Detection composition

Abstract

The invention provides methods, kits, devices and compositions for detecting one or more target analytes. In some embodiments, the invention provides binding elements and labeling elements capable of being joined through a plurality of joining elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising:
 a binding element directed against an activatable element, wherein said binding element comprises a first joining element, wherein said first joining element comprises a first oligonucleotide attached to said binding element, and wherein said first oligonucleotide comprises a first complementary oligonucleotide region;   a second joining element comprising a second oligonucleotide, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a labeling element, and wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a second complementary oligonucleotide region; and   a third joining element comprising a third oligonucleotide, wherein said third oligonucleotide comprises a third complementary oligonucleotide region and a fourth complementary oligonucleotide region, wherein said third complementary oligonucleotide region is complementary to said first complementary oligonucleotide region in said first joining element and wherein said fourth complementary oligonucleotide region is complementary to said second complementary oligonucleotide region in said second joining element.   
     
     
         2 . A composition comprising:
 a binding element directed against an activatable element, wherein said binding element comprises a first joining element, wherein said joining element comprises a first oligonucleotide attached to said binding element, and wherein said first oligonucleotide comprises a first complementary oligonucleotide region;   a second joining element comprising a second oligonucleotide, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a labeling element, and wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a second complementary oligonucleotide region, wherein said second complementary oligonucleotide region is complementary to said first complementary oligonucleotide region is said first joining element.   
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said binding element is a peptide, a polypeptide, an oligopeptide, or an antibody. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said joining elements are independently selected from the group consisting of DNA, peptide nucleic acids, RNA, leucine zippers, polymers, or peptide loops. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  wherein more than one labeling elements are attached to said second joining element. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said labeling element is an element selected from the group consisting of small molecule fluorophores, proteinaceous fluorophores, radioisotopes, enzymes, antibodies, chemiluminescent molecules, biotin, streptavidin, digoxigenin, chromogenic dyes, luminescent dyes, phosphorous dyes, luciferase, magnetic particles, beta-galactosidase, amino groups, carboxy groups, maleimide groups, oxo groups and thiol groups, quantum dots, chelated or caged lanthanides, isotope tags, radiodense tags, electron-dense tags, radioactive isotopes, paramagnetic particles, agarose particles, mass tags, e-tags, nanoparticles, and vesicle tags. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  wherein the labeling element comprises an enzyme and precursor compound. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  wherein the joining element is an oligonucleotide or a nucleic acid having about 10 to about 100 bases in length. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said first joining element is covalently attached to said binding element. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said activatable element is a phosphoprotein. 
     
     
         11 . A method for labeling a binding element comprising:
 providing a binding element, wherein said binding element is directed against an activatable element;   providing a first joining element and a second joining element, wherein said first joining element comprises a first oligonucleotide, wherein said first oligonucleotide comprises a first complementary oligonucleotide region, wherein said second joining element comprises a second oligonucleotide, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a labeling element, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a second complementary oligonucleotide region, and wherein said second complementary oligonucleotide region in said second joining element is complementary to said first complementary oligonucleotide region in said first joining element;   attaching said first joining element to said binding element, and   hybridizing said second complementary region in second joining element to said first complementary region in said first joining element such that a complex is formed between said binding element, said first joining element and said second joining element.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein attaching comprises covalently attaching said first joining element to said binding element. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said activatable element is a phosphoprotein. 
     
