Abstract: Disclosed are cyanine dyes having meso-substituents in the polymethine chain linking the heterocyclic ring systems. The dyes are of formula (1): in which groups R3 and R4 are attached to the Z1 ring structure and groups R5 and R6 are attached to the Z2 ring structure, and n=1, 2 or 3; Z1 and Z2 independently represent the atoms necessary to complete one ring, or two fused ring aromatic or heteroaromatic systems, each ring having five or six atoms selected from carbon atoms and optionally no more than two atoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur; X and Y are the same or different and are selected from oxygen, sulphur, —CH?CH— and the group: at least one of groups R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 (and R8 and R9 if present) is the group -E-F where E is a spacer group and F is a target bonding group; one of groups R7 is selected from —CN, —Cl, —F, —CF3 and —C(O)R10 wherein R10 is selected from H, C1–C6 alkyl and aryl.

Abstract: Provided is a novel approach for generating oligonucleotide probes and the use of these probes in gene expression profiling, by hybridization to test oligonucleotides on arrays or beads. This approach involves labeling of the complement oligonucleotide probes using a mixture of dye or hapten labeled-ddNTPs in solution. The labeled oligonucleotide probes are then used to hybridize to the test oligonucleotides on the solid support. Success in hybridization is monitored by associated signal on the solid support. This approach greatly reduces hybridization time, due to the simplification of the probe content. It is especially useful when analyzing a small number of genes, such as a signature set of genes for a disease or condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of terminal-phosphate-labeled nucleotides having three or more phosphates as substrates for nucleic acid polymerases and their use in DNA amplification. The labels employed are chemiluminescent, fluorescent, electrochemical and chromogenic moieties as well as mass tags and include those that are directly detectable, detectable after enzyme activation or feed into other processes to generate a different signal. The signal generated from the attached dyes may also be used to quantify the amount of amplification. Further provided are stabilizers that enhance the stability of terminal-phosphate labeled nucleoside polyphosphates in aqueous solutions and are useful for reducing non-enzymatic hydrolysis of these nucleotides, hence decrease background.