Patent ID: 6492125
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method to assess the interaction of a first library of compounds with a second library containing, potentially, compounds which are opposite members of specific binding pairs which method comprisesproviding a first composition which comprises members of said first library of compounds wherein each of said compounds is coupled to a particulate label having a hue different from that of the particulate label to which any of the other members of said first library is coupled; providing a composition comprising members of said second library of compounds wherein each of said compounds is coupled to a particulate label having a hue different from that of the particulate label to which any of the other members of said second library is coupled; and wherein the particulate labels in said first library are sufficiently larger in size so that the labels in the second library form rosettes with respect to labels in the first library; contacting first composition with said second composition wherein binding of a compound from the first library to a compound of the second library, if any, results in a rosette which consists essentially of a first particulate label to which the compound of the first library is bound surrounded by a multiplicity of second particulate labels to which said compound of the second library is bound; and observing the formation of any said rosette; wherein said observing is by employing a microscope; wherein the formation of said rosette demonstrates that said second library contains at least one compound that is the opposite member of a specific binding pair of a compound of said first library; and wherein the hue of each particulate label is generated by binding to a particulate support at least two signal generating moieties in predetermined amount and ratio, each of which moieties generates, in situ, a signal different from that generated by the other moiety(ies) bound to the same particulate support such that each combination of said signals provides a hue characteristic of said label.