Helicase-dependent amplification of nucleic acids

Abstract

Methods and a kit are provided for selectively and exponentially amplifying nucleic acids and include the use of a helicase preparation and a DNA polymerase such that the amplification can be performed isothermally.

1 . A nucleic acid amplification kit, comprising: a helicase preparation containing a helicase and a single-stranded binding protein unless the helicase comprises a thermostable helicase wherein the single-stranded binding protein is optional; and instructions for performing helicase-dependent amplification.  
     
     
         2 . A nucleic acid amplification kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the helicase preparation contains a superfamily type I helicase.  
     
     
         3 . A nucleic acid amplification kit according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a polymerase, an NTP and dNTPs.  
     
     
         4 . A nucleic acid amplification kit according to  claim 3 , further comprising: one or more pairs of primers for detecting a specific target nucleic acid sequence.  
     
     
         5 . A nucleic acid amplification kit according to  claim 3 , wherein the helicase is Tte-UVrD helicase.  
     
     
         6 . A nucleic acid amplification kit according to  claim 4 , wherein the helicase is Tte-UVrD helicase.  
     
     
         7 . A nucleic acid amplification kit according to  claim 3 , wherein the polymerase is a thermostable polymerase.  
     
     
         8 . A nucleic acid amplification kit according to  claim 7 , wherein the thermostable polymerase is Bst polymerase Large fragment.