PAIRS OF NUCLEIC ACID PROBES WITH INTERACTIVE SIGNALING MOIETIES AND NUCLEIC ACID PROBES WITH ENHANCED HYBRIDIZATION EFFICIENCY AND SPECIFICITY

摘要

The invention provides methods and kits for detecting and/or quantifying nucleic acid sequences of interest by using pairs of probes containing donor-acceptor moieties that when hybridized on a target polynucleotide, with one of the probes being hybridized to a sequence of interest in the target polynucleotide, places the donor-acceptor moieties in sufficiently close proximity such that a detectable signal is generated. Methods of the invention are particularly useful for genotyping analysis and gene expression profiling. Methods of the invention are easily adaptable to arrays and automation. The invention also provides probes with enhanced hybridization efficiency and/or specificity comprising a probe portion having a spacer element and/or a minor groove binder molecule, and methods and kits for using these probes.