Amersham International Plc

Amersham Pharmacia Biotech UK Limited

Michael Alan Reeve

Philip Steven Robinson

Roland Paul Howe

Daniel Bischof

Stuart Ball

Terek Schwarz

A method for primer walking cycle sequencing of nucleic acid is provided using a presynthesized set of walking primers wherein the primers have a raised annealing temperature and/or improved annealing properties.

Primer walking cycle sequencing

Method for determining tandem repeat sequence length

Primer walking cycle sequencing using presynthesized primers containing

Biological assay systems often involve suspending magnetically attractable particles in a liquid, and later bringing down the particles from suspension and separating the formed pellet from the supernatant liquid. The invention provides magnetic systems for this purpose, shaped to form an annular or part-annular pellet close to the bottom of the vessel. The systems are suitable for automation.

Magnetic separation apparatus

Magnetic separation method

Primer extension mass spectroscopy nucleic acid sequencing method

A method of recovering a biopolymer from solution involves the use of magnetically attractable beads which do not specifically bind the polymer. The beads are suspended in the solution. Then the polymer is precipitated out of solution and becomes non-specifically associated with the beads. When the beads are magnetically drawn down, the polymer is drawn down with them. The polymer can subsequently be resolubilized and separated from the beads.

Precipitating polymers

Fluorescently labelled dideoxynucleoside triphosphates are widely used as chain-terminators in Sanger dideoxy sequencing operations. But these unincorporated dye-terminators migrate in an electrophoresis gel and obscure the desired sequence ladder. This invention provides a method and a kit for modifying the unincorporated dye-terminators, e.g. by removal of a 5'-triphosphate group by chemical or enzymatic means e.g. by use of a phosphatase enzyme.

Modifying nucleotide analogues

Magnetic bead precipitation method

Method to isolate macromolecules using magnetically attractable beads

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Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom

Michael Alan Reeve