ANNEALING CONTROL PRIMER SYSTEM FOR REGULATING PRIMER ANNEALING SPECIFICITY AND ITS APPLICATIONS

摘要

The present invention is directed to a novel annealing control primer system, named ACP system, for regulating primer annealing specificity during polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The principle of the ACP system is based on the composition of an oligonucleotide primer having 3' - and 5' -end distinct portions separated by a dexyinosine group, which is a unique feature of this invention. The present invention provides a process using the ACP system for performing two stage PCR amplifications to selectively amplify a target nucleic acid fragment from a nucleic acid or a mixture. The present invention also provides a method using the ACP system for detecting and cloning differentially expressed mRNAs in two or more nucleic acid samples. Kits containing ACP are included within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention can be also adapted to almost unlimited application in all fields of PCR-based technology.