title: Molecular beacons: nucleic acid hybridization and emerging applications.
abstract: Molecular beacons (MBs) are a novel class of nucleic acid probes that become fluorescent when bound to a complementary sequence. Because of this characteristic, coupled with the sequence specificity of nucleic acid hybridization and the sensitivity of fluorescence techniques, MBs are very useful probes for a variety of applications requiring the detection of DNA or RNA. We survey various applications of MBs, including the monitoring of DNA triplex formation, and describe recent developments in MB design that enhance their sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Antony
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D001709:Biotechnology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA