The effect of hybridization-induced secondary structure alterations on RNA detection using backscattering interferometry.

ABSTRACT: Backscattering interferometry (BSI) has been used to successfully monitor molecular interactions without labeling and with high sensitivity. These properties suggest that this approach might be useful for detecting biomarkers of infection. In this report, we identify interactions and characteristics of nucleic acid probes that maximize BSI signal upon binding the respiratory syncytial virus nucleocapsid gene RNA biomarker. The number of base pairs formed upon the addition of oligonucleotide probes to a solution containing the viral RNA target correlated with the BSI signal magnitude. Using RNA folding software mfold, we found that the predicted number of unpaired nucleotides in the targeted regions of the RNA sequence generally correlated with BSI sensitivity. We also demonstrated that loc

SUBMITTER: Adams NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3643578 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature