Patent ID: 6458540
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: C07H,C12Q

Abstract:
A method for detecting a nucleic acid sequence associated with a disease, comprising:a) obtaining isolated unlabeled nucleic acid sequences from a sample suspected of containing the nucleic acid sequence; b) contacting at least one target-protecting molecule that specifically binds to the nucleic acid sequence with the isolated unlabeled nucleic acid sequences of step a) under hybridizing conditions sufficient to form at least one protected nucleic acid sequence (PNAS); c) digesting the PNAS of step b) with enzymes to form at least one PNAS structure having at least one 5â€² single-stranded region generated by enzymatic digestion (PNAS/tail); d) hybridizing a reporter probe to the at least one PNAS/tail of step c) wherein the reporter probe binds to a single-stranded region of the at least one PNAS/tail; and e) detecting the at least one PNAS/tail as indicative of the presence of the nucleic acid sequence associated with the disease.