Patent ID: 6235480
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: C12Q,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for determining the presence or absence of a predetermined nucleic acid target sequence in a nucleic acid sample that comprises the steps of:(A) providing a treated sample that may contain said predetermined nucleic acid target sequence hybridized with a nucleic acid probe that includes an identifier nucleotide in the 3'-terminal region;(B) admixing the treated sample with a depolymerizing amount of an enzyme whose activity is to release one or more nucleotides from the 3'-terminus of a hybridized nucleic acid probe to form a treated reaction mixture wherein said enzyme catalyzes (i) pyrophosphorolysis;(C) maintaining the treated reaction mixture for a time period sufficient to permit the enzyme to depolymerize hybridized nucleic acid and release identifier nucleotides therefrom; and(D) analyzing for the presence of released identifier nucleotides to obtain an analytical output, the analytical output indicating the presence or absence of said nucleic acid target sequence.