Novel DNA probes with low background and high hybridization-triggered fluorescence

Novel fluorogenic DNA probes are described. The probes (called Pleiades) have a minor groove binder (MGB) and a fluorophore at the 5′-end and a non-fluorescent quencher at the 3′-end of the DNA sequence. This configuration provides surprisingly low background and high hybridization-triggered fluorescence. Here, we comparatively study the performance of such probes, MGB-Eclipse probes, and molecular beacons. Unlike the other two probe formats, the Pleiades probes have low, temperature-independent background fluorescence and excellent signal-to-background ratios. The probes possess good mismatch discrimination ability and high rates of hybridization. Based on the analysis of fluorescence and absorption spectra we propose a mechanism of action for the Pleiades probes. First, hydrophobic interactions between the quencher and the MGB bring the ends of the probe and, therefore, the fluorophore and the quencher in close proximity. Second, the MGB interacts with the fluorophore and independent of the quencher is able to provide a modest (2–4-fold) quenching effect. Joint action of the MGB and the quencher is the basis for the unique quenching mechanism. The fluorescence is efficiently restored upon binding of the probe to target sequence due to a disruption in the MGB–quencher interaction and concealment of the MGB moiety inside the minor groove

Unipolar barrier structures based on HgCdTe for infrared detection

One of the topical areas of solid state photoelectronics is the creation of infrared detectors based on unipolar barrier systems (for example, with an nBn architecture). The greatest progress has been achieved in the development of barrier detectors based on semiconductors of the AIIIBV group, which is associated with the possibility of realizing systems with a zero barrier in the valence band. Unipolar barrier detectors based on mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) are of interest due to significant technological advantages, since the creation of such devices can abandon the defect forming procedure of ion implantation. Despite a significant number of theoretical works, only a few attempts are known to practically implement nBn detectors based on MBE HgCdTe

A novel endonuclease IV post-PCR genotyping system

Here we describe a novel endonuclease IV (Endo IV) based assay utilizing a substrate that mimics the abasic lesions that normally occur in double-stranded DNA. The three component substrate is characterized by single-stranded DNA target, an oligonucleotide probe, separated from a helper oligonucleotide by a one base gap. The oligonucleotide probe contains a non-fluorescent quencher at the 5′ end and fluorophore attached to the 3′ end through a special rigid linker. Fluorescence of the oligonucleotide probe is efficiently quenched by the interaction of terminal dye and quencher when not hybridized. Upon hybridization of the oligonucleotide probe and helper probe to their complementary target, the phosphodiester linkage between the rigid linker and the 3′ end of the probe is efficiently cleaved, generating a fluorescent signal. In this study, the use of the Endo IV assay as a post-PCR amplification detection system is demonstrated. High sensitivity and specificity are illustrated using single nucleotide polymorphism detection

Differential melting curves for the complexes PL1 + C1 (or C2) (), PL2 + C2 (C1) (); EC1 + C1 (or C2) (), EC2 + C2 (C1) (); MB1 + C1 (or C2) (), MB2 + C2 (C1) ()

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Novel DNA probes with low background and high hybridization-triggered fluorescence"</p><p></p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2007;35(5):e30-e30.</p><p>Published online 26 Jan 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1865069.</p><p>© 2007 The Author(s).</p

Kinetics of hybridization of () FAM-labeled Pleiades (PL1) and () FAM-labeled molecular beacon (MB1) probes with complementary sequence at various temperatures

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Novel DNA probes with low background and high hybridization-triggered fluorescence"</p><p></p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2007;35(5):e30-e30.</p><p>Published online 26 Jan 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1865069.</p><p>© 2007 The Author(s).</p> Second-order rate constants for molecular beacons and Pleiades probes labeled with two different dyes are summarized in