Abstract: The present invention relates to polyamides with a tail comprising a linker and an end-group. A preferred end-group is isophthalic acid and derivatives thereof. Polyamides of the invention are capable of entering the nucleus of cells. Polyamides of the invention are capable of selectively binding DNA. The invention also relates to methods of using the polyamides in therapy and research.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and devices/systems for amplifying genetic material and may include providing a water-in-oil emulsion in a continuous flow. The emulsion may include a plurality of water droplets comprising microreactors. Each of the plurality of microreactors may include a single bead capable of capturing a nucleic acid template, a single species nucleic acid template and sufficient reagents to amplify the copy number of the nucleic acid template. The method also includes flowing the emulsion across a first temperature zone and a second lower temperature zone to thermally process the microreactors to amplify the nucleic acid template by polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene cluster genotyping using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer. In general, the methods involve amplifying a plurality of target sequences of a plurality of KIR genes, and detecting the presence or absence of a plurality of single SNPs of the plurality of KIR genes by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The invention also features compositions, including arrays of capture primers and optionally extension primers on a substrate surface, and kits, for use in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: A method for the detection of Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae) comprising the steps: providing a sample containing a nucleic acid, contacting said sample with at least one forward primer and at least one reverse primer, wherein the at least one reverse primer hybridises within the ?-tubulin nucleic acid sequence of Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae) and comprises the nucleic acid sequence 5?-R1TTTTCGTX1GX2AGT-3? (SEQ ID NO 1), wherein R1 comprises at least one nucleic acid residue of the ?-tubulin nucleic acid sequence located upstream of the hybridisation site of the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO 1 and subsequent to the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO 1, X1 is guanine, adenine or inosine, X2 is cytosine, adenine or inosine, and wherein the at least one forward primer hybridises upstream of the hybridisation site of a nucleic acid sequence complementary to the at least one reverse primer, subjecting the sample contacted with the at least one forward primer and the at least one reverse primer to a

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting gene polymorphism by PCR, using, as a primer, an oligonucleotide, wherein the third nucleotide from the 3?-end thereof is a 2?-O,4?-C-ethylene nucleotide (ENA) unit, the other oligonucleotides are natural oligonucleotides, the 3?-end position thereof is a nucleotide complementary to the nucleotide of the reference sequence of a polymorphic sequence of a target gene, and the other positions are nucleotides complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the target gene, or an oligonucleotide, wherein the 3?-end of the nucleotide sequence thereof is a polymorphic position, the second nucleotide from the 3?-end thereof is a nucleotide having a base that is not complementary to a gene to be detected, and the third nucleotide from the 3?-end thereof is a 2?-O,4?-C-ethylene nucleotide (ENA) unit; oligonucleotides used in detection of gene polymorphism; and a kit for detecting gene polymorphism, comprising the above oligonucleotides.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to nucleobase polymer functionalizing reagents, to mobility-modified sequence-specific nucleobase polymers, to compositions comprising a plurality of mobility-modified sequence-specific nucleobase polymers, and to the use of such polymers and compositions in a variety of assays, such as, for example, for the detection of a plurality of selected nucleotide sequences within one or more target nucleic acids. The mobility-modifying polymers of the present invention include phosphoramidite reagents which can be joined to other mobility-modifying monomers and to sequence-specific oligonucleobase polymers via uncharged phosphate triester linkages. Addition of the mobility-modifying phosphoramidite reagents of the present invention to oligonucleobase polymers results in unexpectedly large effects the mobility of those modified oligonucleobase polymers, especially upon capillary electrophoresis in non-sieving media.

Abstract: Provided are novel nucleotides, nucleoside, and their derivatives described herein, that can be used in DNA sequencing technology and other types of DNA analysis. In one embodiment, the nucleotide or nucleoside with an unprotected 3?-OH group is derivatized at the nucleobase to include a fluorescent dye attached via a linker to a photocleavable terminating group. The photocleavable-fluorescent group is designed to terminate DNA synthesis as well as be cleaved so that DNA oligomers can be sequenced efficiently in a parallel format. The design of such rapidly cleavable fluorescent groups on nucleotides and nucleosides can enhance the speed and accuracy of sequencing of large oligomers of DNA in parallel, to allow rapid whole genome sequencing, and the identification of polymorphisms and other valuable genetic information, as well as allowing further manipulation and analysis of nucleic acid molecules in their native state following cleavage of the fluorescent group.

