Figure 1.

DNA sequences and schematics of the probe DNA molecules. Hairpin sequences (a) and (b) were designed to form intramolecular stem–loop structures with 3′ dangling ends with sequences complementary to the 3′ end of the target strand. Hairpins also contained a biotinylated uracil at the third base position in the loop for coupling to an avidin-coated microtiter plate. Hairpins have the same 16 bp duplex stems and either 32 (a) or 16 (b) base dangling ends. Linear probes were 32 (c) and 16 (d) bases in length. Biotin derived bases contained a 12-atom spacer at the 5′ end for coupling to plates. Target strand (e) corresponded to a 65 base region of the porcine malignant hyperthermia gene from positions 958 to 1022.