Intercalating Nucleic Acids

The analysis of DNA methylation has been greatly facilitated by the use of a new class of detector molecule which has been harnessed by Human Genetic Signatures as primers and probes in PCR-based and hybridization-based detection systems for bisulphite-treated DNA. This molecular class is known as 'Intercalating Nucleic Acid' or INA® for short. INA® consists of a deoxyribonucleotide-strand with Intercalating Pseudo Nucleotides (IPNs) inserted as integrated and covalently bound members of the strand. This novel DNA analogue has improved hybridisation on bisulphite-treated DNA as well as possessing other features that provide large advantages over the conventional oligonucleotides used in everyday molecular analyses.

INA® was invented by Erik Pedersen and Ulf Christensen (7) and the rights to its commercial use have been acquired by Human Genetic Signatures.

Human Genetic Signatures is pleased to announce that we now offer an INA® primer design service for bisulphite converted DNA. A fully nested and optimised set of INA® primers can be designed, synthesised and supplied as a simple primer mix ready to amplify your specific region. The INA® primers are guaranteed to work when used with our MethylEasy™ DNA conversion technology and include a primer for sequencing your DNA fragment of interest. For more information please click here

ref 7; 2002, Christensen and Pedersen., Nucleic Acids  Research, 30, 4918-4925