Method and apparatus for performing large numbers of reactions using array assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing a large number of reactions using array assembly. In particular, the present invention features a method and apparatus for performing a large number of chemical and biological reactions by bringing two arrays into close apposition and allowing reactants on the surfaces of two arrays to come into contact. The present invention is exemplified by performing a large number of polynucleotide amplification reactions using array assembly. In addition, the present invention features a method and apparatus for coupling the amplification of polynucleotides and the detection of sequence variations, expression levels, and functions thereof.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A solid support for performing a plurality of polynucleotide amplification reactions wherein a releasable primer for each amplification reaction is immobilized on an area of the surface of said solid support.  
     
     
         2 . A system for amplifying a plurality of target nucleic acids, comprising: 
 (a) a first solid support wherein 
 (1) the surface of said first solid support comprises a plurality of derivatized areas;  
 (2) a primer for each target nucleic acid or a sequence complementary to said primer is immobilized on a derivatized area of the first solid support; and  
   (b) a second solid support wherein said second solid support comprises a plurality of wells and each well corresponds to a primer for each target nucleic acid.    
     
     
         3 . A system for amplifying a plurality of target nucleic acids, comprising: 
 (a) a first solid support wherein 
 (1) the surface of said first solid support comprises a plurality of derivatized areas;  
 (2) a forward primer for each target nucleic acid or a sequence complementary to said forward primer is immobilized on a derivatized area of the first solid support  
 (3) a reverse primer for each region of said target nucleic acid or a sequence complementary to said reverse primer is immobilized on another derivatized area of the first solid support;  
   (b) a second solid support wherein said second solid support comprises a plurality of wells and each well corresponds to the forward and reverse primers for each target nucleic acid.    
     
     
         4 . The system according to any one of the claims  2 - 3 , wherein said plurality of target nucleic acids are a plurality of subsequences of a polynucleotide.  
     
     
         5 . The system of any one of claims  2 - 3 , wherein said first or second solid support is glass.  
     
     
         6 . The system according to any one of claims  2 - 3  wherein said immobilization is covalent.  
     
     
         7 . The system according to any one of claims  2 - 3  wherein said immobilization is non-covalent.  
     
     
         8 . The system according to any one of claims  2 - 3  wherein said primer is covalently linked to a cleavable moiety.  
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8  wherein said cleavable moiety is cleavable by photolysis.  
     
     
         10 . The system according to any one of the claims  2 - 3  wherein the surface of said first solid support comprises a plurality of hydrophilic areas.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to any one of the claims  2 - 3  wherein the density of the derivatized areas on said first solid support is between about 10 to 10,000 per cm 2 .  
     
     
         12 . The system according to any one of the claims  2 - 3  wherein the size of said derivatized area on said first solid support is between about 10 −3  to 5 mm 2 .  
     
     
         13 . The system according to any one of the claims  2 - 3  wherein the number of derivatized areas on said first solid support is between about 10 to 500,000.  
     
     
         14 . The solid support of  claim 1  wherein said releasable primer is releasable by strand separation.  
     
     
         15 . The solid support of  claim 1  wherein said releasable primer is releasable by photolysis.