CA2207488A1 - Automated electrophoresis and fluorescence detection apparatus and method - Google Patents
Automated electrophoresis and fluorescence detection apparatus and methodInfo
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- CA2207488A1 CA2207488A1 CA002207488A CA2207488A CA2207488A1 CA 2207488 A1 CA2207488 A1 CA 2207488A1 CA 002207488 A CA002207488 A CA 002207488A CA 2207488 A CA2207488 A CA 2207488A CA 2207488 A1 CA2207488 A1 CA 2207488A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
- G01N27/26—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis
- G01N27/416—Systems
- G01N27/447—Systems using electrophoresis
- G01N27/44704—Details; Accessories
- G01N27/44717—Arrangements for investigating the separated zones, e.g. localising zones
- G01N27/44721—Arrangements for investigating the separated zones, e.g. localising zones by optical means
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- Investigating, Analyzing Materials By Fluorescence Or Luminescence (AREA)
Abstract
Improved detection methods and apparatus which may be used individually or in various combinations enhance the ability of the electrophoresis apparatus to detect fluorophore-labeled materials in short periods of time. One such apparatus comprises a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder; an excitation source of electromagnetic radiation having a frequency effective to induce emission of electromagnetic radiation from the fluorophore; a plurality of optical fibers for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to a linear array of excitation/detection sites on the gel holder, optical switching means for sequentially directing electromagnetic radiation into one of several pre-defined groups of the optical fibers; detection means such as a photomultiplier tube, or an array of photomultiplier tubes for detecting emission from the fluorophore induced by a radiation from the excitation source; and means for correlating a detected emission with the switching of the excitation electromagnetic radiation such that a given emission may be linked with the excitation/detection site being irradiated. For example, the optical switching means may alternate between directing radiation from the source into every other optical fiber, or may provide radiation in rotation to every third or fourth fiber. Alternatively, a spot array generation grating can be used for dividing an incident beam of coherent radiation into an array of excitation beamlets and directing each excitation beamlet to an excitation/detection site on the electrophoresis gel. Light emitting diode disposed to deliver excitation energy to an array of excitation/detection sites may also be used. This latter form of the apparatus is particularly advantageous due to the low costs of light emitting diodes (LEDs) compared to coherent light sources (e.g. lasers).
Description
AUTOMATED ELECTROPHORESIS AND FLUORlESCENCE
DETECT~ON APPARATUS AND METHOD
DESCRIPTION
I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to a method and apparatus for rapid gel electrophoresis and fluorescence detection of a complex m.,~Lule of fluorophore labeled proteins or nucleic acids.
Polyacrylarnide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) separation of organic molecules is now S routinely performed. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Chap. 10, John Wiley & Sons (1994). A polyacrylamide gel provides a suitably insoluble sieve so as to permit the separation of organic molecules in solution by size and confo~ alion as they are drawn through the sieve under electromotive force. guch separation of organic molecules provides valuable in~ight~
into their structures and functions. For example, PAGE separation can separate two 10 polypeptides of the same size but of dirre-tl-t isoforms or polypeptides only 100 daltons dirrerellL in size (Current Protocols, 1994). Anot_er use for PAGE is in separation of nucleic acids based on size of fr~gment~, such as in the extremely important application of DNA
sequence ~let~rmin~tion. ~ni~ti~, Molecular Cloning, A LaboratoryManual, 2nd ed., 1987.
Early methods for detection of separated products on an electrophoresis gel were15 carried out after the separation was completed. To the extent these techniques were ~-tom~ted in an apparatus, the apparatus generally inclu~iing a mech~ni~m for moving the gel in stages relative to a detector. For example, US Patent No. 4,343,991 discloses a sample detection apparatus in which stained bands within a gel are detected by transporting the gel b~lweell an array of optical fibers supplying incident light and an array of optical fibers 20 collecting tr~n~mhted light. Information was collected in steps along the whole length of the gel. Devices of this type have the advantage that long sample collection times can be used when necess~ry to ensure detection of low intensity bands in the gel. However, they also have several drawbacks. In particular, because the gel is analyzed only after separation is completed, the degree of separation is necess~rily a co~ lo.,lise between the desire to observe ~ CA 02207488 1997-06-11 t'ast mi(~ratin~ bands (~llich run off the end of tlle gel if the electrophoresis proceeds toolc)n(~) and the desire to separate slow movin~ band (which are still ~Jrouped to~ether if the electroplloresis run is too short) In addition, the use of disthlct separation and detection processes sigllifical1tly lengthel1ed the thne required to complete an analysis. Thus~ the art has gellerally soug~ht the ability to detect bands on an electrophoresis ~gel during the ~eparatiol1 Wl1en the electrophoresed molecules are labeled with a detectable si~nal~ itis possible to detect the separations of molecules in real time. Since the first description of a real-thne nucleic acid separation method and apparatus by Smith et al., Sequence Detection in Automated DNA Sequence Analysis", Nclt~ 321: 674-679 ( 1986), the technology for 10 so-called automated DNA sequencing has expanded rapidly. Several automated DNA
sequencin,~ apparatuses are commercially available. Methods and apparatus for sequencin~ of DNA are described in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,8 11 ,2 1 8, ~,88 1,8 1 "; 5,06'',94~; 5,09 1 ,65;
~, I 0~ 1 79; ~ ,345: 5,16~,654; 5,1 7 1 ,534; ~,190,63''; 5,'07,880; 5,~ 13,673; 5,'~30,781, ~,~4 ~,~67, 5,~90,419; 5,~94,3 3; ~,307,148; 5,3 14,60'', 5,3~4,401; and 5,360,5~3 which are 1~ hlcorporated herein by reference.
