APPARATUS FOR POLYNUCLEOTIDE DETECTION AND QUANTITATION

摘要

An apparatus for expression profiling analysis, subjecting biological materials to polynucleotide extraction, amplification and analysis. The apparatus include an amplification device which permits the amplification of polynucleotides and an analysis device which quantifies the amount of the amplified polynucleotide products. The amplification device of the apparatus may further permit polynucleotide extraction to prepare the template for amplification, or sequence identification of a quantified polynucleotide product. A fraction collector may be included in the apparatus to collect a qualified polynucleotide product before its sequence is identified. The analysis device may further permit data generation, or alternatively, data can be generated by a separate data generation device provided with the apparatus. The devices within the apparatus are connected by connecting means which permit the transfer of a fluid or a signal for amplification and analysis.

主权项

1. An automated modular apparatus for nucleic acid analysis, the apparatus comprising:
a PCR amplification device comprising a thermal cycler that performs PCR amplification cycles which amplify polynucleotides in a reaction mixture comprising a biological sample to generate an amplified polynucleotide product therein; a capillary electrophoresis system comprising a capillary electrophoresis device and a detector, wherein said detector is arranged such that it detects nucleic acid species electrophoretically separated in a capillary electrophoresis capillary of said capillary electrophoresis device; and a transport mechanism comprising a motorized stage that permits both horizontal and vertical movements for the purpose of transferring PCR reaction samples between the thermal cycler and the capillary electrophoresis system, the transport mechanism providing transient physical and electrical contact between a reaction mixture in said PCR amplification device and said capillary electrophoresis device to transfer a sample of a said reaction mixture from said amplification device to said analysis device during an amplification reaction, said capillary electrophoresis device comprising an electrode arranged to permit transient immersion of said electrode in a said reaction mixture, wherein said transport mechanism permits the transient immersion of a said electrode and an end of a capillary electrophoresis capillary containing an electrophoretic separation medium into a said reaction mixture in said PCR amplification device during an amplification reaction to electrokinetically transfer a said sample of a said reaction mixture from said amplification device to said capillary electrophoresis device during an amplification reaction, such that said modular apparatus can automatically amplify, separate and detect a nucleic acid product in a said biological sample introduced to said PCR amplification device.