STABILISATION OF DOUBLE-STRANDED NUCLEIC ACIDS USING PROTEINS

摘要

A composition for treating a nucleic acid duplex, wherein the composition is capable of inhibiting denaturation of the duplex, characterised in that the composition comprises a ubiquitin-like protein and/or a macroglobulin. It ha s been found that ubiquitin-like proteins (e.g. ubiquitin, NEDD8, RAD23 etc.) and macroglobulins (e.g. .alpha.2-macroglobulin) are able to stabilise nucle ic acid duplexes. A nucleic acid duplex which has been contacted with the composition of the invention can be subjected to more stringent processing conditions, with denaturation of the duplex being inhibited, than would otherwise be possible. Corresponding methods and uses are also provided.