Patent ID: 6030781
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
An electric field amplified oligonucleotide ligase analysis comprising the steps of:providing an electrode having a plurality of oligonucleotide probes covalenty bound thereto;providing a solution including ligase and a plurality of individual oligonucleotide segments each including a marker, the electrode being positioned in the solution;introducing a target molecule into the solution;using the electrode, generating a first electric field surrounding the plurality of oligonucleotide probes to attract the target molecule to a first of the plurality of oligonucleotide probes to which it hybridizes, whereupon a first of the plurality of oligonucleotide segments hybridizes with the target molecule and covalently bonds to the first oligonucleotide probe due to the presence of ligase in the solution;separating the target molecule from the first oligonucleotide probe and the first oligonucleotide segment by generating, using the electrode, a second electric field oppositely polarized to the first electric field and surrounding the plurality of oligonucleotide probes;repeatedly cycling the generating and separating steps by pulsing between the first and the second electric fields to covalently bond a plurality of the plurality of individual oligonucleotide segments to the plurality of oligonucleotide probes; andperforming an oligonucleotide ligase analysis by detecting the markers included with oligonucleotide segments covalently bonded with oligonucleotide probes.