title: Molecular beacons: a novel DNA probe for nucleic acid and protein studies.
abstract: A new concept has been introduced for molecular beacon DNA molecules. Molecular beacons are a new class of oligonucleotides that can report the presence of specific nucleic acids in both homogeneous solutions and at the liquid-solid interface. They emit an intense fluorescent signal only when hybridized to their target DNA or RNA molecules. Biotinylated molecular beacons have been designed and used for the development of ultrasensitive DNA sensors and for DNA molecular interaction studies at a solid-liquid interface. Molecular beacons have also been used to study protein-DNA interactions. They have provided a variety of exciting opportunities in DNA/RNA/protein studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville 32601, USA. tan@chem.ufl.edu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011506:Proteins; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA