RAPID-DETERMINATION OF SINGLE-BASE MISMATCH MUTATIONS IN DNA HYBRIDS BY DIRECT ELECTRIC-FIELD CONTROL

We have demonstrated that controlled electric fields can be used to re gulate transport hybridization, and denaturation of single- and double -stranded oligonucleotides. Discrimination among oligonucleotide hybri ds with widely varying binding strengths may be attained by simple adj ustment of the electric field strength, When this approach Is used, el ectric field denaturation control allows single base pair mismatch dis crimination to be carried out rapidly (<15 sec) and with high resoluti on, Electric field denaturation takes place at temperatures well below the melting point of the hybrids, and it may constitute a novel mecha nism of DNA denaturation.