Miniaturized FRET assays and microfluidics: key components for ultra-high-throughput screening.

Assay miniaturization applicable across a wide range of target classes, along with automation and process integration, are well-recognized goals for ultra-high-throughput screening on an industrial scale. This report summarizes the implementation of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biochemical and cell-based assays in 3456-well NanoWelltrade mark assay plates using key components of Aurora's ultra-high-throughput screening system.

Biopolymer synthesis on polypropylene supports: oligonucleotide arrays.

High-density oligonucleotide arrays have been constructed on clear, aminated polypropylene film using conventional phosphoramidite-based synthesis chemistries. A semiautomated 64-channel fluidic chemical delivery system is used to prepare the 64 x 64 array containing 4096 oligonucleotide elements. The completed array has been successfully used in the hybridization and fluorescence (Streptavidin-FITC) detection of a biotinylated 18-mer oligonucleotide target complementary to the F508 codon region of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene. A hybridization simulation model based upon Nearest Neighbor approximations is used to predict the outcome of the array hybridization experiment.

A rapid scanning strip for tri- and dinucleotide short tandem repeats.

Oligonucleotides representing 60 trinucleotide (21mers) and four dinucleotide (20mers) tandem repeats were directly synthesized and arrayed onto an aminated polypropylene substrate. DNA samples of different complexities (a CAG-containing 21mer oligonucleotide, PCR fragments of 200 to 3,000 bp, and cosmids with 31 to 35 kb inserts) were radiolabelled and hybridized to the oligonucleotide array at various temperatures. When compared to sequence data available from the test DNAs, the reverse blot system specifically identified various tri- and dinucleotide short tandem repeats (STRs) in every case. Moreover, there was no random or cross hybridization to nonspecific sequences. It was possible to detect as few as three repeated units in a particular location, as shown for (CCT)n, (GCC)n and (CAC)n triplets in cosmid DNA. Varying the hybridization stringency can enhance the detection of STRs. This single-step reverse blot system therefore allows the rapid, specific and sensitive identification of various STRs in DNA sources of different complexity.

Biopolymer synthesis on polypropylene supports. I. Oligonucleotides.

We have modified polypropylene to serve as a new solid-phase support for oligonucleotide synthesis. The plastic is first surface aminated by exposure to an ammonia plasma generated by radiofrequency plasma discharge. The aminated polypropylene has been found to be useful as a support for the in situ synthesis of oligonucleotides from monomers. Furthermore, oligonucleotides synthesized on the surface of the plastic remain attached following deprotection and can be used directly for hybridization.