Quencher-free molecular beacons: a new strategy in fluorescence based nucleic acid analysis.
Molecular beacons (MBs) have been used as viable fluorescent probes in nucleic acid analysis. Many researchers around the world continue to modify the MBs to suit their needs. As a result, a number of nucleic acid probing systems with close resemblance to the MBs are being reported from time to time. Quencher-free molecular beacons (QF-MBs) are a significant modification of the conventional MB; in QF-MBs the quencher part has been eliminated. Despite the absence of the quencher, the QF-MBs can identify specific target DNA. They can also be used in SNP typing and in real-time PCR analysis for quantification of DNAs. The design, factors behind functioning and applications of different types of QF-MBs and closely related quencher-free nucleic acid probing systems (QF-NAPs) have been described in this tutorial review.
Venkatesan
Natarajan
N
Laboratory for Modified Nucleic Acid Systems, Department of Chemistry, BK School of Molecular Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Korea.
Seo
Young Jun
YJ
Kim
Byeang Hyean
BH
D001483:Base Sequence; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes; D004247:DNA