Fluorescence in Nucleic Acid Hybridization Assays

摘要: Fluorescence has provided a large variety of DNA hybridization assay formats, both heterogeneous and homogeneous. Heterogeneous formats offer high sensitivity, with time-resolved lanthanide fluorescence providing detection down to 0.01 amol, or about 6000 molecules target nucleic acid. With amplification, the limit drops tens hundreds molecules, even single molecule level. For many applications amplification would not be necessary. The environment-sensitive properties available makes particularly valuable homogeneous assays where measurable must change in response hybridization. Homogeneous conserve time labor, but suffer sensitivity due fundamental constraints on probe concentration. levels are closer fmol 0.1 Since limited by concentration, increase tremendously if sample analytes could concentrated into microvolumes, thereby amol lower levels. Combining however, provides 10 assays. methods tend homogeneous, combination system completely that can performed sealed vessels, reducing risk cross contamination. Given wide range already demonstrated approaches assays, it should relatively easy tailor either any particular need.