Silicon and germanium dyes for use in genetic identity

A method of detecting the presence of a nucleic acid polymer in a sample comprising:

• a) contacting a sample suspected of containing a nucleic acid polymer with a composition comprising a conjugate comprising a compound of Formula (II) and an oligonucleotide;
• and
• b) detecting the presence or amount of the compound in the sample;
• wherein the compound of formula (II) is a component in an ET cassette;
• and
• wherein the compound of formula (II) is as shown below:
• wherein
• each R1 is independently selected from H, C1-4 alkyl, sulfonate or halo;
• R3 and R4 are independently selected from H, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkyl interrupted with one or more heteroatoms, L-R or L-CS;
• R6-9 are independently H, halo, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, CO2H, SO3H, L-CO2H, L-SO3H, L-R or L-CS;
• R10 is alkoxy, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, CO2H, SO3H, SO2N(RN)2, CON(RN)2, L-CO2H, L-SO3H, L-R or L-CS;
• each RN is independently selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, L-R, and L-CS
• L is a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic saturated or unsaturated, having 1-16 non hydrogen atoms such that the linkage contains any combination of ester, acid, amine, amide, alcohol, ether, thioether or halide groups or single, double, triple or aromatic carbon-carbon bond;
• R is a reactive group;
• or
• CS is a conjugated substance;
• one or more of R3 and R4 or R3 and R1 or R4 and R1 may together form a ring;
• and
• one or more of R6-9 may together form a ring.

A kit comprising a compound according to formula (I) or (II) in an ET cassette, at least one locus-specific primer, and instructions for use;

• wherein the compound of formula (I) is
• wherein
• Z is Si(R11)(R12) or Ge(R11)(R12);
• each R11 and R12 are independently selected from C1-10 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, C1-10 alkyl interrupted with one or more heteroatoms, C6-10 aryl, heteroaryl or R11 and R12 may together form a ring;
• each X is independently selected from OR2 or N(R3)(R4);
• each R1 is independently selected from H, C1-4 alkyl, sulfonate or halo;
• R2 is H, C1-10 alkyl, L-R or L-CS;
• R3 and R4 are independently selected from H, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkyl interrupted with one or more heteroatoms, C6-10 aryl, peptidyl, heteroaryl, L-R or L-CS;
• R6-10 are independently H, halo, alkoxy, amino, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, CO2H, SO3H, L-CO2H, L-SO3H, L-R or L-CS;
• L is a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic saturated or unsaturated, having 1-16 non hydrogen atoms such that the linkage contains any combination of ester, acid, amine, amide, alcohol, ether, thioether or halide groups or single, double, triple or aromatic carbon-carbon bond;
• R is a reactive group;
• or
• CS is a conjugated substance;
• one or more of R3 and R4 or R3 and R1 or R4 and R1 may together form a ring;
• and
• one or more of R6-10 may together form a ring;
• and wherein the compound of formula (II) is
• wherein
• each R1 is independently selected from H, C1-4 alkyl, sulfonate or halo;
• R3 and R4 are independently selected from H, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkyl interrupted with one or more heteroatoms, L-R or L-CS;
• R6-9 are independently H, halo, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, CO2H, SO3H, L-CO2H, L-SO3H, L-R or L-CS;
• R10 is alkoxy, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, CO2H, SO3H, SO2N(RN)2, CON(RN)2, L-CO2H, L-SO3H, L-R or L-CS;
• each RN is independently selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, L-R, and L-CS
• L is a covalent linkage that is linear or branched, cyclic or heterocyclic saturated or unsaturated, having 1-16 non hydrogen atoms such that the linkage contains any combination of ester, acid, amine, amide, alcohol, ether, thioether or halide groups or single, double, triple or aromatic carbon-carbon bond;
• R is a reactive group;
• or
• CS is a conjugated substance;
• one or more of R3 and R4 or R3 and R1 or R4 and R1 may together form a ring;
• and
• one or more of R6-9 may together form a ring.