Unfortunately, the e.Yisting apparatuses are inadequate for use of PAGE for emergino clinical dia2nostic purposes such as dia~nostic DNA sequence and fragment analysis. For clinical diagnostic DNA analysis~ it is desirable to examine hundreds of complex DNA samples per day Existing technology does not provide for such capacity. For e:cample, operation of a ~0 typical automated DNA sequencer to ev~luate ~t most about 10 samples requires that a skilled techllician spend up to four hours constructing a ,~el holder, filling the gel holder with actively polyn-erizin~ acrylamide solution, inserting a well-formin~ comb before substantial polvll1eri2ation has occurred, and waitin(~ for the oel to polymerize (see Maniatis, 1987).
IJS;I1~ tlle gel is equally time consumill~. Existing technolo(Jies use low density electric fields '~ (less than 100 volts/cm) requiring sample running times of up to four hours. It would be advantageous to have an improved apparatus with improved sample throughput for real-time DNA analysis particularly for use in clinical diagnostic applications.
International Patent Publication No. WO 94/03631 discloses an assay method for detection of analytes through the formation and detection of specific-binding complexes. The . 0 complexes are detected after electrophoretic separation using an hlstrument in which a mirror is used to successively illuminate individual detection locations on the gel. Emitted or A~E~!~E~ S5~t~
IP~ ~P
WO 96/h8892 PCTlUS9S/lS9Sl It is a further object ofthe invention to provide improved optical excitation and detection techniques for real time detection of fluorescently labeled DNA or protein samIlles in an electrophoresis gel.
S II. SUMMARY OF THE INVErNTION
The present invention achieves these and other objects by providing improved ~letech-)n methods and a~al~lus which may be used individually or in various combinations to çnh~nce the ability of the electrophoresis apparatus to detect fluorophore- labeled m~ten~l~ in short periods of time. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for 10 electrophoretic separation and real-time detection of a sample labeled with a fluorophore c mpri.cing (a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder;
(b) an excitation source of elec~lu.llagnetic radiation;
(c) means for sequentially delivering ele~ wllagnetic radiation from the excitation 15 source to each of a plurality of pre-defined excitation/detection sites within a linear array of excitation/detection sites on a gel holder disposed within the housing;
(d) means for applying an electric field for to a gel holder disposed within thehousing for separation of a sample applied to a gel within the holder; and (e) means for detecting emissions from the sample at the excitation/detection site, 20 wherein the housing holds the gel holder in a fixed position relative to the means for sequentially delivering electromagnetic radiation and the means for detecting emissions when the gel holder is disposed within the housing.
The electrom~gnetic radiation can be delivered to the excitation/detection sites using a plurality optical fibers or a spot array generation grating. In addition, the apparatus may 25 advantageously include optical ~wiLchi~g means for sequentially directing electrc)m~gnetic radiation into one of several pre-defined groups, each group including two or more of the excitation/detection sites, and means for correlating a detected emission with the ~wi~chillg of the excitation electrom~gnetic radiation such th.~t a given emission may be linked with the excitation/ detection site being irr~ ted For example, when optical fibers are used to deliver 30 the excitation electr m~gnetic radiation, the optical ~wi~cl~i~g means may alternate between W O96118892 PCTrUS9S/lS9Sl directing radiation from the source into every other optical fiber, or may provide radiation in rotation to every third or fourth fiber.
A ~Itern~tive embodiment of the invention is an apparatus CO~ )liSillg (a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder;
(b) at least one light emitting diode disposed to deliver excitation energy of afrequency suitable for excitation of the fluorophore to an array of excitation/detection sites on the gel holder, and (c) a detector, for example a photodiode, for ~etecting emissions from the array of excitation/detection sites. This latter form of the a~pa~ s is particularly advantageous due to the low costs of light emitting diodes (LEDs) compared to coherent light sources (e.g. Iasers).
m. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows a sectional side view of an apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a mounting plate for use in the present invention;
Figs. 3A and 3B shows excitation and detection systems useful in the present invention, Fig. 4 shows a spot array generating grating system useful in the present invention;
Fig. 5 shows an excitation and detection system employed in one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 shows a detection system useful in the present invention;
Figs. 7A and 7B show an ~It~ tive detection system useful in the present invention;
Fig. 8 shows a squashed excitation beamlet obtained using a cylindrical lens;
~ Figs. 9A, 9B and 9C show a further embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 10 shows an apertured barrier useful in the apparatus ofthe invention;
Fig. 11 shows a pler~ d A/D converter circuit; and Figs. 12A-12E shows the output of a photomultiplier tube when sequencing ~I13 using an apparatus of the invention.
W O96118892 P ~ AUS9S/I59SI
IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This application ~i.ccloscs a method and app~us for rapid gel electrophoresis and real-time fluorescçnce detection of a complex ~ lur~ of fluorophore-labeled organic ~ molCC~
S Figure 1 shows a sectional side view of an appa-~lus in accordance with the present invention. The a~p~lus has a housing 10 within which the means for electrophoretic sep~r~tion and detection of the sample are disposed. The housing 10 advantageously provides a sealed, light tight enviro~le. .l in which the processing of the sample is conll~.cte~
Within the housing 10, a loaded electrophoresis gel 102 within a gel holder 101 is 10 positioned on a mounting plate 109 which holds the gel in a fixed position relative to the rPm~inder of the apparatus, including the excitation/detection portions of the apl)aralus. The loaded gel is advantageously held in place using suction through the mounting plate 109 generated using suction pump 110 and tubing 11 3, although other methods of holding the loaded gel in place may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Opposing ends of the loaded gel 102 are placed in contact with two electrodes, such as solution electrodes 104 and 105. These electrodes are connected to a power supply 114 which generates an electric field within the gel. This field causes the sample to migrate in the gel from loading site 103 towards detection site 106.
