Sensitive detection of genes by sandwich hybridization and time-resolved fluorometry

Europium has been used as a non-radioactive marker in immunoassays as this metal can be detected with high sensitivity by time-resolved fluorometry. In this work streptavidin labeled with europium was used to detect biotinylated probes in a sandwich nucleic-acid hybridization assay with microtitration strips as the solid phase. pBR 322 plasmids were detected with a sensitivity of 4 x 10(5) molecules. As the sample is added in solution in sandwich hybridization, fast and simple sample pre-treatment can be used without encountering background problems. The method was applied to test bacterial samples of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains for the presence of the beta-lactamase gene.

Chemical synthesis of a pentaribonucleoside tetraphosphate constituting the 3'-acceptor stem sequence of E. coli tRNAIle using 2'-O-(3-methoxy-1,5-dicarbomethoxypentan-3-yl)-ribonucleoside building blocks. Application of a new achiral and acid-labile 2'-hydroxyl protecting group in tRNA synthesis

A synthesis of a pentaribonucleotide fragment constituting the residues 59-63 of 3'-terminus of E. coli tRNAIle, 5'-ApGpUpCpC-3', has been carried out using a new, easily accessible and achiral 2'-ketal protecting group. The new 2'-ketal group has an additional advantage in that it is easily functionalized to the diamide with aqueous ammonia in the penultimate step of deblocking of fully protected oligoribonucleotides. Such a functionalization of the 2'-ketal group at the penultimate step of deblocking of the fully protected tRNA molecule enhances its relative rate of removal under an acidic condition with a minimum of damage of the target tRNA molecule.

Failure to detect radioimmunoassayable arginine vasotocin in mammalian pineals

The presence of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and arginine vasotocin (AVT) in pineal and neural lobes of a variety of species was evaluated by radioimmunoassay using two antisera. One antiserum recognizes only AVP, while the other cross-reacts 100% with both AVP and AVT. Only traces of AVP were detected in toad and chicken pituitaries and chicken pineals, tissues found to contain abundant AVT. On the other hand, pineals from rats and rabbits, while containing measurable quantities of AVP, did not contain detectable levels (less than 6 pg) of AVT. These results fail to demonstrate the presence of AVT in rat and rabbit pineals and strongly question the role of AVT as a physiological pineal hormone in mammals.