Abstract: An electrode module includes a working electrode, a counter electrode, a reference electrode and a well (container) for retaining an electrolytic solution and is used in electrochemical measuring instruments. This electrode module is produced by integrating the well with at least one of the working electrode, the counter electrode and the reference electrode. This integrated electrode includes a chip-like electrode having a thin membrane of an electrode material formed on the surface of a chip-like base metal. This chip-like electrode is disposed on and integrated with the bottom of the well in a detachable manner. There is provided the compact, low price electrode module of high repetition use efficiency with no need of maintenance and having easy handling.

Abstract: An electrode module includes a working electrode, a counter electrode, a reference electrode and a well (container) for retaining an electrolytic solution and is used in electrochemical measuring instruments. This electrode module is produced by integrating the well with at least one of the working electrode, the counter electrode and the reference electrode. This integrated electrode includes a chip-like electrode having a thin membrane of an electrode material formed on the surface of a chip-like base metal. This chip-like electrode is disposed on and integrated with the bottom of the well in a detachable manner. There is provided the compact, low price electrode module of high repetition use efficiency with no need of maintenance and having easy handling.

Abstract: The invention provides a probe for detecting a highly ordered structural site of a nucleic acid of a gene by specifically binding with the structural site to generate an electrochemical response. The inventive probe comprises a cyclic ligand containing ferrocenyl group and a DNA threading intercalating moiety, such as 1,4,5,8-tetrasubstituted naphthalene, 9,10-disubstituted anthracene, and 1,5-disubstituted anthraquinone. Current of the cyclic ligand is not observed due to interaction such as stacking or so called charge transfer between ferrocenyl group and the DNA threading intercalating moiety in conventional electrolyte. The binding of the ligand with a highly ordered structural site of a single stranded nucleic acid, where nucleic base inserts between the cavity of cyclic ligand, inhibits the intramolecular interaction of the ligand to convert the ligand into its electrically active form, and as a result, current is observed.

Abstract: A detecting chip (2) comprising a body (5) and a frame (4) both detachable from each other. A large number of projecting pin electrodes (10) are arranged in a matrix inside the body (5). Oligonucleotide consisting of different gene sequences is fixed to the pin electrode (10). A common electrode is so disposed in a recess (8) in a frame (4) as to be out of contact with the pin electrodes (10). A DNA sample is placed in the recess (8). By applying a voltage between the common electrode and the pin electrodes (10), a current is detected to detect a hybridized two-strand DNA, thus analyzing a gene DNA.

Abstract: A method of detecting nucleic acid fragments in plural samples is performed by the steps of: attaching an electroconductive label to nucleic acid fragments in one sample and attaching a different electroconductive label to nucleic acid fragments in another sample; preparing a mixture of these samples; spotting the mixture on an electroconductive microarray having plural electrodes onto which probe molecules complementary to the nucleic acid fragments are fixed, so that hybridization between the nucleic acid fragments and the probe molecules on the electroconductive microarray can proceed to form hybrid structures; applying to the electrode an electric potential corresponding to the oxidation-reduction potential of the former label and detecting on the electrode an electric current; applying to the electrode an electric potential corresponding to the oxidation-reduction potential of the latter label and detecting on the electrode an electric current; and comparing the electric current detected in the former de

Abstract: Space part S within a detecting chip 2 for single base substitution SNP and point mutation of genes where a plurality of gold electrodes 8 are formed in the base 7 of closed space part S, oligonucleotides 10 with different gene sequences are fixed to the gold electrodes 8, a common electrode 16 arranged not to contact the gold electrodes 8, are filled with DNA samples, voltage is applied between the common electrode 16 and the gold electrode 8, and current is measured to allow the double-stranded DNA to be detected and analyzed. It becomes possible to detect and analyze a large number of single base substitution SNP and point mutation for a plurality of DNA samples.

Abstract: A DNA chip (or PNA chip) composed of a solid carrier and plural DNA fragments (or PNA fragments) fixed onto the solid carrier at each one end, wherein a plurality of short chain spacer molecules having a hydrophilic moiety at each one end are fixed at each another end onto a surface of the solid carrier having no DNA fragments (or no PNA fragments) on its surface is effective for high sensitive quantitative analysis of a nucleic acid fragment complementary to the DNA fragment (or PNA fragment).

Abstract: The amount in which a probe is immobilized on an electrode can be determined quantitatively, making it possible to quantitatively detect genes with high sensitivity and enhanced throughput. A gene detection method whereby a gene having a specific sequence is hybridized with a probe and electrochemically detected, wherein this method is characterized in that the probe is electrochemically detected.

Abstract: A DNA chip (or PNA chip) composed of a solid carrier and plural DNA fragments (or PNA fragments) fixed onto is the solid carrier at each one end, wherein a plurality of short chain spacer molecules having a hydrophilic moiety at each one end are fixed at each another end onto a surface of the solid carrier having no DNA fragments (or no PNA fragments) on its surface is effective for high sensitive quantitative analysis of a nucleic acid fragment complementary to the DNA fragment (or PNA fragment).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel detecting reagent for double-stranded nucleic acid, and a method of using it to detect double-stranded nucleic acid formed by hybridization with a probe, with absolutely no labeling of the target nucleic acid. The detecting reagent for double-stranded nucleic acid of the invention is characterized by comprising, in the same molecule, a naphthalenediimide group which is intercalatable into double-stranded nucleic acid and a &bgr;-diketone group capable of forming a lanthanoid metal complex.