An excitation source 107 which supplies electromagnetic radiation having a frequency 20 effective to excite the fluorophore used as a label is disposed within the housing 10 such that radiation from the excitation source 107 strikes the gel holder 101 at the detection site 106 causing any fluorophore labeled molecules at the detection site to emit light. This light is collected using optical system 115 and detected using detector 108. The analog output signal from detector 108 may then be converted to a digital signal using an A-to-D converter 1 l 6, 25 and output for further proc~esing andlor display.
The apparatus of the invention may be used with any type of electrophoresis gel and gel holder. Preferably, however, the apparatus is used with an ultrathin electrophoresis gel having a thickne~s of 25-250 rnicrons of the type disclosed and cl~im~cl in commonly assigned US Patent Application No. 08/332,577 which is incorporated herein by reference. Using such 30 gels, in which the çxcit~tlon/detection site is within about 12 cm of the loading site, it is possible to sequence up to 300 nucleotides (nt) in under 20 minutes. This is accomplished , j, "f~,,~,r~ j 1 / i~ iY~
~ CA 02207488 1997-06-11 throuol~ tlle use of field densities of 10()-~0() volt/cm whicl1 are madc possible by the ht1pro~ ed heat dissipatiQn which can be obtained usin~ ultratl~ rels. In addition. the volta(re n1av be varied throu(~hout any 4iven sample run in order to allo~/ maximum separation of sample.
To enhance the heat dissipation wl1ich is achieved as a result of the use of tl-in (~els. the prese11t invel1tiol1 preferably mai;es use of a vacuum mountin~ technique. In this techniclue. as sh< Wl1 in Fi(rure 1, the (~el holder l O I is mounted 011 a thermally conductive ceramic plate.
109, preferablv made of alumina. Figure ~ shows tlle structure of the mountil1(r plate in more detail. As shown, the plate has an openin~ I 6 cut to ali~n with the detection site 106. This openh1~J is preferably beveled so that it is wider Otl the side away from the (Jel mountil1(~
10 surface 1 1''. The ~el mountin(J surface I I ' has canal I I I formed h1 it which is conl1ected to vacuum pump 110 via ports 1''7 which are connected to tubin~ 113. The canal 1 l l is suitably about 0.~4 cm [. I inches] wide (e.~. 0.'~34 cm L 09 inches]) and 1~7 cm [.05 h1cl1es] (e.~, O. 1 19 cm [ 047 inches]) deep, and is sealed over by the back substrate of the ~el holder, l O I, when properly mounted. The ti;,ht ju~taposition of the baci~ substrate with the ceramic plate 1~ ~,ives improved heat transference when compared to ed(Je clampin(J devices. Vacuum sealh1(J
also allows for e~quisite precision in focussin~, excitation sources~ as described below.
A heat sini; (not shown) consistin~ of an alumh1un1 or other heat conductil1~l metal sheet with extended fins may be contacted with the baci; face of the ceramic plate in order to ht1prove heat conductal1ce away from the ~el.
~o The planar electrophoresis ~el 10~ ~enerally contains a pluralitv of lanes for loadin(J
and detectin(J sample across the widtl- of the ,~el. In many prior art devices, for example the device disclosed in US Patent No. 4,81 1,'~18, detection of various lanes is accompiished USil1(J
a sin~,le detector which moves across the width of the ~,el and collects data from each lane in series. Because of the rapid pro~ress of sample throu~h the ~,el whicl- is achieved usin~, the present invention, (under 300 v/cm electric field, there is only about six seconds betwee oli,,onucleotides differin(r by one nucleotide), however, svstems ~~hicl1 require physical n1ovement of a detector are inadequate to collect the data for each of the lanes Improvel11ents h1 the delivery of excitation ener(Jy and the detection of emitted energJy therefore had to be made as part of the development of an effective apparatus and method for hi~Jh throu~hput 3 0 electrophoretic separations.
I)elivery of E.Ycit71tion Ener~y j~,._,,~,_p W O96118892 PCTrUS9S/lS9SI
In one embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 3A, excitation energy is conveyed to the excitation site by a fixed mulffplexed fiber optic array, 20 l . Radiation, 202, from a source such as a laser, or light emit~in~ diode, 203, is coupled, using a fiber launch or the like, 204, into an optical fiber 205. Suitable optical fibers for this purpose are fibers of 125 S microns thi~kness with a core of 50 microns (if mlllhmo~e) or preferably a core of 3.7 microns (single mode). The optical fiber carries the beam to a mini~ re board mollntable switch, 206, that permits the ~wiLchi~g of an opffcal signal ~om one output fiber 210 to another. For example, optical ~wilc~ g can be accomplished using a switch available from AMP, Inc., ~ isburg, PA, in which a slight pivoting motion of a spherical mirror reflects the optical 10 signal into one oftwo output fibers. The switch takes ap~lvxi..~ ly 5-l0 milli~econds to settle after each change. Several switches can be used in combination permitting the excitation beam to be divided into any m3mber of output optical fibers 210.
As shown in Figure 3A, four output fibers 210 are used to permit the sequential excitaffon of four groups of excitation/ detection sites. The use of four output fibers is merely 15 exemplary, however. In general, the allpalaLus of the invention will divide the incid~nt light into from 2 to l0 groups.
Light in each output fiber 2 l 0 is con~lucted by the output optical fiber 2 l 0 to a beam splitter 207A, 207B, 207C or 207D which separates the beam into a plurality of final optical fibers 208, each conducting its respective fraction of the input excitation beam as an excitation 20 beamlet. Each of the split optical fibers conveys the beamlet to a SELFOC~ rod gradient index (GR~N) lens 209 (NSG America, lnc.; Somerset NJ) which is fixed in location and disposed to irradiate its respective excitation site, 106, one lens for each excitation site.
