Patent ID: 6258538
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: C12Q,G01N,H01J,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for identifying a target nucleotide present in a nucleic acid molecule, comprising the steps of:a) obtaining a nucleic acid molecule that contains a target nucleotide;b) optionally immobilizing the nucleic acid molecule onto a solid support, to produce an immobilized nucleic acid molecule;c) hybridizing the nucleic acid molecule with a primer oligonucleotide that is complementary to the nucleic acid molecule at a site adjacent to the target nucleotide;d) contacting the product of step c) with a complete set of dideoxynucleoside triphosphates or 3'-deoxynucleoside triphosphates and a polymerase, so that only the dideoxynucleoside or 3'-deoxynucleoside triphosphate that is complementary to the target nucleotide is extended onto the primer;e) ionizing and volatilizing the product of step d); andf) determining the molecular mass of the extended primer by mass spectrometry, thereby identifying the target nucleotide.