Compositions and methods for molecular labeling

Abstract

The invention provides barcode libraries and methods of making and using them including obtaining a plurality of nucleic acid constructs in which each construct comprises a unique N-mer and a functional N-mer and segregating the constructs into a fluid compartments such that each compartment contains one or more copies of a unique construct. The invention further provides methods for digital PCR and for use of barcode libraries in digital PCR.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method for analyte detection, the method comprising the steps of:
 exposing oligonucleotide-linked binding agents to target molecules contained in a tissue sample;   binding the binding agents to the target molecules to form a plurality of complexes, wherein each individual complex of the plurality of complexes comprises one of the target molecules linked via one of the binding agents to a nucleic acid that includes a barcode sequence; and   identifying the target molecules by detecting the barcode sequence.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the target molecules are each a protein. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein each binding agent is a protein. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein prior to the identifying step, the method further comprises releasing each barcode sequence from its complex. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein each binding agent is an antibody and each target molecule is an antigen. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the identifying step comprises amplifying the nucleic acids of the complexes. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said tissue sample comprises a plurality of different target molecules, and each target molecule is associated with a unique nucleic acid sequence of a binding agent. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue sample comprises cells from a tissue biopsy.