Abstract: Provided is a method for sequencing DNA, which comprises: (a) obtaining a target DNA population comprising one or more single-stranded DNAs to be sequenced, each of which is present in a unique amount and bears a primer to provide a double-stranded portion of the DNA for ligation thereto; (b) contacting the DNA population with an array of hybridisation probes, each probe comprising a label cleavably attached to a known base sequence of predetermined length, the array containing all possible base sequences of that predetermined length; (c) removing all unligated probes; followed by the steps of: (d) cleaving the ligated probes to release each label; (e) recording the quantity of each label; and (f) activating the extended double-stranded portion to enable ligation thereto; wherein (g) steps (b) to (f) are repeated in a cycle for a sufficient number of times to determine the sequence of the or each single-stranded DNA by determining the sequence of release of each label.

Abstract: A method for characterizing DNA, which comprises: (i) providing a population of DNA fragments, each fragment having cleavably attached thereto a mass label for identifying a feature of that fragment; (ii) separating the fragments on the basis of their length; (iii) cleaving each fragment in a mass spectrometer to release its mass label; and (iv) determining each mass label by mass spectrometry to relate the feature of each fragment to the length of the fragment.

Abstract: Provided is a method for characterising an analyte by matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry, which method comprises: (a) labelling the analyte with a light-absorbing label that absorbs light at a pre-determined frequency, to form a labelled analyte; (b) embedding the labelled analyte in a matrix formed from at least one compound that absorbs light, to form an embedded labelled analyte; (c) desorbing the embedded labelled analyte by exposing it to light having the pre-determined frequency, to form a desorbed analyte; and (d) detecting the desorbed analyte by mass spectrometry to characterise the analyte.

Abstract: An array of hybridization probes, each of which comprises a mass label linked to a known base sequence of predetermined length, wherein each mass label of the array, optionally together with the known base sequence, is relatable to that base sequence by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Provided is a method for characterizing a polypeptide or a population of polypeptides, which method comprises: (a) contacting a sample comprising one or more polypeptides with a first cleavage agent to generate polypeptide fragments; (b) isolating one or more polypeptide fragments, each fragment comprising the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the polypeptide from which it was fragmented; (c) identifying the isolated fragments by mass spectrometry; (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) on the sample using a second cleavage agent that cleaves at a difference site from the first cleavage agent; and (e) characterizing the one or more polypeptides in the sample from the fragments identified in steps (c) and (d).

Abstract: An array of hybridisation probes, each of which comprises a mass label linked to a known base sequence of predetermined length, wherein each mass label of the array, optionally together with the known base sequence, is relatable to that base sequence by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Provided is a method for assaying a substance, which method comprises contacting the substance with an assay agent comprising a catalytic agent to associate the substance with the catalytic agent, contacting the resulting associated substance with a label precursor, and detecting a label, wherein the label precursor is capable of reacting catalytically with the catalytic agent to release the label, and wherein the label is a mass label. Also provided is a kit for assaying a substance, which kit comprises an assay agent comprising a catalytic agent, and a label precursor capable of reacting catalytically with the catalytic agent to release a label, wherein the label is a mass label.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for categorizing nucleic acid which comprises: producing a nucleic acid population by action of an endonuclease on double-stranded nucleic acid, such that each nucleic acid in the nucleic acid population has a double-stranded portion; contacting the nucleic acid population with one or more oligonucleotide sequences; and isolating nucleic acid which correctly hybridizes to an oligonucleotide sequence. In the method of the present invention, each oligonucleotide sequence has a pre-determined recognition sequence. Furthermore, the nucleic acid is categorized by its ability to correctly hybridize to oligonucleotide sequences having the recognition sequence, the recognition sequence being situated such that it recognizes a sequence in the double-stranded portion of the nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide sequence can comprise one or more different recognition sequences.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for assaying a substance. The method of the present invention comprises contacting the substance with an assay agent comprising a catalytic agent to associate the substance with the catalytic agent, contacting the resulting associated substance with a label precursor capable of reacting catalytically with the catalytic agent to release the label, and detecting a mass label. The present invention also involves a kit for assaying a substance. The kit of the present invention comprises an assay agent comprising a catalytic agent, and a label precursor capable of reacting catalytically with the catalytic agent to release a mass label.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method for characterizing cDNA, wherein said method produces a sequence signature having the following structure: Adaptor Sequence-Restriction Site-Known Length-Nw-Second Known Length-Nx-Poly-A tail (Known Length).

Abstract: A method for identifying an antisense oligonucleotide capable of binding to a target mRNA, which comprises contacting the target mRNA with each member of an oligonucleotide library separately under hybridization conditions, removing unhybridized material and determining which member or members hybridize; wherein the oligonucleotide library comprises a plurality of distinct nucleotide sequences of a predetermined common length, and wherein each nucleotide sequence comprises a known sequence of 4 to 8 bases and all possible combinations of the known sequence are present in the library.

Abstract: A chimaeric oligonucleotide library for use in identifying an antisense binding site in a target mRNA, comprising a plurality of distinct chimaeric oligonucleotides capable of hybridizing to mRNA to form a duplex, the nucleotide sequences of which each have a common length of 7 to 20 bases and are generated randomly or generated from information characterizing the sequence of the target mRNA, wherein substantially all the nucleotide sequences of said common length which are present as sub-sequences in the target mRNA are present in the library, and wherein each nucleotide sequence comprises: a) a recognition region comprising a sequence of nucleotides which is recognizable by a duplex-cutting RNAase when hybridized to the mRNA, and b) a flanking region comprising a sequence of chemically-modified nucleotides which binds to the mRNA sufficiently tightly to stabilize the duplex for cutting of the mRNA in the duplex by the duplex-cutting RNAase, wherein the nucleotides constituting the flanking region are differ

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for characterizing nucleic acid which comprises generating Sanger ladder nucleic acid fragments from a plurality of nucleic acid templates present in the same reaction zone, wherein at least one terminating base is present in the reaction zone. Prior to generating nucleic acid fragments, a labeled primer nucleotide or oligonucleotide is hybridized to each template. The label on each primer is specific to the template to which that primer hybridizes, thereby allowing for identification of the template. The method of the present invention further comprises identifying the length of each nucleic acid fragment produced, the template from which the fragment is derived and the terminating base of the fragment.