Exp~rim~nt~l evidence shows that use of the vacuum seal to mount the gel holder also provides the advantage that the focal length of the GRIN lens can be exquisitely positioned 25 with respect to the ultra-thin gel. The vacuum seal holds the gel extremely flat against the ceramic plate without the slight bowing or bending of gel holders found in edge clamped apparatuses.
The final optical fi~ers 208 and the lenses 209 are disposed to form a linear array of detection sites. Within this array, the final optical fibers 208 are ordered so that, when using 30 four groups of excitation signals, every fourth detection belongs to the same group. The effect is that only a sub-set of excitation sites are irra~ ted at any one time (A, B, C, or D).
~ CA 02207488 1997-06-11 Of course, if one ~-~ere using two groups of excitation si~nals (only a single split of the incident bean1 ~0'), the final optical fibers 708 would be arranged in an alternatingJ patten1 (see Fig.
3B). This provides the advantaae that a sin~le detector, 21 1, may be employed to detect emissio11s from a plurality of excitation/ detection sites if the detector output is synchronized 5 with the switch so as to allow the si~o,nal processor to identify which signal came from which excitation/detection site.
The optical switch, ~06, is programmed to switch the input laser beam into each of the output fibers 210 (and thus into the final optical fibers '08), for a period of preferably 20-100 milliseconds. Synchronization of the switch and detectors may be obtained with a10 microprocessor, ~12.
The fixed multiplexed fiber optic array permits a high number of data points per second to be taken from each lane of the gel by conveying pulsed irradiation to each excitation site.
Further, it permits use of a reduced number of detectors.
The fixed multiplexed fiber optic array can also be modified to brino dif~erent irradi-15 ation sources to the same excitation site in a series of alternating pulses as shown in Fig. 3B.Such an arrangement is constructed by employing different excitation sources '03 and ~03', each coupled to an optical fiber 205 and ''05'. An optical switch "20, operatina in the oppo-site direction to switch 06 is employed to alternately select which source is to be conducted to the optical switch 206 via optical fiber '21. This arrangement permits multicolor fiuores-~0 cence imaging for use when more than one fluorophore is used in any given lane of the gel.
In a second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Fiaure 4, radiation 301 from anexcitation source 107 is directed to the excitation site 106 by use of a multiple beam split ter 30~, such as a Spot Array Generation Grating which splits the incident beam into a number of beamiets, generally from 2 to 24 beamlets. Preferred diffraction gratin;,s are of the type ~5 i;nown as "transmissive" or "phase" gratings, because such gratings can be designed to produce an even intensity distribution of light among the resulting beamlets. In the illustrated embodiment, an incident laser beam of a frequency suitable for excitation of the fluorophore is directed into a binary phase grating, approximately I cm square, mounted on glass, thermo-plastic or the like of approximately .318 cm [1/8th inch] thickness (Semiconductor Technol-30 ogy Inc, Pointe Claire, Quebec). The transmitted beam is divided into a linear array of thedesired A~E~ . T --~
~ ~ _ f_ ~
W Og6/18892 PCTnUS9~1S9S
r of ~,~xci~tion beamlets, 303, one for each intended excitation site, 106. The beam~ets are directed to a foc~ in~ lens, 304 (e.g., Stock # G69, 129, Catalog 1994, F~lmlln~i ~çjPntific) The focl~sing lens has in the embodiment shown preferably has a focal distance, f, of 50S rn~L The spot at each excitation site can be varied in size by rh~n~n~ the distance, d, 5 between the lens and the excitation site. The spots are suitably beLween 0. lmm and 0.2 mm m~ter In a ~,~;r~il.ed embodiment the spot array generation grating divides the incident laser beam into a linear array of 16 spots, and the lens is disposed between 200 to 500 mm from the gel.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, any excitation source can be used in 10 embo~ utili7ing a fiber optic array or a spot array generating grating, provided that the source is matched with the fluorophore to be used so that the radiation from the source excites the fluorophore to stimlll~te emission of cletect~ble r~ ti-)n For example, the following non-limiting examples of c~ r~;ially available excitation sources can be e-m--ployed in the present invention: Optical lasers, e.g., Argon ion lasers, Argon hypton mixed gas lasers, 15 ~eli~lm-neon lasers and doubled YAG lasers; Laser Diodes, Fiber (Solid State) Lasers; and Blue, Green, Red or infra red-Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
In a third embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 5, an independent excitation source is used for each excitation site. An effective and extremely low cost excitation source for this purpose is a light emitting diode for example those available from 20 Stanley Corp. and identified as Type No. AN, BN, CN or DN. Unlike lasers, LEDs emit light in a broad band spectrurIL Bandpass filters 403 disposed between the excitation/ detection site 106 and the detector 402 should therefore be carefully selected to elimin~te as much overlapping excitation irradiation from the detector as possible. One LED, 401, is disposed to irradiate each excitation site, 106, with or without a focussing lens 404 to focus the emitted 2~ ~adiation. An LED can emit 1.5-1 SmW, sufficient to excite a population of fluorophores. In this embodiment, using an infra-red L~D with Cy8 or Cy9 as a fluorophore, where the emitted light is in the infra-red region, the detectQr is preferably a photodiode detector 402.
While it is possible to have each LED 401 in the array constantly illllmin~ted such that data collection from each lane can be continllous, it may be advantageous to use a pulsed 30 excitation source in this embodiment as well. For example, where the lanes are close together, Wo 96/18892 Pcrlusssllsssl pulsing ~It~rn~te lanes, or every fourth lane, may improve the accuracy of the detector by çlimin~hn~ carry over form one lane to the next.
