Method of identifying hairpin DNA probes by partial fold analysis
AssigneeUniversity of Rochester
InventorsBenjamin L. Miller, Christopher M. Strohsahl
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Abstract
Methods of identifying molecular beacons in which a secondary structure prediction algorithm is employed to identify oligonucleotide sequences within a target gene having the requisite hairpin structure. Isolated oligonucleotides, molecular beacons prepared from those oligonucleotides, and their use are also disclosed.
Claims21
An isolated nucleic acid probe comprising:
- a hairpin DNA molecule that hybridizes over its full length to a target nucleic acid that has a naturally occurring sequence;
- a label tethered to one terminus of the hairpin DNA molecule;
- and
- a quenching agent tethered to the other terminus of the hairpin DNA molecule.
An isolated DNA molecule comprising first and second regions that are capable of self-hybridizing, under appropriate conditions, into a hairpin configuration, wherein the DNA molecule has a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes over its full length to a target nucleic acid that has a naturally occurring sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.