Cellomics system

Abstract

In labeling a cell, and separating and collecting the cell according to a degree of the labeling using a cell separator, effects on the cell is minimized and the use of the collected cell is facilitated, thereby, when labeling a cell, the cell is labeled in the state where interaction of each cell is retained. In the labeling, a specific labeling material present on a surface of a target cell is taken in the cell via a transporter, and the cell is dispersed one by one to separate the same with a cell separator. Immediately after the separation, the cell is put in a solution not containing the specific labeling substance to remove the specific labeling substance taken in the cell. This series of steps is continuously conducted with a cell separation chip.

1 . A DNA probe chip comprising: a substrate; an electrode with a plurality of discrete probe fixing areas formed on the substrate formed thereon; and prespecified DNA probes each fixed with covalent bonding on respective faces of a plurality of pillars in array formed on the electrode face. 
     
     
         2 . A DNA hybridization chip having: a structure having probe fixing areas each with a plurality of different DNA probes fixed on the substrate; a structure in which pillars in array are present on each of the probe fixing areas, and space between the pillars forms a valley;
 a structure of an electrode forming each of the probe fixing areas; and a structure with one end of the DNA probe fixed on a surface of the pillar with covalent bonding.   
     
     
         3 . The DNA probe chip according to  claim 1 , wherein the DNA probe constitutes at least 3 areas in the order viewed from the pillar surface side with the DNA probe fixed thereon, a first area being a base sequence substantially complementary to a target polynucleotide; a second area being a base sequence including a base not forming the hydrogen bond complementary to any base among ACGT in the target polynucleotide; and a third area being a base sequence substantially complementary to the target polynucleotide with a base length thereof and having equal to or shorter than that of the first area. 
     
     
         4 . The DNA probe chip according to  claim 3 , wherein the second area includes at least one third or more base sequence noncomplementary to a target polynucleotide. 
     
     
         5 . The DNA probe chip according to  claim 4 , wherein the second area includes a base sequence capable of forming the hydrogen bonding with a target polynucleotide, though unstable in terms of energy as compared to AG or CT base pair. 
     
     
         6 . The DNA probe chip according to any of  claim 3 , wherein stability of hybridization with a target polynucleotide in the first area, second area and third area declines in the order of the first area, third area and second area. 
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling DNA hybridization comprising the steps of:
 adding a sample solution containing a target polynucleotide to between: a DNA probe chip comprising: a substrate; an electrode with a plurality of discrete probe fixing areas formed on the substrate formed thereon; and   prespecified DNA probes each fixed with covalent bonding on respective faces of a plurality of pillars in array formed on the electrode face: and member provided opposing to a surface of the DNA probe chip;   applying prespecified voltage to between the electrode and the sample solution site to condense the polynucleotide into a valley of the pillar on a surface of on the DNA probe chip; and   inverting electric field applied to between the electrode and the sample solution site to start hybridization of the target polynucleotide with a probe on the surface of the pillar.