Abstract: A compound is provided having the formula: where C* is an sp2 coordinated carbon atom; A is defined by the formula wherein R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18 and R19 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, alkylaryl, heteroaryl, heteroalkoxy, aldehyde, keto, amino, nitro, halo, sulfate, sulfonyl, carboxy, carboxyester, phosphate or phosphoester, each of which may be substituted or unsubstituted; Z is a moiety that is covalently bonded to C* selected from the group consisting of O, S, N—R1, and +N—R1R2 where R1 and R2 are selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, alkylaryl, heteroaryl, or heteroalkoxy moieties, each of which may be substituted or unsubstituted; and Q is a suitable leaving group yields a compound which is capable of exhibiting a chemiluminescent reaction in the presence of a peroxide or peroxide-like compound under aqueous or mixed aqueous-organic conditions.

Abstract: A compound is provided having the formula: 1

Abstract: Stable reference nucleic acid for use in all steps of molecular screening and diagnostic assays and method of making. A desired nucleic acid sequence is amplified, ligated into an expression vector, and used to transform a vehicle. A cellular vehicle is subsequently killed without affecting the encapsulated nucleic acid. The vehicle membrane is stabilized under controlled conditions to a stability substantially matching that of a test cell membrane. The recovered nucleic acid is used as a standard or control in molecular diagnostic and genetic testing assays.

Abstract: Stable reference nucleic acid for use in all steps of molecular screening and diagnostic assays and method of making. A desired nucleic acid sequence is amplified, ligated into an expression vector, and used to transform a vehicle. A cellular vehicle is subsequently killed without affecting the encapsulated nucleic acid. The vehicle membrane is stabilized under controlled conditions to a stability substantially matching that of a test cell membrane. The recovered nucleic acid is used as a standard or control in molecular diagnostic and genetic testing assays.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a nucleic acid target sequence by formation of triple helix nucleic acid structures. The method may, but need not, involve amplifying the nucleic acid in vitro using cycles of denaturation and amplification to yield product duplexes, and detecting the product duplexes by hybridizing a third strand of nucleic acid to the product duplexes without denaturation. The triple helix-forming duplex sequences may be endogenous to the target sequence being detected, or they may be introduced in the probes used during amplification.

Abstract: A probe polynucleotide binds to a target nucleotide sequence in the nucleic acid of a biological sample, and then is enzymatically extended in the 3'-direction with a mixture of nucleoside triphosphates including at least one nucleoside triphosphate that has been detectably labeled. After separating extended hybrid from unreacted nucleoside triphosphates, detectably-modified nucleotides which have been incorporated are determined. In some forms, the 3'-terminal nucleotide of the probe polynucleotide is selected to form a matched pair with some sample strands, but a mismatched pair with other sample strands. In such cases, if the primer dependent enzyme used for extension is one lacking 3'-exonuclease activity, then only those hybrids forming such a matched pair will be extended and subsequently determined.

Abstract: An RNA signal strand is displaced from a probe strand by a target nucleotide sequence. Without separation, a digestion enzyme selective for displaced RNA, e.g., a polynucleotide phosphorylase, digests the displaced RNA to nucleoside phosphates including ADP. The digestion products are detected, e.g. by phosphorylating the ADP to ATP and detecting the ATP by bioluminescence.

Abstract: A reagent complex is disclosed containing (1) a probe polynucleotide having a target binding region complementary to a target nucleotide sequence and (2) a signal strand polynucleotide bound by base pairing to a portion of the target binding region. The signal strand is displaced from the reagent complex by the target nucleotide sequence and separated from intact reagent complexes. A digestable ribonucleotide segment of the displaced signal strand, such as a 3' , terminal segment, is digested to ribonucleotide phosphates, which are phosphorylated to ATP. The ribonucleotide phosphates or ATP are detected.

Abstract: RNA such as messenger RNA is digested to nucleotide phosphates including AMP or ADP. The ATP or a byproduct of the phosphorylation, e.g., pyruvate, is detected. Exemplary enzymes used (with appropriate co-reactants and co-factors) are: (1) polynucleotide phosphorylase, pyruvate kinase and luciferase, or (2) phosphodiesterase (or RNase), myokinase, pyruvate kinase and luciferase. The phosphorylation to ATP (e.g., with pyruvate kinase) is preferably coupled with the previous (reversible) enzymatic step.