Nucleic acid probes and method for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence comprising two or more cis-located nucleic acid regions

摘要

The present invention relates to probes, probe kits, methods and apparatus for the detection of the presence or absence of non-contiguous cis-located nucleic acid sequences which are characteristic of alleles including those relating to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) which is of interest in the field of human transplantation and disease. The nucleic acid probe comprising two or more non-contiguous nucleic acid regions capable of hybridising with respective cis-located nucleic acid regions on the target sequence. The non-contiguous regions being separated by one or more spacer regions comprising a material which will not hybridise with the target sequence between the cis-located regions. The probe having a length selected with regard to the target sequence to maintain correct spatial orientation of the non-contiguous hybridisation regions on the probe with the cis-located regions on the target sequence such that the base-base pairwise hybridisation therebetween can be effected in use of the probe. The spacer regions could comprise abasic phosphoroamidite ribose molecules.