Simultaneous detection of several oligonucleotides by time-resolved fluorometry: the use of a mixture of categorized microparticles in a sandwich type mixed-phase hybridization assay.

Porous, uniformly sized (50 micrometer) glycidyl methacrylate/ethylene dimethacrylate particles (SINTEF) were used as a solid phase to construct a sandwich type hybridization assay that allowed simultaneous detection of up to six oligonucleotides from a single sample. The assay was based on categorization of the particles by two organic prompt fluorophores, viz. fluorescein and dansyl, and quantification of the oligonucleotide hybridization by time-resolved fluorometry. Accordingly, allele-specific oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes were assembled on the particles by conventional phosphoramidite strategy using a non-cleavable linker, and the category defining fluorescein and/or dansyl tagged building blocks were inserted in the 3'-terminal sequence. An oligonucleotide bearing a photoluminescent europium(III) chelate was hybridized to the complementary 3'-terminal sequence of the target oligonucleotide, and the resulting duplex was further hybridized to the particle-bound allele-specific probes via the 5'-terminal sequence of the target. After hybridization each individual particle was subjected to three different fluorescence intensity measurements. The intensity of the prompt fluorescence signals of fluorescein and dansyl defined the particle category, while the europium(III) chelate emission quantified the hybridization. The length of the complementary region between the target oligonucleotide and the particle-bound probe was optimized to achieve maximal selectivity. Furthermore, the kinetics of hybridization and the effect of the concentration of the target oligomer on the efficiency of hybridization were evaluated. By this approach the possible presence of a three base deletion (DeltaF508), point mutation (G542X) and point deletion (1078delT) related to cystic fibrosis could unequivocally be detected from a single sample.