Method and apparatus for conducting an array of chemical reactions on a support surface

Abstract

The invention provides apparatus and methods for making arrays of functionalized binding sites on a support surface. The invention further provides apparatus and methods of sequencing oligonucleotides and for identifying the amino acid sequence of peptides that bind to biologically active macromolecules, by specifically binding biologically active macromolecules to arrays of peptides or peptide mimetics.

1 . A solid support comprising a support surface with an array of functionalized sites wherein a solution at a functionalized site is separated from solutions at other functionalized sites by surface tension, and wherein the support surface of the functionalized site has a higher surface tension relative to the support surface surrounding the functionalized site.  
     
     
         2 . The solid support of  claim 2  wherein said support surface has 10-10 4  functionalized sites per cm 2 .  
     
     
         3 . The solid support of  claim 2  wherein said functionalized site is about 50-2000 microns in diameter.  
     
     
         4 . The solid support of  claim 2  wherein said support surface is glass.  
     
     
         5 . The solid support of  claim 2  wherein said support surface is selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polytetraflourethylene.  
     
     
         6 . The solid support of  claim 2  wherein said functionalized site provides attachment to a nucleic acid.  
     
     
         7 . The solid support of  claim 2  wherein said functionalized site provides attachment to a peptide.  
     
     
         8 . The solid support of  claim 2 ,  6 ,  7  wherein said functionalized site provides a covalent attachment.  
     
     
         9 . The solid support of  claim 2 ,  6 ,  7  wherein said functionalized site provides a non-covalent attachment.