Oncor, Inc.

Intergen Company

Satish K Bhatnagar

Irina A Nazarenko

Emily S Winn-Deen

Robert J Hohman

Albert L George, Jr

The present invention provides labeled nucleic acid amplification oligonucleotides, which can be linear or hairpin primers or blocking oligonucleotides. The oligonucleotides of the invention are labeled with donor and/or acceptor moieties of molecular energy transfer pairs. The moieties can be fluorophores, such that fluorescent energy emitted by the donor is absorbed by the acceptor. The acceptor may be a fluorophore that fluoresces at a wavelength different from the donor moiety, or it may be a quencher. The oligonucleotides of the invention are configured so that a donor moiety and an acceptor moiety are incorporated into the amplification product. The invention also provides methods and kits for directly detecting amplification products employing the nucleic acid amplification primers. When labeled linear primers are used, treatment with exonuclease or by using specific temperature eliminates the need for separation of unincorporated primers. This 'closed-tube' format greatly reduces the possibility of carryover contamination with amplification products, provides for high throughput of samples, and may be totally automated.

Nucleic acid amplification oligonucleotides with molecular energy

A method for analyzing a target nucleotide sequence which exists in a first state or a different second state which makes the method particularly useful for determining point mutations. The method uses a first polynucleotide which is immobilized on a solid support and which is at least partially complementary to a first segment of the target nucleotide sequence. By means of a series of steps, a product of the first polynucleotide and a further polynucleotide that contains a detectable label can be obtained. When the state to be analyzed occurs in a rare population, amplification can be conducted so that substantially only amplification of the target nucleotide sequence in one of the states is attained. The method can be used to analyze multiple target sequences simultaneously. A kit which can be used in the method is also set forth.

Method for analyzing a nucleotide sequence

A process for amplifying nucleic acid sequences from a DNA or RNA template which may be purified, or may exist in a mixture of nucleic acids. The resulting nucleic acid sequences may be exact copies of the template, or may be modified. The process has advantages over prior art amplification processes in that it increases the fidelity of copying a specific nucleic acid sequence, and it allows one to more efficiently detect a particular point mutation in a single assay.

Growing community of inventors

Gaithersburg, MD, United States of America

Satish K Bhatnagar