The present invention provides molecular biosensors capable of signal amplification, and methods of using the molecular biosensors to detect the presence of a target molecule.

The present invention provides a novel target analysis chip and analysis method for directly detecting a target such as a microRNA without performing PCR.

Water solvated polymeric dyes having a deep ultraviolet excitation spectrum are provided. The subject polymeric dyes include a light harvesting multichromophore having conjugation-modifying repeat units incorporated into the polymer backbone to provide segments of π-conjugated co-monomers having limited π-conjugation between segments. Polymeric tandem dyes are also provided that further include a signaling chromophore covalently linked to the multichromophore in energy-receiving proximity therewith. Also provided are labelled specific binding members that include the subject water solvated polymeric dyes. Methods of evaluating a sample for the presence of a target analyte and methods of labelling a target molecule in which the subject polymeric dyes find use are also provided. Systems and kits for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

A Western Blot assay is performed by performing a probing process on a membrane containing target proteins, by contacting the membrane with a fluorescent resonant energy transfer (FRET) solution and allowing the probing process to proceed for a probing time period. The probing process results in a target protein becoming labeled with both a donor chromophore and an acceptor chromophore, which are effective as a donor-acceptor pair for FRET when so linked to the target protein. While performing the probing process, the labeled target proteins are measured by irradiating the membrane with an excitation light to excite the donor chromophores, wherein in each labeled target protein, the excited donor chromophore transfers energy to the acceptor chromophore by FRET and, in response, the labeled target protein emits an emission light. The intensity of the emission light is then measured. The light measured may be light emitted from the donor chromophore and/or light emitted from the acceptor chromophore.

A Western Blot assay is performed by performing a probing process on a membrane containing target proteins, by contacting the membrane with a fluorescent resonant energy transfer (FRET) solution and allowing the probing process to proceed for a probing time period. The probing process results in a target protein becoming labeled with both a donor chromophore and an acceptor chromophore, which are effective as a donor-acceptor pair for FRET when so linked to the target protein. While performing the probing process, the labeled target proteins are measured by irradiating the membrane with an excitation light to excite the donor chromophores, wherein in each labeled target protein, the excited donor chromophore transfers energy to the acceptor chromophore by FRET and, in response, the labeled target protein emits an emission light. The intensity of the emission light is then measured. The light measured may be light emitted from the donor chromophore and/or light emitted from the acceptor chromophore.

A nano-porous structure substrate forming assays occupying no more than one square micron. The assays are comprised of bundled cylindrical nano-pores that act as vessels that can house reagents for a single specific bioassay. A substrate of only a few square centimeters can accommodate 100,000 to 1,000,000 individual bioassays. The substrate may be doped with fluorescent enhancement centers to increase the signal to noise ratios or be surface modified with grafting compounds such as universal linkers, silane coupling agents, antigens and antibodies, or gene sequences.

A nano-porous structure substrate forming assays occupying no more than one square micron. The assays are comprised of bundled cylindrical nano-pores that act as vessels that can house reagents for a single specific bioassay. A substrate of only a few square centimeters can accommodate 100,000 to 1,000,000 individual bioassays. The substrate may be doped with fluorescent enhancement centers to increase the signal to noise ratios or be surface modified with grafting compounds such as universal linkers, silane coupling agents, antigens and antibodies, or gene sequences.

Systems and methods are provided for trapping and electrically monitoring molecules in a nanopore sensor. The nanopore sensor comprises a support structure with a first and a second fluidic chamber, at least one nanopore fluidically connected to the two chambers, and a protein shuttle. The protein shuttle comprises an electrically charged protein molecule, such as Avidin. The nanopore can be a Clytosolin A. A method can comprise applying a voltage across the nanopores to draw protein shuttles towards the nanopores. The ionic current through each or all of the nanopores can be concurrently measured. Based on the measured ionic current, blockage events can be detected. Each blockage event indicates a capture of a protein shuttle by at least one nanopore. Each blockage event can be detected through a change of the total ionic current flow or a change in the ionic current flow for a particular nanopore.

Disclosed are systems and methods for high throughput screening to detect translation readthrough induced drugs (TRID). The systems use highly purified, eukaryotic cell-free protein synthesis systems that distinguish TRIDs acting directly on the protein synthesis machinery from those that act indirectly.

Disclosed are systems and methods for high throughput screening to detect translation readthrough induced drugs (TRID). The systems use highly purified, eukaryotic cell-free protein synthesis systems that distinguish TRIDs acting directly on the protein synthesis machinery from those that act indirectly.