Panomics, Inc.

Freshgene, Inc.

Qinghong Yang

Alla Lishanski

Wendy Yang

The present invention provides methods for determining the genotype of a nucleic acid at the site of a polymorphism. The methods achieve sensitivities great enough to detect the presence of any difference between the nucleic acids, even single nucleotide polymorphisms. In the methods, the nucleic acid is compared to a reference nucleic acid having a known genotype. The nucleic acids can be of any length, even less than 100 base pairs. In methods, one or more extra mismatches are introduced into the nucleic acids at or near the site of the polymorphism. The nucleic acids are contacted under conditions in which they are capable of forming a stable four-way complex that can be detected to indicate that the nucleic acids differ in genotype.

Methods for detecting polymorphisms in nucleic acids

The present invention provides sensitive methods for detecting the presence or absence of a difference between related nucleic acid sequences. In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for detecting a difference in the sequence of two nucleic acid molecules. The method includes the steps of: contacting two nucleic acids under conditions that allow the formation of a four-way complex and branch migration; contacting the four-way complex with a tracer molecule and a detection molecule under conditions in which the detection molecule is capable of binding the tracer molecule or the four-way complex; and determining binding of the tracer molecule to the detection molecule before and after exposure to the four-way complex. Competition of the four-way complex with the tracer molecule for binding to the detection molecule indicates a difference between the two nucleic acids. The methods disclosed can be used for detecting nucleotide variations or mutations of an organism, for example, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), which leads to identification of genetic traits associated with diseases or other phenotypic characteristics.

Methods and compositions for detecting differences between nucleic acids

The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence or absence of a difference between two related nucleic acid sequences. In the methods, a target nucleic acid and a reference nucleic acid are contacted under conditions in which they are capable of forming a four-way nucleic acid complex with a branch structure that is capable of migration. Under the contact conditions, if the reference nucleic acid and target nucleic acid are identical, branch migration is capable of going to completion resulting in complete strand exchange. If the reference nucleic acid and target nucleic acid are different, branch migration does not go to completion, resulting in a stable four-way complex. Detection of the stable four-way complex identifies the presence of a difference between the nucleic acids. A stable four-way complex can be detected with molecules that specifically bind such complexes, by gel electrophoresis or by specific isolation of the stable four-way complex.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Qinghong Yang