Fluorophores useful in the present invention are those which can be coupled to organic molecules, particularly proteins and nucleic acids and which emit a detect~kle amount of S electrom~gnetic radiation in response to excitation by an available excitation source. As used herein, the term fluorophore encomra~ses materials having both fluorescent and phosphor-escent emissions. It is desirable that the fluorophore exhibit a sufflcient Stokes shift to permit filterin~ of emitted radiation from the excitation irr~ ti- n. A further limitin~ factor on the choice of fluorophore is whether the fluorophore contains functional groups that prevent it from surviving intact during the cleavage and deprotection reactions of commercially available oligonucleotide synthesis.
Suitable fluorophores for this invention .nclude fluorescein and its analogs, rhodamine and its analogs, cyanine and related polymethines and their analogs, and the like. Specific fluorophores which are suitable for use with the present invention are Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FlTC); 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-F); Texas Red~) (Molecular Probes, Inc.; Eugene, OR); teLI~llelllyl rhodarnine isothiocyanate (TRITC); and Cyanine dyes, especially, Cy5, Cy 5.5 Cy7, Cy7.5, Cy8 and Cy9 (Biological Detection Systems, Piu~bul~, PA). Fluorescein fluorophores are preferably excited using an argon ion laser, while rhodamine fluorophores are preferably excited using a helium neon laser. The cyanine dyes, which are described in US Patents Nos. 4,981,977 and 5,268,486, which are incorporated herein by reference, are useful in combination with a red or infrared LED excitation source because the cyanine fluorophores Cy5 to Cy9 absorb and emit in the red and infra-red regions or laser diodes. Infra-red emissions are detected preferably with photodiodes, and particularly silicon photodiodes, 402, rather than PMTs.
An alt~m~tive to using LEDs in the above embodiment is use of laser diodes. Red and infra-red laser diodes can be used to excite fluorophores such as Cy5, Cy5.5, and Cy7.
I:~ete~tion Qf FluorQPhore E~itted R~ ti~ n Emissions from the fluorophores are detected by a detector disposed to receive radiation from the detection site.
Figure 6 illustrates a first embodiment, particularly suited for use with a fixed multiplexed fiber optic array. A linear array of detectors 501, is disposed to receive emissions WO 96118892 PCTAUS9S/lS951 502, from a linear array of detection sites 106. A llet~ctor may be any two dimPn~ional detector, such as a CCD, a photodiode or, in the ~l~r~ d embo~lim~.nt, a photom-lltiI-lier tube (P~). Disposed between the detection site a~d the PMT are a collecting lens 503, a bandpa~s filter 504, a foc~ ing lens 505, and a spatial filter 506. The b~ntlp~ filter is an 5 illlel~,c;ce filter (Omega Optical, Inc. Brattleboro, VT) or the like of 20 to 40 nm tran~mission wavelength width chosen to transmit the fluoresc~n~e emission and to block reflected light of the excitation source. The spatial filter is chosen to o~Lillf;~e recognition of the band of fluorophore-labeled sample as it passes through the detection site. F.limin~tion of fringes and tails of bands using a spatial filter tends to increase the signal to noise ratio of the ~etecte~ signal. P~r~lled spatial filters are rectan~ular in shape with a height of 100 microns and width of 250 microns.
The detector collects a signal, which is integrated over a finite time-span and converted to a digital output. A suitable integr~tion time for the invention is 5-100 milli~econds. When a PMT is used to record a plurality of excitation/ detection sites, the width of the PMT is selected in a manner con~i~tPnt with the number of sites. In general. PMT's with width of from 3-15 mm, and preferably about 5 mm are suitable. In this case, the integration of signal must be synchronized with the mllltiple~ing switch of the excitation irradiation source. Such syncllr~ aLion can be controlled by a microprocessor 212. As stated above, a suitable period of multiplex switching is 20-100 milli~econds, although any period that results in a sufflcient number of data points for analysis can be used. Fluorescence emissions can therefore be correlated with the respective detection site on the gel. Fluorophore must be chosen such that the delay in fluor~scençe emission from an old detection site does not cause significant overlap with the new fluor~cPnce emissions from a new detection site.
In another embodiment, if multiplexed excitation beams are not used, then a single detector is required for each detection site. Any type of ~letector may be employed, such as CCDs, PMTs or silicon photodiodes (Series S2386 or S2387; ~m~m~t~ll Photonics KK, City, Japan). The silicon photodiode 601 is disposed at the focal distance of the lens of the diode 603 from the a~arel.~ detection site 106 and to collect emitted light 602 in a position out of ~lignm~nt with the excitation beam as illll~tr~tecl in Figures 7A and 7B.
ID Fig. 7A, the light 107 from the irradiation source is directed to the excitation site along the huli~o~ l axis of the gel. A linear array of detectcrs can be positioned both above ' CA 02207488 1997-06-11 and belo-v said axis in diode holders ~0~. Thus, if a first linear array of detcctors is t'ocussed at e~;citation sit s sta~ ered t;om the e.~citation sites recorded by tlle second 1inear arra~ of detectors, it is possible to utilize twic~ as many excitation spots per gel. Further, a lhlear array of detectors may be disposed on the opposite side of the (Jel. a ,ain above or belo~ the 5 horizontal axis of the gel. If all detectors detect excitation sites sta~ ered from each other, it is possible to detect at least four excitation sites for every unit of detector width.
