SCREENING ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF DNA-BINDING MOLECULES

摘要

The present invention defines an assay useful for screening libraries of synthetic or biological compounds for their ability to bind specific DNA test sequences. The assay is also useful for determining the sequence specificity and relative DNA-binding affinity of DNA-binding molecules for any particular DNA sequence. The assay is a competition assay in which binding of a test molecule to a DNA test sequence changes the binding characteristics of a DNA-binding protein to its binding sequence. When such a test molecule binds the test sequence the equilibrium of the DNA:protein complexes is disturbed, generating changes in the ratio between unbound DNA and DNA:protein complexes. The assay is versatile in that any test sequence can be tested by placing the test sequence adjacent to a defined protein binding DNA screening sequence.