Abstract: A water-soluble fluorescent intercalator compound having the formula: F—La—X F is a fluorescent moiety, X is a divalent cyclic group, and La is a linking group, and at least one of X and La has a site imparting water solubility to the compound or a site that is convertible into a site imparting water solubility to the compound is favorably employable as a fluorescent intercalator in a method for fluorometrically detecting complementary DNA fragments.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel detecting reagent for double-stranded nucleic acid, and a method of using it to detect double-stranded nucleic acid formed by hybridization with a probe, with absolutely no labeling of the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: A biomolecule microarray support for spotting solutions containing probe biomolecules on the surface and immobilizing the probe biomolecules in the solutions to the surface, characterized in that a plurality of small-sized probe biomolecule-attachable spots are arrayed in a regular arrangement on the surface of the support. A biomolecule microarray, made by spotting solutions containing probe biomolecules on the biomolecule-attachable spots on the support and immobilizing the biomolecules to the spots, can be used for quantitative analysis because of uniform and unvarying numbers of probe biomolecules bound to the spots. It also makes possible high S/N ratio measurement because of prevented nonspecific adsorption of target biomolecules to the surface of the support other than the detection spots. The biomolecule microarray support is fabricated precisely and efficiently by the method of the present invention using the photolithography and etching technique.

Abstract: A method of detecting nucleic acid fragments in plural samples is performed by the steps of: attaching an electroconductive label to nucleic acid fragments in one sample and attaching a different electroconductive label to nucleic acid fragments in another sample; preparing a mixture of these samples; spotting the mixture on an electroconductive microarray having plural electrodes onto which probe molecules complementary to the nucleic acid fragments are fixed, so that hybridization between the nucleic acid fragments and the probe molecules on the electroconductive microarray can proceed to form hybrid structures; applying to the electrode an electric potential corresponding to the oxidation-reduction potential of the former label and detecting on the electrode an electric current; applying to the electrode an electric potential corresponding to the oxidation-reduction potential of the latter label and detecting on the electrode an electric current; and comparing the electric current detected in the former de

Abstract: The invention provides a probe for detecting a highly ordered structural site of a nucleic acid of a gene by specifically binding with the structural site to generate an electrochemical response. The inventive probe comprises a cyclic ligand containing ferrocenyl group and a DNA threading intercalating moiety, such as 1,4,5,8-tetrasubstituted naphthalene, 9,10-disubstituted anthracene, and 1,5-disubstituted anthraquinone. Current of the cyclic ligand is not observed due to interaction such as stacking or so called charge transfer between ferrocenyl group and the DNA threading intercalating moiety in conventional electrolyte. The binding of the ligand with a highly ordered structural site of a single stranded nucleic acid, where nucleic base inserts between the cavity of cyclic ligand, inhibits the intramolecular interaction of the ligand to convert the ligand into its electrically active form, and as a result, current is observed.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a nucleic acid fragment sample to judge whether the nucleic acid fragment sample is uncomplementary, partly complementary or complementary to a DNA fragment in its specific base sequence is conducted by the steps of: bringing an aqueous solution of the nucleic acid fragment sample into contact with a DNA chip having an electroconductive substrate and the DNA fragment fixed onto the substrate in the presence of an electrochemical thread intercalator; measuring an electric current flowing from or to the electroconductive substrate along the DNA fragment under application of a potential to the substrate; and comparing the electric current measured above with a referential electric current which is prepared employing a DNA chip equivalent to the above DNA chip, the intercalator, and an aqueous solution of a nucleic acid fragment which is complementary to the DNA fragment of the DNA chip.

Abstract: A compound of the following formula: Ea—La—X—Lb—Eb in which each of Ea and Eb independently is a group having oxidation-reduction activity and having a conjugated system in its group; X is a divalent cyclic group; and each of La and Lb independently is a group which does not form a conjugated system in combination with the conjugated system of each of Ea and Eb and at least one of which has a site imparting water solubility to the compound or a site that is convertible into a site imparting water solubility to the compound, is favorably employable as an electroconductive threading intercalator in an electrochemical method for detecting complementary DNA fragments.

Abstract: A compound of the following formula:

Abstract: The invention provides a probe for detecting a highly ordered structural site of a nucleic acid of a gene by specifically binding with the structural site to generate an electrochemical response. The inventive probe comprises a cyclic ligand containing ferrocenyl group and a DNA threading intercalating moiety, such as 1, 4, 5, 8-tetrasubstituted naphthalene, 9, 10-disubstituted anthracene, and 1, 5-disubstituted anthraquinone. Current of the cyclic ligand is not observed due to interaction such as stacking or so called charge transfer between ferrocenyl group and the DNA threading intercalating moiety in conventional electrolyte. The binding of the ligand with a highly ordered structural site of a single stranded nucleic acid, where nucleic base inserts between the cavity of cyclic ligand, inhibits the intramolecular interaction of the ligand to convert the ligand into its electrically active form, and as a result, current is observed.

Abstract: A method of for testing complementation of nucleic acid fragment is performed by the steps of: