Tunneling junctions for sequencing

US11718870B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Yann Astier · Livermore, US
• Juraj Topolancik · Malden, US
• Hannes Kuchelmeister · Munich, DE
• Frank Bergmann · Iffeldorf, DE
• Dieter Heindl · Munich, DE
• Nikolaus Klaus-Peter Stengele · Pleiskirchen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 19, 2019
• Grant date: Aug 8, 2023
• Expiry date: Dec 2, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12Q2565/607
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Molecules may be analyzed (e.g., sequencing of nucleic acid molecules) by tunneling recognition at a tunneling junction. Embodiments of the present invention may allow detecting individual nucleotides and the sequencing of a nucleic acid molecule using a tunneling junction. By labeling a specific nucleotide with a moiety, tunneling junctions may generate a signal with a suitable signal-to-noise ratio. The tunneling recognition uses a tunneling current that is mostly through the moiety rather than mostly through the nucleotide or a portion of the molecule of interest. Because a single nucleotide can be detected with a signal with a suitable signal-to-noise ratio resulting from the tunneling current passing through the moiety, embodiments of the present invention may allow for fast detection of nucleotides using a tunneling current.