Patent ID: 8003374
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: B82Y,C12Q

Abstract:
1. A detector for determining the presence of a target, said detector comprising: an electrode capable of sensing redox events in a redox moiety, and an oligonucleotide probe immobilized on the electrode, wherein the oligonucleotide probe comprises a redox moiety and a probe nucleotide sequence which specifically interacts with the target when present, and wherein, in the absence of specific interaction between the target and the oligonucleotide probe, the redox moiety is located in a first position relative to the electrode, and wherein, in the presence of specific interaction between the target and the oligonucleotide probe, said redox moiety is located in a second position relative to the electrode, said first and second positions giving rise to distinguishable redox events detectable by the electrode, wherein the second position results from a disruption of internal hybridization in the probe as a result of the specific interaction between a region in the probe and the target, and wherein the second position is closer to the electrode than the first position.