DIE BESTIMMUNG VON NUKLEINSÄUREN UND NUKLEINSÄURE-EINHEITEN

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB96/01830 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 21, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 21, 1998 PCT Filed Jul. 25, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/05280 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 13, 1997The invention relates to the detection of target nucleic acids or nucleic acid units in a sample, by obtaining a SER(R)S spectrum for a SER(R)S-active complex containing, or derived directly from, the target. The complex includes at least a SER(R)S-active label, and optionally a target binding species containing a nucleic acid or nucleic acid unit. In this detection method, the concentration of the target present in the SER(R)S-active complex, or of the nucleic acid or unit contained in the target binding species in the SER(R)S-active complex, is no higher than 10-10 moles per liter. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the following features may be used with the method: i) the introduction of a polyamine; ii) modification of the target, and/or of the nucleic acid or nucleic acid unit contained in the target binding species, in a manner that promotes or facilitates its chemi-sorption onto a SER(R)S-active surface; iii) inclusion of a chemi-sorptive functional group in the SER(R)S-active label. The invention also provides SER(R)S-active complexes for use in such a method, a kit for use in carrying out the method or preparing the complexes and a method for sequencing a nucleic acid which comprises the use of the detection method to detect at least one target nucleotide or sequence of nucleotides within the acid.