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US 6,036,923 AGranted
Pressure cycling reactor and methods of controlling reactions using pressure
AssigneeBioseq, Inc
InventorsJames A. Laugharn, Jr., Gustav H. Dreier, Edwin A. Rudd, David J. Green
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus in which pressure provides precise control over the timing and preferably synchronization of chemical reactions, particularly enzymatic reactions.
Claims56
A reactor for intermittently inhibiting activity of a sample by controlling pressure applied to the sample, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir for containing a test reagent,
- a reactor body defining a chamber for receiving a sample, and
- a system for providing flow of the test reagent into said chamber while said chamber is pressurized, said system comprising:
- a first valve located in a first conduit in communication with said fluid reservoir,
- a second valve located in a second conduit in communication with said chamber,
- a first pressurizer located between said fluid reservoir and said chamber and in communication with said first conduit and said second conduit, and
- a third valve associated with said first pressurizer for venting said first pressurizer,
- with said first valve in an open position and said second valve in a closed position, said reservoir being in communication with said first pressurizer to allow fluid flow to said first pressurizer;
- with said first valve in a closed position, said second valve in an open position, and said third valve in a closed position, said pressurizer being in communication with said chamber to pressurize said chamber;
- with said first valve in a closed position, said second valve in an open position, and said third valve cycled between an open position and a closed position, said pressure in said chamber being pulsed between an activity-inhibiting pressure P.sub.1 and an activity-allowing pressure P.sub.2.
7 more elements
A method of controlling an enzymatic reaction, comprising
- (i) providing a sample mixture in a sample vessel at reversibly inactivating pressure P.sub.1, the sample mixture comprising an enzyme;
- (ii) exposing the sample mixture to activating pressure P.sub.2 ;
- (iii) maintaining the activating pressure P.sub.2 for time period t.sub.1 ;
- and
- (iv) exposing the sample mixture to inactivating pressure P.sub.3, thereby controlling an enzymatic reaction.
2 more elements
A method of affecting the thermodynamic equilibrium of a reaction comprising the conversion of at least one starting material to at least one product, said method comprising
- (i) providing a sample mixture comprising said at least one starting material in a sample vessel, the sample mixture being at a pressure P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.0 ;
- (ii) changing the sample mixture temperature to T.sub.1 ;
- (iii) increasing the pressure of the reaction mixture to P.sub.2 in a length of time .delta.t.sub.1, wherein P.sub.2 is at least 10,000 psi greater than P.sub.1 ;
- (iv) maintaining the pressure of the reaction mixture at P.sub.2 for duration t.sub.1 ;
- and
- (v) reducing the pressure of the reaction mixture to P.sub.3, thereby affecting the thermodynamic equilibrium of the reaction to convert said stating material to at least one product.
3 more elements
A method for treating nucleic acid, comprising:
- a) providing, in any order:
- i) a sample vessel, ii) a nucleic acid substrate, iii) an enzyme capable of acting on the nucleic acid substrate, and iv) a pressurizer for controlling pressure in the vessel;
- b) providing the enzyme and the nucleic acid, independently, in solution in the sample vessel while maintaining the enzyme under inactivating pressure P.sub.1 ;
- c) changing the pressure in the sample vessel to an enzyme activating pressure P.sub.2 for a controlled period of time t.sub.1, such that the enzyme is active and acts on the nucleic acid substrate for the time period;
- then
- d) changing the pressure to enzyme inactivating pressure P.sub.3.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.