Electrodes linked via conductive oligomers to nucleic acids
The invention relates to nucleic acids covalently coupled to electrodes via conductive oligomers. More particularly, the invention is directed to the site-selective modification of nucleic acids with electron transfer moieties and electrodes to produce a new class of biomaterials, and to methods of making and using them.
1. A method of detecting a target nucleic acid sequence in a nucleic acid sample comprising
a) providing a solid support comprising an array of electrodes each comprising:
i) a covalently attached anchor sequence; and
ii) a self-assembled monolayer;
b) contacting said array with at least one target sequence and a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a first region substantially complementary to said anchor sequence and a second region substantially complementary to a region of said target sequence, to form a hybridization complex; wherein said hybridization complex further comprises an electron transfer moiety (ETM); and
c) detecting the presence of said ETM as an indication of the presence of said target nucleic acid sequence.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said ETM is covalently attached to said target sequence.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said hybridization complex further comprises a label probe comprising said ETM.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said hybridization complex comprises a plurality of ETMs.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said ETM is a metallocene.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said metallocene is ferrocene.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said ferrocene is a ferrocene derivative.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said self-assembled monolayer comprises conductive oligomers.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said self-assembled monolayer comprises insulators.
10. A method according to claim 1 where said covalent attachment is via a spacer.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said spacer is a conductive oligomer.
12. A method according to claim 10 wherein said spacer is an insulator.