Award details

Exciplex-based analytical fluorescence technology platform for genomic and post-genomic molecular diagnostics

Reference	BB/C510783/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Kenneth Thomas Douglas
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Elena Bichenkova
Institution	The University of Manchester
Department	Manchester Pharmacy School
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	61,223
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/09/2004
End date	30/11/2005
Duration	15 months

Abstract

In our previous BBSRC grant we invented a new type of fluorescence approach for detection of nucleic acid molecules and brought it to proof-of-principle level for DNA oligonucleotides. This approach, which can in principle circumvent PCR with the likely advent in the marketplace of more powerful detection systems for fluorophores, is based on use of two short oligonucleotides complementary to a target nucleic acid sequence. Each short-probe oligo bears separated parts of a new class of fluorescence detector, an exciplex. These isolated parts of the detector have no inherent signal at the detection wavelength. They are designed to detect bio-target by being assembled by the target itself to give a new molecular entity, with a characteristic fluorescence. The technique, not related to FRET, can potentially resolve to <1 base pair. We have already been able to show that we can distinguish DNA sequences that differ by a single base pair using this approach. Another advantage of this exciplex methodology is that the signal background from the fluorescent detector species is less than 1% for exciplex systems, compared to typical backgrounds of greater than 60% for current marketplace dyes (comparing signal from the probe moleculae before and after target binding in both cases). In addition the fluorescence signal of current marketed dyes merely change intensity on binding target (emphasising the above background a limitation). These new exciplex probes actually visibly change colour on finding their correct target (they go from pale blue fluorescence to green), which may allow their use in the field as dip detectors (like pH paper) requiring minimal instrumentation. This brings molecular diagnostics closer to simple application at the patient:clinician interface.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Follow-On Fund (FOF) [2004-2015]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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