Amgen Inc.

Theodore Jones

Rodney M Richards

Gregory S Brown

David L Snitman

Christopher G Rudman

The present invention is directed to a method for detecting an amplification product. Amplification is accomplished through the use of a plurality of detection probes. The present invention is also directed to a method for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence by contacting a test sample with an excess of at least three pairs of nucleic acid amplification probes.

Method and reagents for detecting nucleic acid sequences

The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively eliminate the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.

Method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure

The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively cleave the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.

Disclosed are novel synthetic peptides having primary structural homology to a continuous sequence of amino acid residues of human growth hormone in a region spanning positions thirty-two to forty-six ('hGH.sub.32-46 ', or 'deletion peptide'). In preferred forms, peptides of the invention comprehend: duplicate portions (i.e., sequence fragments) of hGH.sub.32-46 ; stereochemical analogs and fragment analogs of hGH.sub.32-46 including one or more amino acid residues in D-isomeric configuration; and, 'interspecies' analogs and fragment analogs of hGH.sub.32-46 including one or more non-homologous amino acid residues duplicating variant residues present in corresponding positions in corresponding regions of heterologous species growth hormones. Peptides of the invention are administered to mammals contemporaneously with exogenous insulin to generate hypoglycemic effects greater than available through administration of insulin alone. A presently preferred heptapeptide has the sequence, NH.sub.2 -Glu-Glu-Ala-Tyr-Ile-Pro-Lys-COOH, and has insulin-potentiating activity greater than hGH.sub.32-46.

Growing community of inventors

Lakewood, CO, United States of America

Theodore Jones