ENHANCEMENT OF NUCLEIC ACID HYBRIDIZATION BY ANIONIC POLYACRYLATE OR POLYMETHACRYLATE POLYMERS AND THEIR USE IN DETERMINING A POLYNUCLEOTIDE IN AQUEOUS BIOLOGICAL MEDIUM

摘要

The rate of hybridization between two complementary polynucleotide segments in an aqueous medium is increased by the presence of the anionic polymers polyacrylate and polymethacrylate. The acceleration effect is particularly useful in nucleic acid hybridization assays involving immobilization of sample nucleic acids and the use of labeled probes. Nonspecific binding of probe to nitrocellulose supports is substantially lower in the presence of the present polymers than in the presence of the prior art accelerator dextran sulfate. Polyacrylate is particularly advantageous since it has been found to be effective at low concentrations and is significantly less expensive than the prior art compound.