Abstract: The present invention concerns oligonucleotides containing one or more modified nucleotides which increase the binding affinity of the oligonucleotides to target nucleic acids having a complementary nucleotide base sequence. These modified oligonucleotides hybridize to the target sequence at a faster rate than unmodified oligonucleotides having an identical nucleotide base sequence. Such modified oligonucleotides include oligonucleotides containing at least one 2?-O-methylribofuranosyl moiety joined to a nitrogenous base. Oligonucleotides can be modified in accordance with the present invention to preferentially bind RNA targets. The present invention also concerns methods of using these modified oligonucleotides and kits containing the same.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The use of sensory G protein-coupled receptors that recognize chemical sensants, parti-cularly those involving olfactory and taste receptors; polypeptide fragments and mutants thereof; classes of such receptors; polynucleotides encoding such receptors, fragments and mutants thereof, and representatives of receptor classes; genetic vectors including such polynucleotides; and cells and non-human organisms engineered to express such receptor complexes, fragments and mutants of an olfactory or taste receptor, and representatives of receptor classes to simulate sensory perception of odorants and tastants is described. The use of such products as a biosensor or a component thereof to detect, identify, measure, or otherwise process the event of binding between the receptor and its cognate ligand (i.e., chemical sensant) is also described. The invention has application, for example, in the design and formulation of odorant and tastant compositions.

Abstract: The small molecule profiles of cells are compared to identify small molecules which are modulated in altered states. Cellular small molecule libraries, methods of identifying tissue sources, methods for treating genetic and non-genetic diseases, and methods for predicting the efficacy of drugs are also discussed.

Abstract: To maximize the yield of protein from a baculovirus system, optimal infection of the host cell culture must be achieved; in order to obtain such optimal infection, the titer of the virus inoculation must be known. The present invention is the development of a simple, rapid, and universally applicable titration method that involves the direct detection of the viral DBP gene derived from AcNPV (AcNPV DBP) as a target for quantitative titer determination of baculovirus and the use of biotin specific probes directed to viral DBP gene. The procedure entails the amplification of the AcNPV DBP gene by using the PCR technique in the presence of digoxigenin-11-dUTP from the negative control (non-infected) and infected samples, and the synthesis of the specific biotin label nucleotide probes directed to the AcNPV DBP gene.

Abstract: Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial brown rot of potato, is often carried latently in seed potato tubers. Primers and a probe were designed for a real-time BIO-PCR assay technique for detecting potato tubers latently infected with R. Solanacearum. Using naturally infected potato tubers, as few as 20 cells/ml extract could be detected. Two of 14 naturally infected potato tubers with no disease symptoms were positive by the newly described real-time BIO-PCR (pre-enrichment on agar or in liquid medium) assay but not by direct real-time PCR.

Abstract: The invention is a new method to analyze nucleic acid-protein binding data in a systematic or statistical manner in order to determine the DNA binding regions for proteins which bind to DNA and are usually involved in the regulation of the expression of genes, and may enhance, promote or repress the expression of the gene.

Abstract: Small heat shock proteins, e.g., Pyrococcus fuiosus (Pfu-sHSP and/or Pfu-tsHSP), confer thermotolerance on cellular cultures and on proteins in cellular extracts during prolonged incubation at elevated temperature, demonstrating the ability to protect cellular proteins and maintain cellular viability under heat stress conditions. Such heat shock proteins are effective to combat enzymatic aggregation and intracellular precipitation during heat stress, and thereby enable enhancement of the utility and stability of enzymes in various applications, e.g., Taq polymerase in PCR applications, digestive enzymes in microbial degradative applications, etc.

Abstract: A method of characterizing an analyte sample is provided that includes the steps of: (a) anchoring the analyte to a nucleic acid template of known sequence; (b) conducting a DNA polymerase reaction that includes the reaction of a template, a non-hydrolyzable primer, at least one terminal phosphate-labeled nucleotide, DNA polymerase, and an enzyme having 3??5? exonuclease activity which reaction results in the production of labeled polyphosphate; (c) permitting the labeled polyphosphate to react with a phosphatase to produce a detectable species characteristic of the sample; (d) detecting the detectable species. The method may include the step of characterizing the nucleic acid sample based on the detection. Also provided are methods of analyzing multiple analytes in a sample, and kits for characterizing analyte samples.

Abstract: A herbicide resistant transformed sugar beet that is detectable by the specific primers developed to match the DNA sequences that flank the left and/or right border region of the inserted transgenic DNA and the method of identifying primer pairs containing plant genomic DNA/plasmid DNA. More specifically the present invention covers a specific glyphosate resistant sugar beet plant having an insertion of the transgenic material identified as the T227-1 event. The present invention additionally covers primer pairs: plant genomic DNA/Plasmid DNA that are herein identified. Additionally, these primer pairs for either the left or the right flanking regions make an event specific test for the T227-1 insert of transgenic material.

