Abstract: The present invention provides novel, water-soluble, red-emitting fluorescent rhodamine dyes and red-emitting fluorescent energy-transfer dye pairs, as well as labeled conjugates comprising the same and methods for their use. The dyes, energy-transfer dye pairs and labeled conjugates are useful in a variety of aqueous-based applications, particularly in assays involving staining of cells, protein binding, and/or analysis of nucleic acids, such as hybridization assays and nucleic acid sequencing.

Abstract: Novel energy transfer dyes which can be used with shorter wavelength light sources are provided. These dyes include a donor dye with an absorption maxima at a wavelength between about 250 to 450 nm and an acceptor dye which is capable of absorbing energy emitted from the donor dye. One of the energy transfer dyes has a donor dye which is a member of a class of dyes having a coumarin or pyrene ring structure and an acceptor dye which is capable of absorbing energy emitted from the donor dye, wherein the donor dye has an absorption maxima between about 250 and 450 nm and the acceptor dye has an emission maxima at a wavelength greater than about 500 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides asymmetric cyanine dye compounds having the general formula: including substituted forms thereof, which are non-fluorescent quencher molecules. The invention further provides reporter-quencher dye pairs, wherein the asymmetric cyanine dyes are the quenchers, polynucleotides incorporating the asymmetric cyanine dyes, and nucleic acid hybridization detection methods utilizing the dye-labeled polynucleotides.

Abstract: Novel linkers for linking a donor dye to an acceptor dye in an energy transfer fluorescent dye are provided. These linkers faciliate the efficient transfer of energy between a donor and acceptor dye in an energy transfer dye. One of these linkers for linking a donor dye to an acceptor dye in an energy transfer fluorescent dye has the general structure R21Z1C(O)R22R26 where R21 is a C1-5 alkyl attached to the donor dye, C(O) is a carbonyl group, Z1 is either NH, sulfur or oxygen, R22 is a substituent which includes an alkene, diene, alkyne, a five and six membered ring having at least one unsaturated bond or a fused ring structure which is attached to the carbonyl carbon, and R28 includes a functional group which attaches the linker to the acceptor dye.

Abstract: Novel energy transfer dyes which can be used with shorter wavelength light sources are provided. These dyes include a donor dye with an absorption maxima at a wavelength between about 250 to 450 nm and an acceptor dye which is capable of absorbing energy emitted from the donor dye. One of the energy transfer dyes has a donor dye which is a member of a class of dyes having a coumarin or pyrene ring structure and an acceptor dye which is capable of absorbing energy emitted from the donor dye, wherein the donor dye has an absorption maxima between about 250 and 450 nm and the acceptor dye has an emission maxima at a wavelength greater than about 500 nm.

Abstract: Methods and compositions to label oligonucleotides and analogs directly on a solid-support having the structure where S is a solid-support, A is a cleavable linker, X is a moiety with three or more attachment sites, L is a label, Y is a nucleophile, i.e. O, NH, NR or S, and P1 is an acid cleavable protecting group are provided. The labelled solid-support is reacted in a cyclical fashion to synthesize a labelled oligonucleotide on a solid-support in the 5′ to 3′ direction, having the structure: Labelled oligonucleotides are also synthesized by reacting: (i) a label reagent bearing functionality consisting of carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, phosphonic acid, or phosphoric acid, (ii) an oligonucleotide on solid support with nucleophilic functionality, and (iii) a coupling reagent, whereby an ester, amide, thioester, sulfonamide, sulfonate, phosphonate, phosphoramidate, phosphorothioate, or phosphate bond is formed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions to label oligonucleotides and analogs directly on a solid-support having the structure 1

Abstract: Methods and compositions to label oligonucleotides and analogs directly on a solid-support having the structure where S is a solid-support, A is a cleavable linker, X is a moiety with three or more attachment sites, L is a label, Y is a nucleophile, i.e. O, NH, NR or S, and P1 is an acid cleavable protecting group are provided. The labelled solid-support is reacted in a cyclical fashion to synthesize a labelled oligonucleotide on a solid-support in the 5′ to 3′ direction, having the structure: Labelled oligonucleotides are also synthesized by reacting: (i) a label reagent bearing functionality consisting of carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, phosphonic acid, or phosphoric acid, (ii) an oligonucleotide on solid support with nucleophilic functionality, and (iii) a coupling reagent, whereby an ester, amide, thioester, sulfonamide, sulfonate, phosphonate, phosphoramidate, phosphorothioate, or phosphate bond is formed.

Abstract: A method for detecting oligonucleotides is provided and comprises forming a series of different sized oligonucleotides labeled with an energy transfer dye; separating the series of labeled oligonucleotides based on size; and detecting the separated labeled oligonucleotide by exposing the oligonucleotides to light having a wavelength between about 250 and 450 nm and measuring light emitted by the energy transfer dye at a wavelength greater than about 500 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel, water-soluble, red-emitting fluorescent rhodamine dyes and red-emitting fluorescent energy-transfer dye pairs, as well as labeled conjugates comprising the same and methods for their use. The dyes, energy-transfer dye pairs and labeled conjugates are useful in a variety of aqueous-based applications, particularly in assays involving staining of cells, protein binding, and/or analysis of nucleic acids, such as hybridization assays and nucleic acid sequencing.

Abstract: Long wavelength, narrow emission bandwidth fluorecein dyes are provided for detecting spacially overlapping target substances. The dyes comprise 4,7-dichlorofluoresceins, and particularly 2',4',5', 7'-tetrachloro-4,7-dichloro-5- (and 6-) carboxyfluoresceins. Methods and kits for using the dyes in DNA analysis are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an asymmetric cyanine dye compound having the structure ##STR1## including substituted forms thereof, wherein, at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is linking group, X is O, S, or Se, and n ranges from 0 to 2. The invention further provides reporter-quencher dye pairs comprising the asymmetric cyanine dyes, dye-labeled polynucleotides incorporating the asymmetric cyanine dyes, and hybridization detection methods utilizing the dye-labeled polynucleotides.

