Charge perturbation detection system for DNA and other molecules
US7785785B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 2005 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N27/3276
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for direct detection of chemical reactions are provided. In a preferred embodiment, electric charge perturbations of the local environment during enzyme-catalyzed reactions are sensed by an electrode system with an immobilized target molecule. The target molecule is preferably DNA. The charge perturbation caused by the polymerase reaction can uniquely identify a DNA sequence. The polymerization process generates local perturbations of charge in the solution near the electrode surface and induces a charge in a polarazible gold electrode. This event is detected as a transient current by a voltage clamp amplifier. Detection of single nucleotides in a sequence can be determined by dispensing individual dNTPs to the electrode solution and detecting the charge perturbations. Alternatively, multiple bases can be determined at the same time using a mix of all dNTPs with subsequent analysis of the resulting signal. The initial enzyme attachment to the DNA molecule can be detected prior to polymerization, with electrode capacitance measurement using the same voltage-clamp amplifier. This technique and device may be adapted to other reaction determinations, such as enzym…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.