Detection of trinucleotide repeats by in situ hybridization
AssigneeUniversity of Massachusetts
InventorsRobert H. Singer, Krishan L. Taneja
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method of detecting a trinucleotide repeat expansion by in situ hybridization. The disclosed method uses a sample of nucleated cells, a labeled trinucleotide repeat-specific probe and detection of the hybridized probe by a means whose sensitivity distinguishes between the signal from probes hybridized to an expanded repeat and the signal from probes hybridized to a non-expanded repeat.
Claims22
An in situ hybridization method for detecting a trinucleotide repeat expansion, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
- (a) providing a sample of nucleated cells;
- (b) contacting said sample with a trinucleotide repeat-specific oligonucleotide probe, which probe comprises a covalently attached detectable label, under conditions that allow said probe to hybridize with said trinucleotide repeat expansion in said sample;
- and
- (c) detecting the hybridized probe by means of a detectable label, using a labeled detection threshold that is below signal strength of a signal from probes hybridized to an expanded trinucleotide repeat and above signal strength of a signal from probes hybridized to a non-expanded trinucleotide repeat.
An in situ hybridization method for differentially detecting sense and antisense sequences of a trinucleotide repeat expansion, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a sample of nucleated cells;
- (b) denaturing DNA in said cells;
- (c) hybridizing to said antisense sequence a trinucleotide repeat-specific sense probe, said probe being labeled with a first detectable label;
- and
- (d) hybridizing to said sense sequence a trinucleotide repeat-specific antisense probe, said probe being labeled with a second detectable label;
- (e) differentially detecting said first detectable label and said second detectable label.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.