Abstract: Provided are novel nucleotides, nucleoside, and their derivatives described herein, that can be used in DNA sequencing technology and other types of DNA analysis. In one embodiment, the nucleotide or nucleoside with an unprotected 3?-OH group is derivatized at the nucleobase to include a fluorescent dye attached via a linker to a non-cleavable terminating group. The non-cleavable-fluorescent group is designed to terminate DNA synthesis so that DNA oligomers can be sequenced efficiently in a parallel format. These reagents and methods will lead to more accurate identification of polymorphisms and other valuable genetic information.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel class of fluorescent compounds. Also provided are conjugates of the fluorescent compounds, methods of using the fluorescent compounds and their conjugates as well as kits including the fluorescent compounds and their conjugates.

Abstract: A method of detecting a target nucleic acid is disclosed, the method comprising detecting the presence of a fluorescent covalent crosslinked product from non-fluorescent precursors. The fluorescent covalent crosslinked product comprises a novel fluorophore structure. Also described are methods of synthesizing probe molecules that can form fluorescent covalent crosslinked products with nucleic acid targets and arrays comprising such probes.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, novel compositions having a polynucleotide bound to a substrate via a cleavable linker are provided, and methods of cleaving a polynucleotide from a substrate are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a negatively charged minor groove binding compound, oligonucleotide conjugates comprising the same, and methods for using the same. The negatively charged minor groove binding compounds of the present invention comprises an acidic moiety that is capable of being ionized under physiological conditions. In particular, the negatively charged minor groove binding compound of the present invention comprises a binding moiety that binds preferentially into a minor groove of a double, triple or higher stranded DNA, RNA, PNA or hybrids thereof. The binding moiety comprises at least one aryl moiety and an acidic moiety which is covalently attached to a phenyl portion of the aryl moiety or to a heteroatom of a heteroaryl portion of the aryl moiety.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel method for diagnosis or differential diagnosis of disease agents and secondary disease agents. The method disclosed uses a novel amplification strategy termed TemPCR to allow sensitive and specific amplification of target sequences from any disease agents and/or secondary disease agent whose nucleic acid sequence is known. The TemPCR method utilizes at least one set of target enrichment primers specific for the disease agent or secondary disease agent to be detected (present at a low concentration) and at least one pair of shared target amplification primers (present at high concentrations). At least one pair of said target enrichment primers comprises a binding sequence for the target amplification primers. Therefore, the use of the TemPCR method allows multiplex amplification reactions to be carried out without the need for empirical optimization of the multiplex amplification parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for conducting non-invasive early detection of colon cancer and/or of colon cancer precursor cells, by using primers with which mutation analyses can be carried out in selected regions of genes APC, K-ras, ?-catenin and B-raf. The invention also relates to a kit containing said primers, and to the use of these primers and of the kit for analyzing mutations, particularly for conducting the early detection of colon cancer and/or of colon cancer precursory cells.

Abstract: The invention provides novel anthraquinone compositions that are useful as broad-spectrum quenchers of fluorescence and provides methods for making and using them. The anthraquinone quenchers can be conjugated to a variety of biologically relevant compounds, including lipids, nucleic acids, polypeptides, and more specifically antigens, steroids, vitamins, drugs, haptens, metabolites, toxins, environmental pollutants, amino acids, peptides, proteins, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, polynucleotides, carbohydrates, and their analogs. The invention also provides kits comprising, in one or more containers, at least one anthraquinone quencher dye composition of the present invention, and instructions for using that composition.

Abstract: Methods for isothermal amplification of nucleic acid by the means of a solid support are disclosed. These methods are useful for applications needing high throughput, in particular nucleic acid sequencing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a benzimidazolium compound comprising a side chain at at least one of its N-residues, said chain being either a Cn-alkyl or a substituted Cn-alkyl, characterized in that preferably n is ?3, as an additive for a nucleic acid amplification reaction.

Abstract: A composition for performing a polynucleotide amplification reaction at low temperature, including a polynucleotide amplification reaction mixture into which is incorporated a sufficiently high concentration of a low molecular weight compound selected from the group consisting of amides, sulfones, sulfoxides and diols, to accomplish the amplification at the low temperature. In another embodiment, a composition for enhancing a polynucleotide amplification reaction, including a polynucleotide amplification reaction mixture into which is incorporated a low molecular weight diol in an amount effective to enhance the polynucleotide amplification.

Abstract: Minor groove binder-oligonucleotide probes are provided along with methods for their use wherein the probes have an attached fluorophore which, in an unhybridized form exhibits very low background signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of using enterovirus-specific primers for the detection and identification of enterovirus infection. Also provided are isolated nucleic acid molecules and kits useful for detection and diagnostic testing of enterovirus infection in a subject.