Rapid electrochemiluminescence assays of polymerase chain reaction products
Kenten, J.H.; Casadei, J.; Link, J.; Lupold, S.; Willey, J.; Powell, M.; Rees, A.; Massey, R.
Clinical Chemistry 37(9): 1626-1632
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9147 PMID: 1654234 Document Number: 374587
We demonstrate the first use of an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) label, [4-(N-succimidyloxycarbonylpropyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine]bis(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) dihexafluorophosphate (Origen label; lGEN Inc.), in DNA probe assays. This label allows rapid (<25 min) quantification and detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified products from oncogenes, viruses, and cloned genes. For the PCR, we used labeled oligonucleotide primers complementary to human papilloma virus and the Ha-ras oncogene. These samples were followed by ECL analysis or hybridization with specific, Origen-labeled oligonucleotide probes. These studies demonstrate the speed, specificity, and effectiveness of the new ECL labels, compared with 32P, for nucleic acid probe applications. We describe formats involving convention methodologies and a new format that requires no wash step, allowing simple and rapid sample analysis. These rapid assays also reduce PCR contamination, by requiring less sample handling. Improvements in ECL detectability are currently under investigation for use in DNA probe assays without amplification.