Methods for reducing peak broadening associated with the establishment of a run field in a capillary electrophoresis process, and apparatus useful for carrying out such methods, are described. Such methods include defining a maximum ramp rate to be used during an initial electric field ramp, defining a minimum period over which the run field is established, and/or maintaining a temperature of a separation medium to within certain ranges during the initial electric field ramp. In addition, method...

The invention includes a filtration apparatus for processing a plurality of fluid samples into sample wells is provided. In one embodiment, the filtration apparatus includes a purification tray and a sample well tray with a plurality of sample wells. The purification tray includes a filter plate having a plurality of columns with discharge openings at the bottom thereof, at least one filter positioned in the columns of the filter plate for filtering the fluid samples as they pass therethrough, a...

Compositions and methods for the analysis of multiple nucleic acid target sequences are disclosed. The compositions comprise a probe comprising a target-specific portion for sequence-specific hybridization to a target nucleic acid sequence, and a tag; and a mobility-modifier comprising a tail and a tag complement for binding to the tag. The associated methods generally comprise the steps of providing a sample potentially containing one or more target nucleic acid sequences; providing one or more...

The invention provides methods, kits, and compositions for ligation of PNA-DNA chimeric probes and oligonucleotides when they are hybridized adjacently to template nucleic acids using ligases and ligation reagents. Structural requirements of the chimeras for ligation include 5 to 15 contiguous PNA monomer units, 2 or more contiguous nucleotides, and a 3' hydroxyl or 5' hydroxyl terminus. The chimera and/or oligonucleotide may be labelled with fluorescent dyes or other labels. The methods include...

The invention provides methods and a kit for primer extension of PNA-DNA chimera from template nucleic acids using polymerases, nucleotide 5'-triphosphates, and primer extension reagents. Structural requirements of the chimera for primer extension include 5 to 15 contiguous PNA monomer units, 3 or more contiguous nucleotides, and a 3' hydroxyl terminus. The chimera and/or a nucleotide is labelled with fluorescent dyes or other labels. The methods include DNA sequencing, DNA fragment analysis, re...

The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the protease peptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the protease peptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the protease peptides.

A system for filling a substrate having at least one chamber with a liquid sample is provided. The system in one embodiment includes a substrate defining a network of passageways including at least one chamber for the liquid sample, and an adapter. The adapter includes a fill reservoir for the liquid sample, a vacuum port for attachment to a vacuum source, and at least two channels. One channel allows a vacuum to be imparted to the network, and the other channel allows the liquid sample to be in...

An apparatus for imaging an array of a plurality of features associated with a sample tile. The apparatus includes a stage that supports the sample tile in an illumination region, and an illumination source having a plurality of LEDs adapted to emit light. At least a portion of the light illuminates the illumination region. Additionally, the apparatus includes an image collecting device adapted to selectively collect images of a signal.

Disclosed is a bipolar electrode useful for ECL assays and a method for using the same.

An instrumentation interface that provides a standardized states of a plurality of devices to a control system. Coordinating the operation of the plurality of devices in an analytical system is simplified by allowing the control system to perform in terms of simplified standard states. Device specific states that vary for different types of devices are logically linked to the standardized states via a form of a translator. By having the control system not worry about the specifics of a device, i...