Dynal As

Invitrogen Dynal As

Lars Korsnes

Erik Hornes

Jack Andreassen

Stine Bergholtz

The present invention relates to a method of isolating nucleic acid from a blood sample, said method comprising: (a) selectively isolating leucocytes from said sample by binding said leucocytes to a solid support by means of a binding partner specific for leucocytes; (b) lysing said isolated leucocytes; and (c) binding nucleic acid released from said lysed cells to said solid support. Kits for isolating nucleic acid from samples form further embodiments of the invention.

Nucleic acid isolation

The process includes the steps of: a) contacting a liquid containing mRNA with an insoluble support having DNA probes attached thereto via the 5' -terminus thereof whereby the MRNA is hybridized to said probes and hence to said support; b) removing said liquid; and c) adding enzymes and nucleotides in solution whereby the probe functions as a primer to produce single stranded cDNA on the mRNA probe. The probe DNA may be oligo-dT or a specific DNA sequence, such as one that is complementary to a conserved region in a class of mRNA molecules. The insoluble support comprises magnetic particles which are monodisperse polymer particles comprising superparamagnetic iron oxide, a coating to reduce non-specific binding and a substituent for attaching an oligonucleotide.

Process for producing cDNA

Monodisperse, superparamagnetic particles carrying a plurality of molecules of an oligonucleotide are disclosed and may be used inter alia for sequencing single-stranded nucleic acids. The oligonucleotide may be covalently attached or affinity bonded to the particles either by their 3' or 5' termini. The particles have a specific gravity in the range 1.1-1.8 and are 1-10 microns in diameter. A kit for the isolation or processing of target nucleic acid is also disclosed.

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Oslo, Norway

Lars Korsnes