METHODS AND APPLICATIONS OF MOLECULAR BEACON IMAGING FOR IDENTIFYING AND VALIDATING GENOMIC TARGETS, AND FOR DRUG SCREENING

摘要

A method for characterizing the gene expressions of a sample of cells of a living subject, where the sample of cells is characterized by one or more marker sequences. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing one or more types of molecular beacons, each type of molecular beacons designed to have a corresponding probe sequence complementary to one of the one or more marker sequences and an emitter capable of emitting photons of a unique color such that when one of the type of molecular beacons targets the one of the one or more marker sequences the sample of cells, the emitter of the molecular beacon emits photons of the unique color, thereby generating a photon signal of the unique color; treating the sample of cells with the one or more types of molecular beacons; and detecting photon signals of one or more colors of the sample of cells so as to characterizing the gene expressions of the sample of cells, wherein the one or more types of molecular beacons are designed such that the photon signals of the one or more colors are detectable without a need of signal amplification.