Beads bound to a solid support and to nucleic acids

Abstract

Novel compositions comprised of at least one bead conjugated to a solid support and further conjugated to at least one nucleic acid and preferred methods for making the novel compositions are described. As compared to “flat” surfaces, beads linked to a solid support provide an increased surface area for immobilization of nucleic acids. Furthermore, by selecting a bead with the desired functionality, a practitioner can select a functionalization chemistry for immobilizing nucleic acids, which is different from the chemistry of the solid support.

We claim: 
     
       1. A composition, comprising a bead conjugated to a solid copper support by covalent attachment and further conjugated to a nucleic acid, wherein the solid support is selected from the group consisting of multiwell plates, arrays of pits and multiwell supports comprising nanoliter wells wherein the bead is bound to the solid support and the nucleic acid is bound to the bead using orthogonally cleavable linkers. 
     
     
       2. A composition of  claim 1 , wherein the bead is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: silica gel, glass, magnet, 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxymethylcopoly(styrene—1% divinylbenzene) resin, chloromethylated copolystyrene—divinylbenzene resin, metal, plastic, cellulose, dextran cross-linked with epichlorohydrin, and agarose. 
     
     
       3. A composition of  claim 1 , wherein the bead is swellable. 
     
     
       4. A composition of  claim 1 , wherein the bead is nonswellable. 
     
     
       5. A composition of  claim 1 , wherein the bead is in the range of 1 to 100 μm in diameter. 
     
     
       6. A composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is DNA. 
     
     
       7. A composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is RNA. 
     
     
       8. A process of making a bead conjugated to a solid support and further conjugated to a nucleic acid, comprising the steps of conjugating a bead to a nucleic acid; and conjugating a bead to a solid support, wherein the solid support is selected from the group consisting of multiwell plates, arrays of pits, and multiwell supports comprising nanoliter wells. 
     
     
       9. A process of  claim 8 , wherein the bead is functionalized. 
     
     
       10. A process of  claim 9 , wherein the bead is functionalized with carboxy functional groups. 
     
     
       11. A process of  claim 9 , wherein the bead is functionalized with amino functional groups. 
     
     
       12. A process of  claim 9 , wherein the bead is conjugated to the nucleic acid prior to conjugation of the bead to the solid support. 
     
     
       13. A process of  claim 9 , wherein the bead is conjugated to the nucleic acid after the bead is conjugated to the solid support. 
     
     
       14. A kit, comprising:
 i) beads,   ii) an insoluble support, and   iii) conjugation means for linking nucleic acids to the beads and the beads to the support.   
     
     
       15. The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the solid support is selected from the group consisting of: beads, capillaries, plates, membranes, wafers, combs, pins, wafers with arrays of pits, and supports with nanoliter wells. 
     
     
       16. The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the bead is made from material selected from the group consisting of silica gel, glass, magnet, p-benzyloxybenzyl alcohol copolystyrene-divinyl benzene (DVB) resin, chlorotritylchloride copolystyrene-DVB resin, chloromethylated copolystyrene-DVB resin, metal, plastic, cellulose, cross-linked dextran, and agarose gel. 
     
     
       17. A composition, comprising a bead conjugated to a solid support and further conjugated to a nucleic acid, wherein conjugation is effected with a crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 8 , wherein conjugation is effected with a crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       19. A composition, comprising a bead conjugated to a solid support and further conjugated to a nucleic acid molecule comprising protein nucleic acid. 
     
     
       20. A composition, comprising a bead conjugated to a solid support and further conjugated to a nucleic acid, wherein conjugation is effected through a photocleavable linkage. 
     
     
       21. The composition of  claim 20 , wherein the linkage is cleaved by exposure to a laser. 
     
     
       22. The composition of  claim 20 , wherein the linkage is cleaved by exposure to electromagnetic radiation selected from ultravioltet, visible, infrared radiation or electromagnetic radiation generated by fluorescence or chemiluminescence, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       23. A composition, comprising a bead conjugated to a solid support and further conjugated to a nucleic acid, wherein conjugation is effected through ionic linkages. 
     
     
       24. The composition of claim 1, wherein the conjugation of the bead to the nucleic acid comprises a spacer. 
     
     
       25. The composition of claim 1, wherein the conjugation of the bead to the nucleic acid comprises streptavidin-biotin DNA. 
     
     
       26. The composition of claim 1, wherein the bead can be selectively cleaved from the solid surface without cleaving the nucleic acid from the bead. 
     
     
       27. The composition of claim 1, wherein the conjugation of the bead to the solid surface comprises a disulfide linker.