DNA capillary

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting nucleic acid molecules such as target DNA molecules and mRNA molecules by using a DNA probe, and provides a DNA capillary, comprising a fluid passageway formed of a cylindrical capillary made of glass, a plurality of independent probe regions formed in the inner wall of the fluid passageway, and DNA probes each immobilized in the probe region, the immobilized DNA probes differing from each other. For performing the measurement, a sample is introduced through an open portion into the capillary so as to perform reaction and, then, fluorimetry.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A DNA capillary comprising: 
 at least one fluid passageway having at least a part thereof defined by a wall which transmits light and having a uniform width and height large enough to allow at least a required amount of a processing liquid to flow therethrough;    a plurality of independent probe regions formed in an inner wall of said fluid passageway; and    a plurality of DNA probes each immobilized in said independent probe regions,    wherein said fluid passageway comprises a hollow capillary, and said DNA probes immobilized in said probe regions are arranged independently along the fluid passageway.    
     
     
         2 . A DNA capillary comprising: 
 at least one tubular fluid passageway defined by a wall capable of transmitting light in at least a part thereof, said fluid passageway extending straight on the substrate in the longitudinal direction, the cross sectional area of said fluid passageway along a plane perpendicular to the fluid flowing direction being constant over the entire length of a processing region of said fluid passageway, and the processing region of said fluid passageway producing a capillary function; and    a plurality of kinds of DNA probes formed in the inner wall of said fluid passageway, said DNA probes being immobilized circular in a manner to make one complete rotation along the inner wall of said fluid passageway in a predetermined amount for each kind and independently from each other depending on the kind.    
     
     
         3 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein said capillary has a plurality of fluid passageways and said fluid passageways are integrally arranged.  
     
     
         4 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein said capillary has a plurality of fluid passageways and said fluid passageways are integrally arranged.  
     
     
         5 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein said DNA probes are immobilized by a photochemical reaction, and wherein a capping agent which is subjected to photodecomposition under irradiation with light having a predetermined wavelength is coupled with all amino groups present on the surface of the inner wall of said fluid passageway.  
     
     
         6 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein said DNA probes are immobilized by a photochemical reaction, and wherein a capping agent which is subjected to photodecomposition under irradiation with light having a predetermined wavelength is coupled with all amino groups present on the surface of the inner wall of said fluid passageway.  
     
     
         7 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein said DNA capillary has a plurality of fluid passageways, said fluid passageways are integrally arranged, and said DNA probe is immobilized by a photochemical reaction.  
     
     
         8 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein said DNA capillary has a plurality of fluid passageways, said fluid passageways are integrally arranged, and said DNA probe is immobilized by a photochemical reaction.  
     
     
         9 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein said DNA capillary has a plurality of fluid passageways, said fluid passageways are integrally arranged, and all of said fluid passageways communicate with a combined fluid passageway in at least distal end portions on one side.  
     
     
         10 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein said DNA capillary has a plurality of fluid passageways, said fluid passageways are integrally arranged, and all of said fluid passageways communicate with a combined fluid passageway in at least distal end portions on one side.  
     
     
         11 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein said DNA probes comprise at least 20 base sequence before the DNA probes are immobilized, and the DNA probes are immobilized in said probe regions by a single photochemical reaction.  
     
     
         12 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein said DNA probes comprise at least 20 base sequence before the DNA probes are immobilized, and the DNA probes are immobilized in said probe regions by a single photochemical reaction.  
     
     
         13 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein said DNA probe comprises at least 20 bases.  
     
     
         14 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein said DNA probe comprises at least 20 bases.  
     
     
         15 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein adjacent open portions are arranged deviant from each other in the fluid flowing direction, and the processing regions of all the fluid passageways are equal to each other in the length in the fluid flowing direction and the both ends of the processing regions are aligned.  
     
     
         16 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein adjacent open portions are arranged deviant from each other in the fluid flowing direction, and the processing regions of all the fluid passageways are equal to each other in the length in the fluid flowing direction and the both ends of the processing regions are aligned.  
     
     
         17 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross sectional shape of the fluid passageway includes a curved portion.  
     
     
         18 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein the cross sectional shape of the fluid passageway includes a curved portion.  
     
     
         19 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passageway has a rectangular cross sectional shape having roundish corner portions.  
     
     
         20 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein the fluid passageway has a rectangular cross sectional shape having roundish corner portions.  
     
     
         21 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein the probe regions are arranged separately from each other along the fluid passageway.  
     
     
         22 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein the probe regions are arranged separately from each other along the fluid passageway.  
     
     
         23 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 1 , wherein said probe regions are arranged about 1 μm to 5 mm apart from each other.  
     
     
         24 . The DNA capillary according to  claim 2 , wherein said probe regions are arranged about 1 μm to 5 mm apart from each other.