Parallel or antiparallel, homologous or complementary binding of nucleic acids or analogues thereof to form duplex, triplex or quadruplex complexes

摘要

A complex includes: (1) a probe containing a heteropolymeric probe sequence of nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogues; and (2) a target containing a heteropolymeric target sequence of nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogues, wherein: (a) at least one of the probe and the target is purified or synthetic; and (b) the heteropolymeric probe sequence is bonded to the heteropolymeric target sequence by Watson-Crick complementary base interaction or by homologous base interaction, provided that when the complex is a duplex and the heteropolymeric probe sequence is antiparallel to the heteropolymeric target sequence, the heteropolymeric probe sequence is bonded to the heteropolymeric target sequence by homologous base interaction, and provided that when the complex is a triplex, the complex is free of recombination proteins. A method for assaying a target includes detecting formation of the complex.