Patent ID: 6680377
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: B01J,C40B,G01N

Abstract:
An aptamer beacon that binds to a specific non-nucleic acid target molecule, the aptamer beacon comprisingan oligonucleotide comprising a loop portion, a first segment, and a second segment complementary to the first segment, wherein the first and second segments connected by the loop portion form a stem portion when hybridized together; wherein a portion of the oligonucleotide comprises a binding region that has a secondary or tertiary conformation that changes to a different secondary or tertiary conformation upon specifically binding to the non-nucleic acid target molecule; a first reporter moiety attached to the first segment; and a second reporter moiety attached to the second segment, wherein the first and second reporter moieties interact to produce a detectable signal when the distance between them is changed; wherein specific binding of the target molecule to the binding region causes a change in conformation of the aptamer beacon that separates the first and second segments, thereby altering the distance between the first and second reporter moieties, and produces a detectable signal.