| 摘要 |
<p>Specific nucleic acid sequences are amplified through the use of transcribable hairpin probes. The probe comprises a single stranded self-complementary sequence which, under hybridizing conditions, forms a hairpin structure having a functional promoter region, and further comprises a transcribable sequence extending from the 5 min end of the hairpin sequence and a probe sequence which may be comprised in the transcribable 5 min sequence or in a sequence extending from the 3 min end of the hairpin sequence. The hairpin form of the probe is transcribable in the presence of a suitable RNA polymerase and appropriate ribonucleoside triphosphates (rNTPs). Amplification is accomplished by hybridizing the desired target nucleic acid sequence with the transcribable probe, transcribing substantially only probe which has become hybridized to the sequence of interest, and allowing transcription to proceed until a desired amount of RNA transcription product has accumulated. Optional second stage amplification of the RNA transcripts can produce higher levels of amplification. The amplification method is particularly useful in assays for the detection of particular nucleic acid sequences.</p> |
