at least two oligonucleotide strands, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer, and at least two fluorophores, wherein the at least two fluorophores each emit a fluorescence emission and wherein fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurs upon binding of the oligonucleotide strands to the target nucleic acid sequence;
- and
- b) detecting FRET, which would indicate the presence of the target nucleic acid sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.