Abstract: Methods to determine the activity of any and all DNA binding factors, proteins or fragments thereof based upon the detection of a change in a luminescence or fluorescence signal are provided. Preferably, a fluorescence donor is attached to a nucleic acid comprising one portion of a DNA binding element and a fluorescence acceptor is attached to a nucleic acid comprising the other portion of the same binding element. Alternatively, a microsphere bead is attached to a nucleic acid comprising one portion of a binding element and a luminescent moiety or fluorochrome is attached to a nucleic acid comprising the other portion of the same binding element. Binding of a DNA binding factor to the nucleic acid components affects a change in luminescence. These methods may also be used to detect mediating analytes, to diagnose diseases and/or screen for drugs that mediate the activity of DNA binding factors.

Abstract: Fluorescent labels having at least one donor and at least one acceptor fluorophore bonded to a polymeric backbone in energy transfer relationship, as well as methods for their use, are provided. Of particular interest are the subject labels wherein the polymeric backbone is a nucleic acid and the donor fluorophore is bonded to the 5′ terminus of said nucleic acid. Such labels find use as primers in applications involving nucleic acid chain extension, such as sequencing, PCR and the like.

Abstract: cDNA including the 5′-terminal sequence of full-length mRNA with a cap structure is synthesized from a mRNA sample containing the full-length mRNA with the cap structure and non-full-length mRNA without any cap structure in mixture. At the first step, the phosphate group at 5′-terminus of the non-full-length mRNA in the mRNA sample is removed. At the second step, the cap structure at the 5′-terminus of the full-length mRNA in the mRNA sample is removed. At the third step, an oligoribonucleotide is ligated to the phosphate group at 5′-terminus of mRNA generated through the first and second steps. At the fourth step, mRNA with the oligoribonucleotide ligated at the 5′-terminus thereof at the third step is subjected to a reverse transcriptase process using a short-chain oligonucleotide capable of being annealed to an intermediate sequence within the mRNA as primer, to synthesize a first-strand cDNA.

Abstract: A novel receptor, “LDL-receptor related protein-3” (“LRP-3”), is provided, along with encoding nucleic acid. The gene is associated with type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), and experimental evidence provides indication that it is the IDDM susceptibility gene IDDM4. In various aspects the invention provides nucleic acid, including coding sequences, oligonucleotide primers and probes, polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of diagnosis or prognosis, and other methods relating to and based on the gene, including methods of treatment of diseases in which the gene may be implicated, including autoimmune diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, diseases and disorders involving disruption of endocytosis and/or antigen presentation, diseases and disorders involving cytokine clearance and/or inflammation, viral infection, elevation of free fatty acids or hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes.

Abstract: The invention concerns the genomic sequence of the purH gene. The invention also concerns biallelic markers of a purH gene and the association established between these markers and cancer, particularly prostate cancer. The invention provides means to determine the predisposition of individuals to cancer as well as means for the diagnosis of cancer and for the prognosis/detection of an eventual treatment response to agents acting on cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetic mutations in mitochondrial genes that segregate with diabetes mellitus. The invention provides methods for detecting such mutations, as a diagnostic for diabetes mellitus, either before or after the onset of clinical symptoms. Examples of specific mutations in the ATP synthase 8/6 sequence and tRNALys sequence are given. The invention also provides treatments for dysfunctions due to genes for mitochondrial functions that segregate with diabetes mellitus. Cybrid cell lines are described which are useful as model systems for the study of the mitochondrial metabolic disorders that are associated with diabetes mellitus, and for identifying therapeutic compounds and treatments for this disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination comprising a plurality of polynucleotide probes that are modulated in response to EGF and which are associated with breast cancer, and which may be used in their entirety or in part as to diagnose, to stage, to treat, or to monitor the treatment of a subject with a breast cancer.