Abstract: The present invention provides diagnostic/prognostic screening methods for identifying alternations in the sequence of a km23 nucleic acid or polypeptide form. Furthermore, the invention relates to mutations in the km23 gene in human cancers and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human cancer. Specific mutations in the km23 gene associated with ovarian cancers have been identified. The invention also provides human km23 polypetides, fragments and mutants thereof, oligonucleotides and primers directed to km23 nucleic acid forms, expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, antagonists and their use for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases associated with the expression or activity of km23, or with defects in the signaling pathway for TGF? superfamily members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods of detecting a target using a labeled substrate or substrate analog. The methods comprise reacting the substrate or substrate analog in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction which produces a labeled moiety with independently detectable signal only when such substrate or substrate analog reacts. The present invention, in particular, describes methods of detecting a nucleic acid in a sample, based on the use of terminal-phosphate-labeled nucleotides as substrates for nucleic acid polymerases. The methods provided by this invention utilize a nucleoside polyphosphate, dideoxynucleoside polyphosphate, or deoxynucleoside polyphosphate analogue which has a colorimetric dye, chemiluminescent, or fluorescent moiety, a mass tag or an electrochemical tag attached to the terminal-phosphate. When a nucleic acid polymerase uses this analogue as a substrate, an enzyme-activatable label would be present on the inorganic polyphosphate by-product of phosphoryl transfer.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes arranged on a nucleic acid chip substrate in a matrix form can be analyzed quantitatively by TOF-SIMS with accuracy by forming a phosphorus-containing area which can be used as a standard on the substrate.

Abstract: A method for identifying or quantifying an organism by a detecting its nucleotide sequence among at least 4 other homologous sequences comprising amplifying nucleic acids from the organism to generate target nucleotide sequences to be detected; contacting the target nucleotide sequences with single stranded capture nucleotide sequences bound by a single predetermined link to an insoluble solid support and discriminating the binding of a target nucleotide sequence specific of an organism with a signal resulting from a hybridization by complementary base pairing between the target nucleotide sequence and its corresponding capture nucleotide sequence is disclosed. The capture nucleotide sequence is bound to the insoluble solid support at a specific location on an array having a density of at least 4 different bound single stranded capture nucleotide sequences/cm2. The location of the signal on the array allows identification or quantification of the organism.

Abstract: The invention provides polynucleotides and methods for detecting and quantifying RNA viruses, such as enteroviruses and noroviruses. In one aspect, the invention provides amplification primers and labeled molecular beacons for amplification of viral nucleic acid sequences. In another aspect, the invention provides a synthetic RNA internal control. In another aspect, the invention provides a kit for detecting the presence of enterovirus and/or norovirus in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules which allow the identification of bacteria or groups of bacteria. For detection, the region of the bacterial genome containing the 23 S/5 S rRNA is used as the target sequence for the bacterial detection.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to analysis of gene expression profiles. In particular, the present invention provides a method for a method for analyzing gene expression profiles of a cell, which method comprises: a) providing for isolated mRNA or cDNA target sequences from a cell; b) sequentially hybridizing said isolated mRNA or cDNA target sequences with a plurality of nucleotide probes; and c) assessing the sequential hybridization between said isolated mRNA or cDNA target sequences and said plurality of nucleotide probes to analyze gene expression profiles of said cell. Systems for analyzing gene expression profiles are also provided. Optical devices for detecting hybridization signal are further provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved multiplex PCR method for obtaining at least two PCR products from one PCR solution. In the multiplex PCR method for having at least two DNA amplified products from a sample positioned in a PCR equipment, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel multiplex PCR method characterized in that a primer annealing temperature and an extension time be changed per cycle with constant periods. When a multiplex PCR is performed in accordance with the present invention, limitations in determining PCR conditions due to a various sizes of PCR products or dimers caused by primers can be eliminated, and time and efforts required for determining the PCR conditions to various samples can also be reduced. Further, not only refined DNAs like cDNA, genomic DNA, vector, etc, but blood can be directly used as a multiplex PCR sample, and PCR amplification reaction can be performed even with a sample having the smallest amounts.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits for detecting chromosome translocations. The present invention further provides methods for diagnosing cancer.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is based on a method wherein a nucleic acid is synthesized utilizing the hybridized 3?-end, which is synthesized by complementary strand synthesis, on a specific region of a target nucleotide sequence existing as the nucleotide sequence of the same strand as the origin for the next round of complementary strand synthesis. The hybridization to a specific region, which region is searched for mutations and polymorphisms, is repeatedly carried out according to the present invention. Thus, mutations and polymorphisms in a target nucleotide sequence are exactly copied to the reaction products.