Fi~,. 7B shows an alternative embodiment of a photodiode detector usefill hl theinvention. Light 107 from the excitation source impin~es on the gel holder 101 at an an~le relative to the surface of the ,~el holder. The detector element 70 collects light whicll is 10 emitted substantially perpendicular to the surface of the ~el holder 101 . The detector element 70 has a body member 701 in which a AR-coated (antirefiective) aspherical lens 71 1, two AR-coated cut-offfilters 71 and 713 selected to transmit li~Jht ofthe emitted wavelen~tll, a second AR-coated aspherical lens 71~ and a photodiode 715 are mounted. A spacin~ between the filters (~ 1/'~ to 3/4 inch) may be used to reduce back~round radiation reaching the 1~ photodiode 71 ~, since radiation which is not directed straight into the detector is absorbed by the interior of the body member 701.
All si~nals received from detectors are preferably converted from analo~r to di~gital and conveyed to a serial port for transmission to a multipurpose computer for stora~e and for further processin~ and analysis. It will be understood, however, that the analo;, output could ~0 be sent directlv to an output device for display or printing ln selectingJ a combination of optics for use in the apparatus of the present invention, it may be advantageous to use a lens to concentrate the excitation beam into a smaller area withill the detection zone. In particular, it may be desirable to use a cylindrical lens which reduces the dimension ofthe excitation beam in one direction (e.g. vertical) while leavin~ it unaltered in the other (horizontal) direction. (Fi~. 8) Such a "squashed" e:;citation beam can increase the resolution of the apparatus since a shorter length of the electrophoresis oel is interro~ated.
Fi~. 9A shows a cross-section view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The various components of the apparatus are disposed within a housin~, 90, wllicl '0 has a access door 91 the front thereof. The access door 91 is hinged to permit movement between a closed position (solid line) and an open position (dashed line).
AM~ c~_~r~
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CA 022074X8 l997-06-ll W 096/18892 I~~ 9sll595 Within the housing 90, the gel holder 901 is held in position b~we~ two solutionelectrodes 902, 902' against mounting plate 903. The mounting plate 903 and the solution electrodes pivot oulw~rd on pin 925 to facilitate loading of an electrophoresis gel. A heating çl~mPnt 904 is disposed in thermal contact with the back surface of the l. .o~ ;..g plate 903 to S permit heating of the gel. A fan 905 which is surrounded to a sub-housing 906 and vented to the exterior of the housing 90 blows room temperature air across the back of the heating e1em~nt 904. Through a combination of heating and cooli~g provided by the heating element 904 and fan 905, respectively, a desired temperature in the range of from 30 to 55 degrees C
can be m~in~ined to a tolerance of 0.5 degrees.
Figs. 9B and 9C show the mounting of the gel within the apparatus of Fig. 9A in greater detail. Fig. 9B shows the electrode assembly when viewed from the inside. The assembly is forrned from a base plate 930, a main body portion 931, and three reservoir wall portions 932,933 and 934, all formed from plastic. The body portion 931 has a first reservoir opening 935 cut in the top edge thereof and a second reservoir opening 936 cut in the bottom edge thereof. Reservoir wall portion 934 entirely covers the outside face of reservoir opening 935 to partially define the upper solution electrode 902, while reservoir wall portion 932 at least partially covers the outside face of reservoir opening 936.
Reservoir wall portion 933 is disposed on the interior surface of the of the body portion 931. Reservoir wall portions 932 and 933, the base plate 930 and the body portio 931 together define the lower solution electrode 902'. Reservoir wall portion 933 has a stepped region 937 within the lower solution electrode on which the edges of the gel holder rest when in place. Wires 927, 927' extend across both solution electrodes 902, 902' to provide the electric field for electrophoresis.
In use, as shown in Fig.9C, the gel holder 901 is placed on set portions 937 of the reservoir wall member 933 so that the beveled edge is submerged within the upper solution electrode 902 when it is filled with buffer. The electrode assembly is then tipped back into the apparatus so that the gel holder 101 is sandwiched between the body member 931 and the mounting plate 903, and held tightly in place using knurled knob screws. Gasket materials 926 disposed around the first reservoir opening 935 and on the interior surface of the body member 931 act to seal the upper solution electrode 902 and to cushion the plessule on the ' CA 02207488 1997-06-11 gel holder 101 Buffer is added to the solution eiectrodes 902 and 90 ' and the sample is then loaded onto the gel through the beveled opening.
A detector module 907 (Fig 9A) consisting of a linear array of photodiodes such as those shown in Fig. 7B, each connected to a circuit board is aliOned with the e~ccitation detection site in the gel, and collects light which is emitted perpendicular to the surface of the ~el holder 901. The circuit board contains an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter which converts the analo~ current output of the diode to a digital volta~e si~nal. This di~ital signal may then be further processed by the computer circuit board 914 disposed within the housing or transmitted to an external computer for processing.
While essentially any conventional AJD converter can be employed in the apparatus of the invention, preferred A/D converters are of the type described in US Patent Application Serial No. 08/45'~,719 which is incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, in such a device as shown in Fig. I 1, an eight-bit di~ital-to-analo(r converter (D/A) 1 103 is provided, which ~enerates an output on line 1 105. The output of the D/A is controlled by processor I 1 15 through di~ital bus 1 14. Digital bus 1 14 provides a select line and eight data lines 104 to the D/A I 103. In this way, the processor I 1 15 can provide an offset or base level for the signal beh1g processed.
The programmed offset from D/A 103 and the voltage level from amplifier I 10' are summed and amplified by op amp 1 106. The output of op amp 1 106 is then provided to 0 hlte~rrator 1 107, which comprises an op amp, a highly stable capacitor 1 108, and related components. Integrator 1 107 is controllable with respect to the starting and ending time of its integration periods by analog switch I 109, controlled by discrete control line I I 10. The output of the integrator 1 107 is provided to ,~VD I 1 12. AVD I 1 1~ is preferably a multiple-illpUt ,LVD, and only one of its inputs is shown in Fig 1 I for clarity. AID 1 1 1 ' has a serial control line 1 1~7 and a serial data line 1 1 13, which carries I ~ bits of data from the A/D
conversion process. Processor I 1 15 has a bidirectional serial link I 1 16 with a personal computer or work station omitted for clarity in Fig. 11.
