More keys to padlock probes: mechanisms for high-throughput nucleic acid analysis

With the impending availability of total information about nucleic acid seq uences in humans and other organisms, tools to investigate these sequences on a large scale assume increasing importance. Methods currently in use, ho wever, cannot offer the required combination of high-throughput, sensitivit y and specificity of detection. Padlock probes, circularizing oligonucleoti des, may provide a means to detect, distinguish, quantitate and also locate very large numbers of DNA or RNA sequences. Recent developments in areas s uch as the biochemistry of ligation and characterization of ligases, method s to replicate circularized probes and the development of assays based on t hese principles augment the potential of padlock probes.