Detection of Philadelphia chromosome using PCR and europium-labeled DNA probes.

More than 95% of the patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) carry translocations between protooncogene abl of chromosome 9 and bcr gene of chromosome 22, resulting in the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1). After allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) it is important to detect possible residual malignant cells in CML patients. A new sensitive hybridization method combined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), based on the detection of the europium (Eu3+) label by time-resolved fluorescence, was applied for the detection of Ph1 chromosome. Total RNA from 10(6) peripheral blood leukocytes was isolated by the acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction. After cDNA synthesis by reverse transcriptase, the PCR amplification (30 cycles) was carried out. In the detection phase two oligonucleotide probes were used in the hybridization reaction, one biotinylated (bcr gene, exon 2) and one (abl gene) labeled with Eu3+. The hybrids were collected in a streptavidin-coated microtitration well and the bound Eu3+ was measured in a time-resolved fluorometer. To assess the sensitivity of the method, different numbers of CML cell line K562 cells were mixed with 10(5) apparently normal human leukocytes. Five K562 cells/10(5) leukocytes could be detected. Six patients with CML confirmed by clinical and cytogenetic criteria were studied. Three of the patients underwent an allogeneic BTM 6-18 months before the investigation and all of them were Ph1-negative. The other three patients who were nontransplanted were positive as expected.

Europium-labeled oligonucleotide hybridization probes: preparation and properties.

A chemical method for labeling of oligonucleotide probes with europium chelates is presented. A modified deoxycytidine phosphoramidite is used to introduce multiple reactive amino groups to the oligonucleotide during the synthesis phase. Upon deprotection and purification of the modified oligonucleotide, an isothiocyanate derivative of a stable Eu chelate is reacted with the primary amino groups. The labeling technology enables the coupling of a high number of Eu chelates to a single probe. The melting temperatures and hybridization efficiencies of the oligonucleotides are not significantly altered by the labeling process. However, hybridization kinetics of the oligonucleotides are affected by the introduction of multiple modified deoxycytidine residues. In a solid-phase hybridization assay up to 10(7) target molecules can be detected.

Time-resolved fluorometry in the diagnosis of Leber hereditary optic neuroretinopathy.

We have applied time-resolved fluorometry (TRF) to construct a DNA hybridization assay for the diagnosis of Leber hereditary optic neuroretinopathy (LHON). A rapid and reliable detection of the most prevalent mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutation associated with LHON is demonstrated. In addition, the TRF-method can be used in the quantification of heteroplasmy, a phenomenon commonly present in mtDNA mutations. The assay includes PCR amplification of a fragment encompassing the mutation site followed by hybridization reactions with allele-specific europium (Eu)-labelled oligonucleotide probes. A time-resolved fluorometer is used to measure the bound label. The TRF assay was successfully used to demonstrate the ND4/11778 mutation in patient samples. For quantification of heteroplasmy, synthetic target oligonucleotide mixtures with known ratios of wild-type and mutated sequences were used as standards to control the hybridization step. The assay allowed the detection of heteroplasmy ranging from 5 to 95%. This was also shown in a family with several heteroplasmic members.

Europium-labeled oligonucleotides to detect point mutations: application to PIZ alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.

We describe a novel assay for detection of point mutations. The method combines the specificity and sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASO) with highly sensitive time-resolved fluorometry. ASO probes differing by a single base substitution and labeled with europium (Eu) chelates were hybridized in solution simultaneously with a biotinylated oligomer to a PCR-amplified nucleic acid fragment. The hybrids formed were then collected onto streptavidin-coated microtitration wells. Subsequently, the hybrids were washed under stringent conditions and the remaining ASO probe was measured in a time-resolved fluorometer. We discuss the strategy underlying the design of the Eu-labeled ASO probes for the solution hybridization assay. The method was applied to the detection of the Z-mutation in the alpha 1-antitrypsin gene. Evaluation of whole-blood samples spotted on Guthrie cards demonstrated successful accuracy of the method.

Detection of adenovirus in clinical specimens by polymerase chain reaction and liquid-phase hybridization quantitated by time-resolved fluorometry.

