BIOSENSORS FOR DETECTING MACROMOLECULES AND OTHER ANALYTES

摘要

The invention generally provides three-component molecular biosensors. The molecular biosensors are useful in several methods including in the identification and quantification of target molecules.

主权项

1. A molecular biosensor, the biosensor having two constructs, the constructs comprising:
R1—R2—R3—R4; and R5—R6—R7—R8; wherein:
R1 is a peptide epitope binding agent that binds to a first epitope on a target antibody;R2 is a non-nucleic acid flexible linker attaching R1 to R3;R3 and R7 area pair of complementary nucleotide sequences having a free energy for association, over the entire length of the nucleotide sequence, from about 5.5 kcal/mole to 8.0 kcal/mole at a temperature from about 21° C. to about 40° C. and at a salt concentration from about 1 mM to about 100 mM, such that R3 and R7 only associate when R1 and R5 are bound to the target antibody;R4 and R8 together comprise a detection means such that when R3 and R7 associate a detectable signal is produced;R5 is an epitope binding agent that binds to a second epitope on the target antibody; andR6 is a non-nucleic acid flexible linker attaching R5 to R7.