Triggered amplification by hybridization chain reaction
- Departments of †Chemistry and ‡Applied and Computational Mathematics and Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
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Communicated by Stephen L. Mayo, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, September 24, 2004 (received for review July 2, 2004)
Abstract
We introduce the concept of hybridization chain reaction (HCR), in which stable DNA monomers assemble only upon exposure to a target DNA fragment. In the simplest version of this process, two stable species of DNA hairpins coexist in solution until the introduction of initiator strands triggers a cascade of hybridization events that yields nicked double helices analogous to alternating copolymers. The average molecular weight of the HCR products varies inversely with initiator concentration. Amplification of more diverse recognition events can be achieved by coupling HCR to aptamer triggers. This functionality allows DNA to act as an amplifying transducer for biosensing applications.
Footnotes
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↵ § To whom correspondence should be addressed at: California Institute of Technology, Mail Code 114-96, Pasadena, CA 91125. E-mail: niles{at}caltech.edu.
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Abbreviation: HCR, hybridization chain reaction.
- Copyright © 2004, The National Academy of Sciences