In addition to tests for the group-specific hexon antigen of adenoviruses, adenoviruses can be detected in clinical specimens by hybridization assays utilizing the widely shared base sequences of the region of the hexon gene that codes for the group-reactive determinants. We have developed a liquid-phase hybridization system with biotin- and europium-labeled probes which are reacted after DNA amplification of a 161-bp region of the hexon gene and which are quantitated by time-resolved (TR) fluorometry in streptavidin-coated microtiter wells. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-TR fluorometry is not a rapid test in the usual sense, but it is highly useful for specimens with inherent toxicity or with low virus yield, such as organ minces and specimens obtained late in the course of an illness. In a survey of 103 specimens tested by this method, including urine, stool, and tissue suspensions, the agreement with the hexon-specific TR fluoroimmunoassay antigen test for positive specimens was 100% and the sensitivity compared with that of virus culture was 91%. The PCR-TR fluorometry system was also shown to be advantageous as a quantitative measure of PCR products.

Detection of mutation delta F508 in the cystic fibrosis gene using allele-specific PCR primers and time-resolved fluorometry.

A method to detect the main cystic fibrosis (CF) mutation delta F508 from dried blood spots, whole blood, or saliva using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and time-resolved fluorometry (TRF) is described. Samples are treated by boiling in mild alkaline solution, after which two allele-specific PCR reactions are performed. Allele-specific primers and a common biotinylated primer are used in the amplification reactions. To detect the PCR product, an europium-labeled oligonucleotide, complementary to the biotinylated strand of the PCR product, is used in a solution hybridization. Hybridization is done in streptavidin-coated microtitration wells, making the detection easy to perform. After a washing step, the bound label is detected using a time-resolved fluorometer. To analyze function of the assay, 20 dried blood spot samples were tested. PCR amplification of the deletion region combined with gel retardation assay was used as a control method. In the initial testing, 2 samples giving discrepant results in the two assays were found. In addition, 17 samples from known CF patients together with 6 normal control samples were analyzed. Among these patient samples, 10 homozygotes and 6 carriers for mutation delta F508 were found.

Detection of amplified HTLV-I/-II viral sequences using time-resolved fluorometry.

Since its discovery, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used for different purposes in the field of DNA research. We tested the PCR for the diagnosis of HTLV-I/-II infections. PCR was used to amplify 141- and 149-base pair regions from the HTLV-I and HTLV-II virus genomes, respectively. The annealing temperature in the PCR amplification was optimized using 20% polyacrylamide gels and silver staining. Even a slight change (3 degrees C) in the annealing temperature had an effect on the specificity of the reaction. The PCR products were detected with biotin and Eu-labeled oligonucleotide probes in a solution hybridization format. The linearity of the assay was tested with serial dilutions of purified chromosomal DNA containing integrated HTLV-II sequences. The linearity was found to be dependent on the number of cycles used in the PCR amplification. The best linearity, at a target level of a few copies, was achieved using a low number of cycles. The specificity of the assay was tested using HTLV-I and HTLV-II-infected lymphocytes from the cell lines Hut102 and MO480, respectively. No cross reactivity between these analytes was observed.

Detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by using the polymerase chain reaction and a time-resolved fluorescence-based hybridization assay.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has many potential applications in the field of nucleic acid diagnostics. In particular, it has been successfully applied to the detection of pathogens present in low copy numbers such as the human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Here we describe a time-resolved fluorescence-based hybridization assay which, combined with the PCR, offers an extremely sensitive method for the detection of nucleic acids. In this assay format, the PCR is run by standard procedures and the subsequent hybridization reaction is carried out in solution by using two oligonucleotide probes, one biotinylated and one labeled with europium (Eu3+). The sandwich hybrids are then collected onto a streptavidin-coated microtitration well, and the bound Eu3+ is measured in a time-resolved fluorometer. This assay is rapid, user friendly, and quantitative and lends itself to automation. The application of this assay to the detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is described.

The use of europium (Eu3+) labelled primers in PCR amplification of specific target DNA.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has many potential applications in the field of DNA probe diagnostics. Here we describe a method that utilizes PCR and time-resolved fluorometry (TRF) for the detection of specific target DNA. First the DNA segment to be detected is amplified according to standard procedures. Then a pair of europium (Eu3+) and biotin-labelled primers nested within the amplified fragment is incorporated in a few additional PCR cycles. Thus amplified DNA fragments are generated that contain an affinity label (biotin) and a detectable label (europium). The doubly-labelled amplified DNA fragments are collected onto streptavidin coated microtitration strips and the bound Eu3+ is measured in a time-resolved fluorometer. We show here the application of this method to the detection of HIV-1 DNA. As few as five copies of HIV-1 DNA could readily be detected using this assay. The method described here is sensitive, rapid and easy to employ. In addition it lends itself to automation.

Preparation of europium-labelled DNA probes and their properties.

