Detection of tmRNA molecules on microarrays at low temperatures using helper oligonucleotides.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The hybridization of synthetic Streptococcus pneumoniae tmRNA on a detection microarray is slow at 34 degrees C resulting in low signal intensities.

Results

We demonstrate that adding specific DNA helper oligonucleotides (chaperones) to the hybridization buffer increases the signal strength at a given temperature and thus makes the specific detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae tmRNA more sensitive. No loss of specificity was observed at low temperatures compared to hybridization at 46 degrees C. The effect of the chaperones can be explained by disruption of the strong secondary and tertiary structure of the target RNA by the selective hybridization of helper molecules. The amplification of the hybridization signal strength by chaperones is not necessarily local;

SUBMITTER: Kaplinski L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2873282 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature