title: Advantages of 2'-O-methyl oligoribonucleotide probes for detecting RNA targets.
abstract: We have compared various kinetic and melting properties of oligoribonucleotide probes containing 2'-O-methylnucleotides or 2'-deoxynucleotides with regard to their use in assays for the detection of nucleic acid targets. 2'-O-Methyl oligoribonucleotide probes bound to RNA targets faster and with much higher melting temperatures (Tm values) than corresponding 2'-deoxy oligoribonucleotide probes at all lengths tested (8-26 bases). Tm values of both probes increased with length up to approximately 19 bases, with maximal differences in Tm between 2'-O-methyl and 2'-deoxy oligoribonucleotide probes observed at lengths of 16 bases or less. In contrast to RNA targets, 2'-O-methyl oligoribonucleotide probes bound more slowly and with the same Tm to DNA targets as corresponding 2'-deoxy oligoribonucleotide probes. Because of their greatly enhanced Tm when bound to RNA, 2'-O-methyl oligoribonucleotide probes can efficiently bind to double-stranded regions of structured RNA molecules. A 17 base 2'-O-methyl oligoribonucleotide probe was able to bind a double-stranded region of rRNA whereas the same 17 base 2'- deoxy oligoribonucleotide probe did not. Due to their enhanced Tm when bound to RNA targets, shorter 2'-O-methyl oligoribonucleotide probes can be used in assays in place of longer 2'-deoxy oligoribonucleotide probes, resulting in enhanced discrimination between matched and mismatched RNA targets. A 12 base 2'-O-methyl oligoribonucleotide probe had the same Tm as a 19 base 2'-deoxy oligoribonucleotide probe when bound to a matched RNA target but exhibited a much larger decrease in Tm than the 2'-deoxy oligoribonucleotide probe when bound to an RNA target containing either 1 or 2 mismatched bases. The increased Tm, faster kinetics of hybridization, ability to bind to structured targets and increased specificity of 2'-O-methyl oligoribonucleotide probes render them superior to corresponding 2'-deoxy oligoribonucleotides for use in assays that detect RNA targets.
authors.affiliation: Gen-Probe Inc., 10210 Genetic Center Drive, San Diego, CA 91212-4362, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majlessi
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000609:Aminoacridines; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA; D007700:Kinetics; D008745:Methylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D009843:Oligoribonucleotides; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000609:Aminoacridines; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D009843:Oligoribonucleotides; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA