Abstract: The present invention relates to a new mutant Rhizobium etli CNPAF 512 strain, having an inactivated raiI gene. Inactivation of the raiI gene leads to increased nodule number in beans upon inoculation thereof with the mutant strain. Based on this specific strain other strains can be mutated in the similar gene(s) in order to enable nodule increase and nitrogen fixation in other Leguminosae species.

Abstract: A method of detecting a target nucleic acid A is disclosed, comprising hybridizing the target nucleic acid A with a probe nucleic acid B which contains a sequence B1 which base pairs with a part of the target nucleic acid A and a sequence B2, cleaving the hybridized probe nucleic acid B to produce a cleavage product B' containing the sequence B2, hybridizing the cleavage product B' with a template nucleic acid C containing a sequence C2 which base pairs with a part of the cleavage product B' and a sequence C1 which does not hybridize with the sequence B1 of the probe nucleic acid B, extending the hybridized cleavage product B' with an extension sequence B3 which is template-specific to a part of the sequence C1, hybridizing a probe D with the extension product, wherein the probe D contains a sequence D1 which base pairs with the extension sequence B3 and a sequence D2, and detecting any of the various products formed throughout the method. Products for performing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved method of transcribing nucleic acids wherein the amount of abortive transcripts formed is reduced wherein the improvement comprises an effector sequence in the transcription reaction.

Abstract: Method for the sensitive detection of a target nucleic acid by hybridization with a probe nucleic acid. The latter contains a part which can hybridize with the target nucleic acid and a nucleic acid-specific part which does not hybridize with the target nucleic acid. The method further comprises cleavage of the probe nucleic acid, hybridization of a cleavage product of the probe nucleic acid containing the part that does not hybridize with the target nucleic acid with a matrix nucleic acid containing a part that can be hybridized with the cleavage product and a part that cannot be hybridized with the probe nucleic acid. The method also comprises the determination of the hybrid consisting of the cleavage product and the matrix nucleic acid and a reagent kit suitable for this purpose.

Abstract: A method of detecting a target nucleic acid A is disclosed, comprising hybridizing the target nucleic acid A with a probe nucleic acid B which contains a sequence B1 which base pairs with a part of the target nucleic acid A and a sequence B2, cleaving the hybridized probe nucleic acid B to produce a cleavage product B' containing the sequence B2, hybridizing the cleavage product B' with a template nucleic acid C containing a sequence C2 which base pairs with a part of the cleavage product B' and a sequence C1 which does not hybridize with the sequence B1 of the probe nucleic acid B, extending the hybridized cleavage product B' with an extension sequence B3 which is template-specific to a part of the sequence C1, hybridizing a probe D with the extension product, wherein the probe D contains a sequence D1 which base pairs with the extension sequence B3 and a sequence D2, and detecting any of the various products formed throughout the method. Products for performing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for introducing non-radioactively labelled deoxynucleotides into nucleic acids and RNA molecules which at their 3' end contain at least one deoxynucleotide which carries a non-radioactive marker group.