Patent ID: 6475730
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
A method of analysing a sample to determine the presence or otherwise therein of a target polynucleotide sequence, the method comprising(a) treating the sample under hybridizing conditions with (i) a first polynucleotide probe having a 5â€²-terminal nucleotide labelled with a first chromophoric moiety able on photo-irradiation to form a complex with a second chromophoric moiety, and (ii) a second polynucleotide probe labelled at its 3â€²-terminal nucleotide with moiety, said first and second probes being adapted to bind to mutually exclusive regions of said target sequence such that said moieties are at the proximal ends of the probes and are able to form said complex which is detectably different from the first and second moieties, (b) effecting photo-irradiation to cause complex formation, and (c) detecting for formation of the complex, characterised in that (d) said first and second moieties are different from each other and are capable of forming an exciplex as the detectable complex, and (e) the first and second moieties come into exciplex forming relationship in a localised region of greater hydrophobicity than the bulk phase of the sample being analysed.