Detection of nucleic acids

摘要

This invention provides compositions, methods, and systems for characterizing, resolving, and quantitating single stranded and double stranded DNA and RNA in-situ. Paired sense and anti-sense probes can signal the presence of double stranded nucleic acids. DNA and RNA can be distinguished in cell and tissue samples by hybridizing with probe sets adapted to highlight differences in these targets in-situ.

主权项

1. A method for simultaneous detection of DNA and RNA in situ, the method comprising:
providing a first set of label extenders capable of hybridizing to a DNA sequence; providing a second set of label extenders capable of hybridizing to an RNA sequence; wherein the first set includes at least three times as many different label extenders as the second set; providing a sample comprising a cell, wherein the cell comprises the DNA sequence and the RNA sequence; simultaneously hybridizing the label extenders of the first set to the DNA sequence and the label extenders of the second set to the RNA sequence in the cell; binding multiple copies of a first label to the first set of label extenders; binding multiple copies of a second label to the second set of label extenders; wherein the first label provides a first detectable signal and the second label provides a second detectable signal that is distinguishable from the first signal; and detecting and distinguishing the first and second signals, thereby detecting and distinguishing the DNA and RNA sequences.