Photobiotin-labeled DNA and RNA hybridization probes

Nucleic acid hybridization, the formation of a duplex between two complementary nucleotide sequences, is being increasingly utilized in the research laboratory and for the routine diagnosis of disease. Biotin-labeled nucleic acid hybridization probes have advantages over radioactively labeled probes in terms of stability, safety, and time of detection. The hybridization of a biotin-labeled probe to a target nucleic acid is carried out on a nitrocellulose or nylon filter; the bound probe is usually detected by the binding of an avidin-enzyme conjugate or a streptavidin-enzyme complex (both avidin and streptavidin have a high affinity for biotin), followed by a colorimetric reaction in which the bound enzyme converts a colorless substrate into a colored product.