Means and method for enhancing nucleic acid hybridization
AssigneeML Technology Venture
InventorsJames J. Hogan, Curt L. Milliman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The binding of a nucleic acid probe with its complementary sequence in a targeted, single stranded nucleic acid is affected by the secondary and tertiary structure of the target nucleic acid. The rate and extent of hybridization of the probe with the targeted nucleic acid can be increased by the use of "helper" oligonucleotides. Helper oligonucleotides are selected to bind to the target nucleic acid and impose a different secondary and tertiary structure on the target to facilitate the binding of the probe to the target. The resulting hybrid of probe and target nucleic acid also exhibits a higher T.sub.m than the hybrid which results from addition of the probe alone.
Claims27
A process for enhancing the binding between a nucleotide probe and a complementary nucleotide sequence in a single stranded target nucleic acid comprising adding to the target nucleic acid a helper oligonucleotide which hybridizes with the target nucleic acid in a different region than the probe, the helper oligonucleotide being added in an amount effective to enhance the binding of the probe to the target nucleic acid.
A hybrid nucleic acid comprising a hybrid of a nucleotide probe and a target nucleic acid to which is hybridized a helper oligonucleotide.
A kit for the detection of a target nucleic acid comprising a labeled nucleotide probe complementary to a nucleotide sequence in the target nucleic acid and a helper oligonucleotide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.