FLUORESCENCE METHOD FOR DETECTING NUCLEASE ACTIVITY

摘要

The present invention provides a method of detecting a nuclease activity of DNA or RNA oligomers containing a fluorophor at one terminus (5' or 3'). When the fluorophore is attached to an oligomer covalently, its fluorescence intensity is quenched by the oligomer. After nuclease digestion, the fluorophore is released and the flourescence signal of the fluorophor increases. The differences of these fluorescence intensities make it easy to characterize the DNA or RNA nuclease activity. The invention is a fluorescence method for detecting nucleases and inhibitors thereof by using the oligomer attached to only a single fluorescent molecule (a fluorophore). It does not need any other substances such as second fluorescent molecule, non-fluorescent molecule (a quencher molecule), graphene oxide, or cationic polymers to produce signals after nuclease digestion.