Abstract: A multilayered microfluidic DNA analysis system includes a cell lysis chamber, a DNA separation chamber, a DNA amplification chamber, and a DNA detection system. The multilayered microfluidic DNA analysis system is provided as a substantially monolithic structure formed from a plurality of green-sheet layers sintered together. The substantially monolithic structure has defined therein a means for heating the DNA amplification chamber and a means for cooling the DNA amplification chamber. The means for heating and means for cooling operate to cycle the temperature of the DNA amplification chamber as required for performing a DNA amplification process, such as PCR.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of removing nucleic acid contamination in an amplification reaction which comprises use of a thermolabile DNase and a method of preventing or reducing false positive results due to carry-over in a nucleic acid amplification reaction, said method comprising using a thermolabile DNase to degrade carried-over non-target double-stranded DNA present in the amplification reaction mixture. A thermolabile DNase from the shrimp Pandalus borealis has been identified which is suitable for use in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to Anacardium sp. specific genomic DNA sequence and the methods for utilization of these sequences in detection of Cashew husk in tea samples. Particularly this invention relates to a very sensitive, accurate and efficient method of identification of Anacardium occidentale (cashew) species. The method is designed to detect presence of any part of cashew plant including the dried and ground apple in market samples of made tea. The main application of this invention is to detect the adulteration of loose as well as branded tea by any part of cashew plant and thus is a part of quality control measures, in addition to the taxonomical authentication of cashew plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genomic maps comprising biallelic markers, new biallelic markers, and methods of using biallelic markers. Primers hybridizing to regions flanking these biallelic markers are also provided. This invention provides polynucleotides and methods suitable for genotyping a nucleic acid containing sample for one or more biallelic markers of the invention. Further, the invention provides a number of methods utilizing the biallelic markers of the invention including methods to detect a statistical correlation between a biallelic marker allele and a phenotype and/or between a biallelic marker haplotype and a phenotype.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for evolving a polynucleotide toward acquisition of a desired property. Such methods entail incubating a population of parental polynucleotide variants under conditions to generate annealed polynucleotides comprising heteroduplexes. The heteroduplexes are then exposed to a cellular DNA repair system to convert the heteroduplexes to parental polynucleotide variants or recombined polynucleotide variants. The resulting polynucleotides are then screened or selected for the desired property.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes the use of genetic variance information for folate transport or metabolism genes or pyrimidine transport or metabolism genes in the selection of effective methods of treatment of a disease or condition. The variance imformation is indicative of the expected response of a patient to a method of treatment. Methods of determining relevant variance information and additional methods of using such variance information are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides new probes for the detection of chromosomal alterations associated with cancer, particularly ovarian cancer. The probes bind selectively with target nucleic acid sequences at 3q26.

Abstract: Fatty acid desaturase 5′ regulatory elements are described, as well as nucleic acid constructs and transgenic plants that include these regulatory elements. Also described are fatty acid desaturase 3′ untranslated regions.

Abstract: A method of isolating target nucleic acid molecules from a solution comprising a mixture of different size nucleic acid molecules, in the presence or absence of other biomolecules, by selectively facilitating the adsorption of a particular species of nucleic acid molecule to the functional group-coated surface of magnetically responsive paramagnetic microparticles is disclosed. Separation is accomplished by manipulating the ionic strength and polyalkylene glycol concentration of the solution to selectively precipitate, and reversibly adsorb, the target species of nucleic acid molecule, characterized by a particular molecular size, to paramagnetic microparticles, the surfaces of which act as a bioaffinity adsorbent for the nucleic acids. The target nucleic acid is isolated from the starting mixture based on molecular size and through the removal of magnetic beads to which the target nucleic acid molecules have been adsorbed.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide and amino acid sequences that identify and encode novel cellubrevins (cb). The present invention also provides for antisense molecules to the nucleotide sequences which encode cbs, expression vectors for the production of purified CBs, antibodies capable of binding specifically to CBs, hybridization probes or oligonucleotides for the detecting the induction of CB encoding nucleotide sequences, genetically engineered host cells for the expression of CBs, diagnostic tests for activated, inflamed or diseased cells and/or tissues based on CB-encoding nucleic acid molecules and antibodies capable of binding specifically to CBs.

Abstract: An in situ hybridization method for detecting and specifically identifying transcription of a multiplicity of different target sequences in a cell is disclosed. The method includes assigning a different bar code to at least five target sequences, with each target sequence containing at least one predetermined subsequence. Each bar code contains at least one fluorochrome, and at least one bar code comprises at least two different, spectrally distinguishable fluorochromes. A probe set specific for each target sequence is provided in the method. Each probe set contains a hybridization probe complementary to each subsequence in the target sequence. Each probe is labeled with a fluorochrome, and the fluorochromes in each probe set collectively correspond to the bar code for the target sequence of that probe set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel DNA assay for the diagnosis and/or prediction of autoimmune diabetes. The present invention relates to a DNA assay for the prediction of autoimmune diabetes in human subjects, which comprises the steps of a) obtaining a DNA sample from the subject and amplifying at least one class III allele of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) located upstream of the insulin gene (INS) which is associated with silencing of thymic insulin mRNA expression; and b) subjecting the sample to electrophoresis to identify the silencing class III allele.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for generating recombined nucleic acids. In one method, fragments of a sequence are provided wherein the fragments have non-extendable 3′ ends. A primer is provided and the primer and fragments are reacted under conditions to extend the primer to form a recombined nucleic acid molecule. In the methods herein, the non-extendable fragments act only as templates, rather than as templates and primers.