Molecular combing process for detecting macromolecules
AssigneeInstitut Pasteur and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
InventorsDavid Bensimon, Aaron Bensimon, François Heslot
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Abstract
The subject of the present invention is a process for aligning a macromolecule (macromolecules) on the surface S of a support, characterized in that the triple line S/A/B (meniscus) resulting from the contact between a solvent A and the surface S and a medium B is caused to move on the said surface S, the said macromolecules having a part, especially an end, anchored on the surface S, the other part, especially the other end, being in solution in the solvent A. The subject of the present invention is also a process for detecting, measuring the intramolecular distance of, separating and/or assaying a macromolecule in a sample in which a process of alignment according to the invention is used.
Claims54
A process for detecting a macromolecule in a sample, wherein the process comprises:
- (a) providing a support having a surface, wherein the surface comprises a molecule with biological activity attached thereto and wherein the molecule with biological activity comprises biotin, a protein, a nucleic acid, a lipid, or a polysaccharide;
- (b) contacting the sample with the surface to couple the macromolecule in the sample to the molecule with biological activity;
- (c) passing a meniscus over the coupled product from step (b) to align the coupled product on the surface;
- and
- (d) detecting, either directly or indirectly, the macromolecule in the coupled product.
A process for detecting a macromolecule in a sample, wherein the process comprises:
- (a) providing a support having a surface, wherein the surface comprises a molecule with biological activity, wherein the molecule with biological activity has been aligned on the surface by passage of a meniscus over the molecule with biological activity, and wherein the molecule with biological activity comprises biotin, a protein, a nucleic acid, a lipid, or a polysaccharide;
- (b) contacting the sample with the surface to couple the macromolecule in the sample to the molecule with biological activity;
- and
- (c) detecting, either directly or indirectly, the macromolecule in the coupled product from step (b).
A process for detecting a macromolecule in a sample, wherein the process comprises:
- (a) providing a support having a surface;
- (b) anchoring a molecule with biological activity to the surface, wherein the molecule with biological activity comprises biotin, a protein, a nucleic acid, a lipid, or a polysaccharide;
- (c) contacting the sample with the surface to couple the macromolecule in the sample to the molecule with biological activity;
- (d) passing a meniscus over the coupled product from step (c) to align the coupled product on the surface;
- and
- (e) detecting, either directly or indirectly, the macromolecule in the coupled complex.
A process for detecting a macromolecule in a sample, wherein the process comprises:
- (a) providing a support having a surface;
- (b) anchoring a molecule with biological activity to the surface, wherein the molecule with biological activity comprises biotin, a protein, a nucleic acid, a lipid, or a polysaccharide;
- (c) passing a meniscus over the molecule with biological activity to align the molecule with biological activity on the surface;
- (d) contacting the sample with the surface to couple the macromolecule in the sample to the molecule with biological activity;
- and
- (e) detecting, either directly or indirectly, the macromolecule in the coupled product from step (d).
A process for quantifying the amount of a macromolecule in a sample, comprising:
- a) providing a support having a surface, wherein the surface comprises a molecule with biological activity attached thereto and wherein the molecule with biological activity comprises biotin, a protein, a nucleic acid, a lipid, or a polysaccharide;
- (b) contacting the sample with the surface to couple the macromolecule in the sample to the molecule with biological activity;
- (c) passing a meniscus over the coupled product from step (b) to align the coupled product on the surface;
- and
- (d) detecting, either directly or indirectly, the macromolecule in the coupled complex;
- and
- (e) quantifying the amount of the macromolecule in the sample.
A process for quantifying the amount of a macromolecule in a sample, comprising:
- (a) providing a support having a surface, wherein the surface comprises a molecule with biological activity, wherein the molecule with biological activity has been aligned on the surface by passage of a meniscus over the molecule with biological activity and wherein the molecule with biological activity comprises biotin, a protein, a nucleic acid, a lipid, or a polysaccharide;
- (b) contacting the sample with the surface to couple the macromolecule in the sample to the molecule with biological activity;
- and
- (c) detecting, either directly or indirectly, the macromolecule in the coupled product from step (b);
- and
- (d) quantifying the amount of the macromolecule in the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.