Tropix, Inc.

Applera Corporation

Applied Biosystems, LLC

Life Technologies Corporation

Alison Sparks

Brooks Edwards

Irena Y Bronstein

John C Voyta

Christopher Martin

Steven Menchen

Timothy G Geiser

Rouh-Rong Juo

Jaime E Arenas

Melissa Gee

Zhixian Wang

Ricky F Baggio

Methods for generating a chemiluminescent enzyme substrate in situ, in aqueous or other assay conditions. Also disclosed are methods to use the substrates to generate light, detect and/or quantify enzymes, antigens, and/or nucleic acids. Kits relating to these methods are also disclosed. 

In situ chemiluminescent substrates and assays

Chemiluminescent substrate delivery systems comprising a conjugate a dendrimer and at least one chemiluminescent substrate are provided. The substrate delivery systems can also include a chemiluminescence enhancer. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in kits including an enzyme capable of activating the chemiluminescent substrate to produce a peroxygenated intermediate that decomposes to produce light. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in assays to detect the presence of an analyte (e.g., an enzyme, an antibody, an antigen or a nucleic acid) in a sample.

Dendritic chemiluminescent substrates

The invention pertains to bioconjugation systems comprising sterically constrained cis-diols and borates.

Constrained cis-diol-borate bioconjugation system

Solid supports for chemiluminescent assays are provided. The solid support includes a plurality of probes covalently or physically attached to the support surface and a chemiluminescent enhancing moiety incorporated onto the surface or into the bulk of the support. The solid support can be a multi-layered support including an upper probe binding layer (e.g., an azlactone polymer layer or porous functional polyamide layer) adjacent to a cationic microgel layer. The azlactone-functional polymer can be a copolymer of dimethylacrylamide and vinylazlactone crosslinked with ethylenediamine. The cationic microgel layer can be a cross-linked quaternary onium salt containing polymer. A method and a kit for conducting chemiluminescent assays using the solid supports is also provided. The kit comprises a dioxetane substrate, a biopolymer probe-enzyme complex, and a solid support. The solid support can be an azlactone functional polymer layer adjacent to a cationic microgel layer; a porous polyamide functional layer adjacent to a cationic microgel layer; or a quaternized azlactone functional polymer layer.

Solid phases optimized for chemiluminescent detection

Chemiluminescent substrate delivery systems comprising a conjugate of a dendrimer and at least one chemiluminescent substrate are provided. The substrate delivery systems can also include a chemiluminescence enhancer. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in kits including an enzyme capable of activating the chemiluminescent substrate to produce a peroxygenated intermediate that decomposes to produce light. The dendrimer/chemiluminescent substrate conjugates can be used in assays to detect the presence of an analyte (e.g., an enzyme, an antibody, an antigen or a nucleic acid) in a sample.

Intracellular enzyme-activated fluorescent substrates that can be transported into a cell are provided. The membrane transportable fluorescent substrates are complexes (e.g., ionic complexes) formed between an enzyme activated fluorescent substrate and a carrier molecule. The fluorescent substrates can be used in an intracellular assay of enzyme activity and/or expression.

Membrane transportable fluorescent substrates

Spiroadamantyl dioxetanes bearing an alkoxy substituent, and an aromatic substituent of phenyl or naphthyl on the dioxetane ring can be activated to chemiluminesce if the aromatic substituent bears a moiety designated OX, wherein the X is cleaved by an enzyme with which the dioxetane is permitted to come in contact with. The T kinetics of the chemiluminescent reaction, as well as the signal intensity, or quantum yield of the chemiluminescent reaction, can be altered by selection of an electron-withdrawing or an electron-donating group Z, at positions on the aromatic substituent other than those adjacent the point of attachment to the dioxetane. Signal strength can further be enhanced by recognized chemiluminescent enhancers.

Chemiluminescent 1,2-dioxetanes

Spiroadamantyl dioxetanes bearing an alkoxy substituent, and an aromatic substituent of phenyl or naphthyl on the dioxetane ring can be activated to chemiluminesce if the aromatic substituent bears a moiety designated OX, wherein the X is cleaved by an enzyme with which the dioxetane is permitted to come in contact with. The T.sub.1/2 kinetics of the chemiluminescent reaction, as well as the signal intensity, or quantum yield of the chemiluminescent reaction, can be altered by selection of an electron-withdrawing or an electron-donating group Z, at positions on the aromatic substituent other than those adjacent the point of attachment to the dioxetane. Signal strength can further be enhanced by recognized chemiluminescent enhancers.

Dioxetanes that can be triggered by bases are provided which can be used to detect bases in organic solvents, aqueous preparations and detect gaseous bases in the atmosphere. The dioxetanes can be used to detect the release of bases from various labels, as a means to detect the presence of a base released by physical or natural processes, to calibrate light measuring apparatus and to determine the amount of reducing or oxidizing agent present in the base.

1,2-dioxetane compounds bearing a proteolytic enzyme specific amino acid or peptide are provided, which amino acid or peptide can be removed by action of the corresponding protease. When the amino acid or peptide is removed, the 1,2-dioxetane decomposes with chemiluminescence, the generation of light providing a rapid, ultra-sensitive and convenient means for detecting the presence of the protease in the sample being inspected. The amount of light generated, or degree of chemiluminescence, can be correlated with the amount of protease present. Immunoassays, as well as DNA hybridization and DNA probe assays are provided.

Dioxetane compounds for the chemiluminescent detection of proteases,

A new class of stable dioxetanes bears a polycyclic stabilizing group and aryloxy moiety, the oxygen atom of which is provided with a protective group which can be removed by an enzymatic or chemical trigger admixed with the dioxetane. The polycyclic stabilizing group is preferably spiroadamantane. The group further bears an alkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy or cycloalkyloxy moiety which is partially or completely substituted with halogens, particularly fluorine and chlorine. Proper selection of electron active groups on the stabilizing moiety, the aryl group and the OR group yields enhanced enzyme kinetics, superior light intensity and excellent detection sensitivity in various assays.

1,2 chemiluminescent dioxetanes of improved performance

1, 2-dioxetane compounds bearing a proteolytic enzyme specific amino acid or peptide are provided, which amino acid or peptide can be removed by action of the corresponding protease. When the amino acid or peptide is removed, the 1,2-dioxetane decomposes with chemiluminescence, the generation of light providing a rapid, ultra-sensitive and convenient means for detecting the presence of the protease in the sample being inspected. The amount of light generated, or degree of chemiluminescence, can be correlated with the amount of protease present. Immunoassays, as well as DNA hybridization and DNA probe assays are provided.

Novel 1,2-dioxetanes with improved chemiluminescent properties, such as signal intensity, S/N ratio, T1/2, etc. are provided by spiroadamantyl 1,2-dioxetanes, wherein the remaining carbon atom of the ring bears an alkoxy, aryloxy, or arylalkoxy substituent, and either a phenyl or naphthyl ring, this aromatic ring bearing, at the meta position on the phenyl group, or a non-conjugated position on the naphthyl ring, a OX moiety wherein X is an enzyme-cleavable group, which when removed from the dioxetane, leaves the oxyanion which decomposies with chemiluminescence, the aryl ring further bearing an electron active substituent Z. The nature and placement of the Z substituent, at a position not adjacent the point of attachment to the dioxetane ring, strongly influences the properties of the dioxetane. Assays, as well as kits for the performance of those assays, include the dioxetane, an enzyme capable of cleaving the X group, and in certain cases, membranes and chemiluminscent enhancement agents.

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North Andover, MA, United States of America

Alison Sparks