Abstract: A class of 4,7-dichlororhodamine compounds useful as fluorescent dyes are disclosed having the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 are hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, lower alkyl, lower alkene, lower alkyne, sulfonate, sulfone, amino, amido, nitrile, lower alkoxy, linking group, or combinations thereof, or, when taken together, R.sub.1 and R.sub.6 is benzo, or, when taken together, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 is benzo; Y.sub.1 -Y.sub.4 are hydrogen or lower alkyl, or, when taken together, Y.sub.1 and R.sub.2, Y.sub.2 and R.sub.1 Y.sub.3 and R.sub.3, or Y.sub.4 and R.sub.4 is propano, ethano, or substituted forms thereof, and X.sub.1 -X.sub.3 taken separately are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, lower alkyl, carboxylate, sulfonic acid, --CH.sub.2 OH, and linking group. In another aspect, the invention includes reagents labeled with the 4,7-dichlororhodamine dye compounds, including deoxynucleotides, dideoxynucleotides, and polynucleotides.

Abstract: A chain-termination type DNA sequencing method is disclosed wherein deoxynucleotide 2'-deoxythymidine-5'-triphosphate is replaced by 2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate, or analogs thereof Kits for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: Novel linkers for linking a donor dye to an acceptor dye in an energy transfer fluorescent dye are provided. These linkers faciliate the efficient transfer of energy between a donor and acceptor dye in an energy transfer dye. One of these linkers for linking a donor dye to an acceptor dye in an energy transfer fluorescent dye has the general structure R.sub.21 Z.sub.1 C(O)R.sub.22 R.sub.28 where R.sub.21 is a C.sub.1-5 alkyl attached to the donor dye, C(O) is a carbonyl group, Z.sub.1 is either NH, sulfur or oxygen, R.sub.22 is a substituent which includes an alkene, diene, alkyne, a five and six membered ring having at least one unsaturated bond or a fused ring structure which is attached to the carbonyl carbon, and R.sub.28 includes a functional group which attaches the linker to the acceptor dye.

Abstract: A system is provided for carrying out real time fluorescence-based measurements of nucleic acid amplification products. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an excitation beam is focused into a reaction mixture through a surface, the reaction mixture containing (i) a first fluorescent indicator capable of generating a first fluorescent signal whose intensity is proportional to the amount of an amplification product in the volume of the reaction mixture illuminated by the excitation beam and (ii) a second fluorescent indicator homogeneously distributed throughout the reaction mixture capable of generating a second fluorescent signal proportional to the volume of reaction mixture illuminated by the excitation beam. Preferably, the excitation beam is focused into the reaction mixture by a lens through a portion of a wall of a closed reaction chamber containing the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Long wavelength, narrow emission bandwidth fluorecein dyes are provided for detecting spacially overlapping target substances. The dyes comprise 4,7-dichlorofluoresceins, and particularly 2',4',5',7'-tetrachloro-4,7-dichloro-5- (and 6-) carboxyfluoresceins. Methods and kits for using the dyes in DNA analysis are provided.

Abstract: Energy transfer fluorescent dyes, reagents incorporating the dyes, kits and methods for using the dyes and reagents are provided. The energy transfer fluorescent dyes include a donor dye which absorbs light at a first wavelength and emits excitation energy in response, the donor dye including a xanthene ring structure having a 4' ring position, an acceptor dye capable of absorbing the excitation energy emitted by the donor dye and fluorescing at a second wavelength in response, and a linker attaching the donor dye to the acceptor dye, the linker having a 4' end which includes a R.sub.1 XC(O)R.sub.2 group where R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1-5 alkyl attached to the 4' ring position of the donor dye, X selected from the group consisting of NH, sulfur and oxygen, C(O) is a carbonyl group, and R.sub.2 includes an alkene, diene, alkyne, a five and six membered ring having at least one unsaturated bond or a fused ring structure which is attached to the carbonyl carbon.

Abstract: Novel linkers for linking a donor dye to an acceptor dye in an energy transfer fluorescent dye are provided. These linkers faciliate the efficient transfer of energy between a donor and acceptor dye in an energy transfer dye. One of these linkers for linking a donor dye to an acceptor dye in an energy transfer fluorescent dye has the general structure R.sub.21 Z.sub.1 C(O)R.sub.22 R.sub.28 where R.sub.21 is a C.sub.1-5 alkyl attached to the donor dye, C(O) is a carbonyl group, Z.sub.1 is either NH, sulfur or oxygen, R.sub.22 is a substituent which includes an alkene, diene, alkyne, a five and six membered ring having at least one unsaturated bond or a fused ring structure which is attached to the carbonyl carbon, and R.sub.28 includes a functional group which attaches the linker to the acceptor dye.

Abstract: An energy transfer fluorescent probe for detecting a reagent is provided which includes a fluorescent reporter molecule and a quencher molecule positioned on the probe relative to the reporter molecule such that the quencher molecule quenches the fluorescence of the reporter molecule when in a first state, the quencher molecule being converted by the reagent to a second state which has a reduced ability to quench the reporter molecule. Examples of conversions of the quencher molecule from a first state to a second state include reductions, oxidations, hydrolyses, phosphate cleavages, and the conversion of amides to amines. In one embodiment, the quencher molecule is a substrate for an enzyme which converts the quencher from a first state to a second state. For example, the enzyme may be an reductase, an oxidase, hydrolytic, a peptidase or a phosphorylase. The probe is used to fluorescently detect a reagent in a sample.