A chemical method for labelling DNA with a europium chelate is presented. First, primary aliphatic amino groups are introduced onto DNA in a transamination reaction. The transamination reaction is altered by adjusting temperature and duration of the reaction. Subsequently, the modified DNA is reacted with an isothiocyanate derivative of a Eu chelate. The optimum amount of Eu chelates on a DNA probe is 4-8% of total nucleotides. There is a decrease of 0.7 degrees C in the melting temperature of DNA for each incorporated Eu chelate on 100 bases. Hybridization efficiency is lowered by the introduction of Eu chelates but this effect can be partly overcome by using high DNA probe concentrations. The detection limit of the Eu-labelled probe is 0.15 attomoles of target DNA in a mixed-phase hybridization assay on microtitration wells. In addition to high sensitivity the Eu-labelled probes offer convenience in use and results which are quantitative and easy to interpret.

Time-resolved fluorescence in biospecific assays.

Fluorescent lanthanide chelates and their detection using time-resolved fluorometry for in vitro as well as for microscopic bio-specific assays are reviewed, with reference to other fluorescent dyes and labelling materials. The minimum detectable dose of labelled components and the theoretical ultimate sensitivities of immunoassays and DNA-assays are discussed and compared with experimental results. It is concluded that the time-resolved fluorometry provides a high sensitivity labelling method in immunoassays, and a sensitivity comparable to phosphorus-32 in DNA hybridization assays. It is also concluded that lanthanide chelates are a potential alternative for organic fluorescent dyes in microscopy and that they are most useful in multiparameter assays. The combination of organic fluorescent dyes and lanthanide chelates provides the highest separation efficiency between two assay parameters.

Time-resolved fluorometry for the identification of viral DNA in clinical specimens.

Time-resolved fluorometry was used for the detection of DNA probes labeled directly with europium (Eu3+) chelate. The sensitivity of this nonisotopic hybridization assay was 100 pg of homologous DNA. Equivalent results with reference tests were obtained in the detection of adenoviruses in clinical specimens.

Detection of biotinylated DNA probes by using Eu-labeled streptavidin and time-resolved fluorometry.

Europium has been used as a label in immunoassays as it can be measured with high sensitivity by means of time-resolved fluorometry. Here we have used streptavidin labeled with europium chelates in the detection of adenovirus type 2 DNA bound to microtiter wells after hybridization with a biotinylated probe. The method gave quantitative results and a sensitivity of about 10 pg of the specific DNA.

Sensitive detection of genes by sandwich hybridization and time-resolved fluorometry.

Europium has been used as a non-radioactive marker in immunoassays as this metal can be detected with high sensitivity by time-resolved fluorometry. In this work streptavidin labeled with europium was used to detect biotinylated probes in a sandwich nucleic-acid hybridization assay with microtitration strips as the solid phase. pBR 322 plasmids were detected with a sensitivity of 4 x 10(5) molecules. As the sample is added in solution in sandwich hybridization, fast and simple sample pre-treatment can be used without encountering background problems. The method was applied to test bacterial samples of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains for the presence of the beta-lactamase gene.

Biotransformation of cibenzoline to 2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-1H-imidazole.

A microsomal metabolite of cibenzoline, 4,5-dihydro-2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-1H-imidazole butanedioate, was identified by n.m.r. as the 4,5-dehydro analogue, 2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-1H-imidazole. Three dogs dosed orally with 13.8 mg/kg 14C-cibenzoline base excreted 1.8-3.5% of the dose as this metabolite in the urine. Mean plasma concentrations of cibenzoline reached a peak of 1.5 micrograms/ml at 2 h while mean concentrations of the metabolite of 0.4-0.5 micrograms/ml were found between 2 and 7 h. The metabolite was synthesized and found to decrease the frequency of ventricular premature depolarizations in conscious dogs having a two-stage occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery performed 48 h before. It did not inhibit ventricular arrhythmia in rats induced by i.v. infusion of aconitine. Thus, in contrast to cibenzoline, the metabolite does not appear to be a true antiarrhythmic agent.

Behavioral effects in monkeys of racemates of two biologically active marijuana constituents.

Both dl-Delta(8)- and dl-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol produced marked alterations of behavior in rhesus and squirrel monkeys. Squirrel monkeys appeared to have visual hallucinations. Continuous avoidance behavior of squirrel monkeys was stimulated by both drugs, but high doses of dl-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol also caused depression after the stimulant phase. Complex behavior involving memory and visual discrimination in rhesus monkeys was markedly disrupted by both drugs.