In an apparatus incorporating an ~VD circuit of this type, the dynamic range of the A/D
I I I '' is not spread out over the entire range of possible outputs from the detector I 100.
Instead, the offset from D/A 1 103 is used to set a base level which is the starting point for the dynamic ran,~e of the iVD I 1 1~. In addition, the integratioll periods, namely periods durhlg I p--,!~ ~--p ~ CA 02207488 1997-06-11 which switch 1 109 is open so that inte~ration takes place. are son-etimes sllort and sometimes long. Shorteni_~ tlle integratioll period permits the A/D I I I ' to e~tract meanin(rt'ul data e~en at times when the photon flu~; along path I 1 17 is very high, much hi~her than the flu:i durin~
times when a ta~ed nucleotide is present in the sensin(r area.
The excitation beam is provided by a laser diode 908 mounted in aligJnment witll an aspherical lens 909. The asphericaî lens 909 collimates the output from the laser diode 908 and directs it towards a transmissive diffraction ,ratin~ 920 which divides the li;,ht from the laser diode into 16 beamlets of substantially equal intensity. These beamlets are conducted by lens 921 and mirrors 910, 91 I to a cylindrical lens 91~ which forms the squashed spots at the excitation/detection sites. The mirrors 910, 91 I may be aluminum or aluminum coated (Jlass when the excitation wavelength is below 650 nm, but are advantageously gold coated glass when for loner wavelen ,ths because of the ;,reater reflectivity of ~old at these wavelen;,ths.
Dielectric mirrors may also be used although they are substantially more expensive.
Within the apparatus shown in Fig. 9, there is also an apertured barrier 9~ of the type shown in Fi~. 10 between the last mirror 911 and the cylindrical lens 91~7 ali~rned so that each beamlet passes through an individual hole ( 1-3 mm diameter) in the barrier. This barrier reduces the amount of scattered li~ht WlliCIl reaches the excitation detection site.
A power supply 913is disposed within the housing 90 and is connected to the solution electrodes 90~ to provide the volta~e gradient for electrophoresis.
~0 The sequencin~ apparatus of the invention can provide a signal directly to a dedicated computer, for example a personal computer, for processin~ an sequence analysis. For many applications~ however, improved performance at reduced cost can be obtahled by COllllCCtill~, a number of sequencin~ apparatus to a sin~le computer hl a networl; confi~uration. For example, several sequencers can be connected into a network as described in concurrently filed ''~ U.S. Patent Application No.081~70,994 whichis incorporated herein by reference. In this case. the apparatus of the invention will also suitably include an on-board computer board 915 containing a buffer memory of sufficient size to store substantial portions of the data from a sequencin~, run and a microprocessor for controllin2 the acquisition of data and the subsequent transfer of this data to a shared network computer for sequence analysis processing.
Aî~ ) S~-~tc IPI-~I~P
wo 96/18892 PCTIUS9511S9Sl It will be appreciated that the apparatus shown in Fig. 9 may incorporate additional re~ s without in any way departing from the present invention. For example, a light may be placed inside the housing which illllmin~tes the gel holder when the access door 91 is in the open position to f~ilit~te loading of the appa~lus. Similarly, status lights and indicators may S be disposed on the lower portion of the housing to indicate parameters such as the duration of an on-going sequencing operation. The apparatus of Fig. 9 can also be used with an external light source such as a laser and an optical train (for example fiber optics or mirrors) to direct the light from the source to the aspherical lens 909.
10 Example A single str~n~led M13 DNA molecule is hybridized to FITC labeled universal primer.
Sequencing reactions are undertaken using SEQUENASETM in the recommended reaction buffers. After completion of r~ctio~c, loading buffer of xylene cyanol, bromophenol blue and glycerol is added to the reaction tubes to provide a visible loading marker. A microgel, lS~ d as disclosed in US Patent Application 08/332,577 is mounted on an ~ min~ plate by vacuum seal. A solution electrode is affixed such that the upper chamber contacts the upper end of the gel, and the lower ch~mher contacts the lower end of the gel. GRIN lenses, each attached to its respective optical fiber of a fiber optic array are disposed at the focal length from the excitation site near the lower end of the gel. An argon ion laser of 5 mW power 20 output, 488 nm wavelength is directed into the optical fiber by the fiber launch (upstream from the beam splitter). A linear array of PMTs is disposed to receive fluorescence emissions from the detection sites, one PMT per detection site. The M13 sample is loaded into the loading site. An electric field of 250 v/cm is suspended across the gel. Electrophoresis of the sample through the gel is recorded and displayed as in Figures 12A-12E, where the x-axis shows time 25in tenths of seconds. The data shows clearly resolved M13 sequence data out to 220 nt in 12 I--;llul~s
DETECT~ON APPARATUS AND METHOD
DESCRIPTION
I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to a method and apparatus for rapid gel electrophoresis and fluorescence detection of a complex m.,~Lule of fluorophore labeled proteins or nucleic acids.