     
         14 . A method of detecting the presence or absence of an activatable element in a sample comprising:
 providing a sample potentially containing the activatable element;   providing a binding element, wherein said binding element is directed against said target activatable element; wherein said binding element comprises a first joining element and a second joining element, wherein said first joining element comprises a first oligonucleotide attached to said binding element, wherein said first oligonucleotide comprises a first complementary oligonucleotide region, wherein said second joining element comprises a second oligonucleotide, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a labeling element, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a second complementary oligonucleotide region, wherein said second complementary oligonucleotide region in said second joining element is complementary to said first complementary oligonucleotide region in said first joining element; and wherein said second complementary region in second joining element is hybridized to said first complementary region in said first joining element;   contacting said sample with said binding element; and   detecting said labeling element, wherein said labeling element is indicative of the presence or absence of the activatable element in the sample.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said joining elements are independently selected from the group consisting of DNA, peptide nucleic acids, RNA, leucine zippers, polymers, or peptide loops. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said second joining element comprises a plurality labeling element. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the labeling element is an element selected from the group consisting of small molecule fluorophores, proteinaceous fluorophores, radioisotopes, enzymes, antibodies, chemiluminescent molecules, biotin, streptavidin, digoxigenin, chromogenic dyes, luminescent dyes, phosphorous dyes, luciferase, magnetic particles, beta-galactosidase, amino groups, carboxy groups, maleimide groups, oxo groups and thiol groups, quantum dots, chelated or caged lanthanides, isotope tags, radiodense tags, electron-dense tags, radioactive isotopes, paramagnetic particles, agarose particles, mass tags, e-tags, nanoparticles, and vesicle tags. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said joining elements are oligonucleotides having about 10 to about 100 bases in length. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the binding element is selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a polypeptide, an oligopeptide, a protein, an antibody, a nucleic acid, a peptide nucleic acid, a synthetic small molecule, a disaccharide, a trisaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, a lipid, a steroid, and a phospholipid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the labeling element comprises an enzyme and precursor compound. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said first joining element is covalently attached to said binding element. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said activatable element is a phosphoprotein. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising detecting a plurality of activatable elements by a method comprising:
 (i) contacting said plurality of activatable elements with a plurality of binding elements, wherein each binding element in said plurality of binding elements is directed against an activatable element in said plurality of activatable elements, 
 wherein each binding element in said plurality of binding elements comprises a first joining element and a second joining element, wherein said first joining element comprises a first oligonucleotide attached to said binding element, wherein said first oligonucleotide comprises a first complementary oligonucleotide region, 
 wherein said second joining element comprises a second oligonucleotide, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a labeling element, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a second complementary oligonucleotide region, wherein said second complementary oligonucleotide region in said second joining element is complementary to said first complementary oligonucleotide region in said first joining element, 
 wherein said second complementary region in second joining element is hybridized to said first complementary region in said first joining element, and 
 wherein each binding element comprises a different labeling element; and 
 (ii) detecting said labeling elements, wherein said labeling elements are indicative of the presence or absence of the activatable elements in the sample. 
 
     
     
         24 . A kit comprising:
 (i) a binding element directed against an activatable element,   (ii) a first joining element, wherein said first oligonucleotide comprises a first complementary oligonucleotide region;   (iii) a second joining element comprising a second oligonucleotide, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a labeling element, and wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a second complementary oligonucleotide region;   (iv) a third joining element comprising a third oligonucleotide, wherein said third oligonucleotide comprises a third complementary oligonucleotide region and a fourth complementary oligonucleotide region, wherein said third complementary oligonucleotide region is complementary to said first complementary oligonucleotide region in said first joining element and wherein said fourth complementary oligonucleotide region is complementary to said second complementary oligonucleotide region in said second joining element; and   (v) instructions to form a complex between said binding element, said first joining element, said second joining element and said third joining element.   
     
     
         25 . A kit comprising:
 (i) a binding element directed against an activatable element,   (ii) a first joining element, wherein said joining element comprises a first oligonucleotide, wherein said first oligonucleotide comprises a first complementary oligonucleotide region;   (iii) a second joining element comprising a second oligonucleotide, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a labeling element, and wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a second complementary oligonucleotide region, wherein said second complementary oligonucleotide region is complementary to said first complementary oligonucleotide region in said first joining element; and   (iv) instructions to form a complex between said binding element, said first joining element, and said second joining element.   
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 24  or  25  wherein said binding element is a peptide, a polypeptide, an oligopeptide, or an antibody. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 24  or  25  wherein said joining elements are independently selected from the group consisting of DNA, peptide nucleic acids, RNA, leucine zippers, polymers, or peptide loops. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 24  or  25  wherein more than one labeling elements are attached to said second joining element. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 24  or  25  wherein said labeling element is an element selected from the group consisting of small molecule fluorophores, proteinaceous fluorophores, radioisotopes, enzymes, antibodies, chemiluminescent molecules, biotin, streptavidin, digoxigenin, chromogenic dyes, luminescent dyes, phosphorous dyes, luciferase, magnetic particles, beta-galactosidase, amino groups, carboxy groups, maleimide groups, oxo groups and thiol groups, quantum dots, chelated or caged lanthanides, isotope tags, radiodense tags, electron-dense tags, radioactive isotopes, paramagnetic particles, agarose particles, mass tags, e-tags, nanoparticles, and vesicle tags. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 24  or  25  wherein the labeling element comprises an enzyme and precursor compound. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 24  or  25  wherein the joining element is an oligonucleotide or a nucleic acid having about 10 to about 100 bases in length. 
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 24  or  25  further comprising instructions to covalently attach said first joining element to said binding element. 
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 24  or  25  wherein said activatable element is a phosphoprotein. 
     
     
         34 . The kit of  claim 24  or  25  further comprising instructions to detect an activatable element in a sample.