Polyacrylarnide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) separation of organic molecules is now S routinely performed. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Chap. 10, John Wiley & Sons (1994). A polyacrylamide gel provides a suitably insoluble sieve so as to permit the separation of organic molecules in solution by size and confo~ alion as they are drawn through the sieve under electromotive force. guch separation of organic molecules provides valuable in~ight~
into their structures and functions. For example, PAGE separation can separate two 10 polypeptides of the same size but of dirre-tl-t isoforms or polypeptides only 100 daltons dirrerellL in size (Current Protocols, 1994). Anot_er use for PAGE is in separation of nucleic acids based on size of fr~gment~, such as in the extremely important application of DNA
sequence ~let~rmin~tion. ~ni~ti~, Molecular Cloning, A LaboratoryManual, 2nd ed., 1987.
Early methods for detection of separated products on an electrophoresis gel were15 carried out after the separation was completed. To the extent these techniques were ~-tom~ted in an apparatus, the apparatus generally inclu~iing a mech~ni~m for moving the gel in stages relative to a detector. For example, US Patent No. 4,343,991 discloses a sample detection apparatus in which stained bands within a gel are detected by transporting the gel b~lweell an array of optical fibers supplying incident light and an array of optical fibers 20 collecting tr~n~mhted light. Information was collected in steps along the whole length of the gel. Devices of this type have the advantage that long sample collection times can be used when necess~ry to ensure detection of low intensity bands in the gel. However, they also have several drawbacks. In particular, because the gel is analyzed only after separation is completed, the degree of separation is necess~rily a co~ lo.,lise between the desire to observe ~ CA 02207488 1997-06-11 t'ast mi(~ratin~ bands (~llich run off the end of tlle gel if the electrophoresis proceeds toolc)n(~) and the desire to separate slow movin~ band (which are still ~Jrouped to~ether if the electroplloresis run is too short) In addition, the use of disthlct separation and detection processes sigllifical1tly lengthel1ed the thne required to complete an analysis. Thus~ the art has gellerally soug~ht the ability to detect bands on an electrophoresis ~gel during the ~eparatiol1 Wl1en the electrophoresed molecules are labeled with a detectable si~nal~ itis possible to detect the separations of molecules in real time. Since the first description of a real-thne nucleic acid separation method and apparatus by Smith et al., Sequence Detection in Automated DNA Sequence Analysis", Nclt~ 321: 674-679 ( 1986), the technology for 10 so-called automated DNA sequencing has expanded rapidly. Several automated DNA
sequencin,~ apparatuses are commercially available. Methods and apparatus for sequencin~ of DNA are described in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,8 11 ,2 1 8, ~,88 1,8 1 "; 5,06'',94~; 5,09 1 ,65;
~, I 0~ 1 79; ~ ,345: 5,16~,654; 5,1 7 1 ,534; ~,190,63''; 5,'07,880; 5,~ 13,673; 5,'~30,781, ~,~4 ~,~67, 5,~90,419; 5,~94,3 3; ~,307,148; 5,3 14,60'', 5,3~4,401; and 5,360,5~3 which are 1~ hlcorporated herein by reference.
Unfortunately, the e.Yisting apparatuses are inadequate for use of PAGE for emergino clinical dia2nostic purposes such as dia~nostic DNA sequence and fragment analysis. For clinical diagnostic DNA analysis~ it is desirable to examine hundreds of complex DNA samples per day Existing technology does not provide for such capacity. For e:cample, operation of a ~0 typical automated DNA sequencer to ev~luate ~t most about 10 samples requires that a skilled techllician spend up to four hours constructing a ,~el holder, filling the gel holder with actively polyn-erizin~ acrylamide solution, inserting a well-formin~ comb before substantial polvll1eri2ation has occurred, and waitin(~ for the oel to polymerize (see Maniatis, 1987).
IJS;I1~ tlle gel is equally time consumill~. Existing technolo(Jies use low density electric fields '~ (less than 100 volts/cm) requiring sample running times of up to four hours. It would be advantageous to have an improved apparatus with improved sample throughput for real-time DNA analysis particularly for use in clinical diagnostic applications.
International Patent Publication No. WO 94/03631 discloses an assay method for detection of analytes through the formation and detection of specific-binding complexes. The . 0 complexes are detected after electrophoretic separation using an hlstrument in which a mirror is used to successively illuminate individual detection locations on the gel. Emitted or A~E~!~E~ S5~t~
IP~ ~P
WO 96/h8892 PCTlUS9S/lS9Sl It is a further object ofthe invention to provide improved optical excitation and detection techniques for real time detection of fluorescently labeled DNA or protein samIlles in an electrophoresis gel.
S II. SUMMARY OF THE INVErNTION
The present invention achieves these and other objects by providing improved ~letech-)n methods and a~al~lus which may be used individually or in various combinations to çnh~nce the ability of the electrophoresis apparatus to detect fluorophore- labeled m~ten~l~ in short periods of time. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for 10 electrophoretic separation and real-time detection of a sample labeled with a fluorophore c mpri.cing (a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder;
(b) an excitation source of elec~lu.llagnetic radiation;
(c) means for sequentially delivering ele~ wllagnetic radiation from the excitation 15 source to each of a plurality of pre-defined excitation/detection sites within a linear array of excitation/detection sites on a gel holder disposed within the housing;
(d) means for applying an electric field for to a gel holder disposed within thehousing for separation of a sample applied to a gel within the holder; and (e) means for detecting emissions from the sample at the excitation/detection site, 20 wherein the housing holds the gel holder in a fixed position relative to the means for sequentially delivering electromagnetic radiation and the means for detecting emissions when the gel holder is disposed within the housing.
The electrom~gnetic radiation can be delivered to the excitation/detection sites using a plurality optical fibers or a spot array generation grating. In addition, the apparatus may 25 advantageously include optical ~wiLchi~g means for sequentially directing electrc)m~gnetic radiation into one of several pre-defined groups, each group including two or more of the excitation/detection sites, and means for correlating a detected emission with the ~wi~chillg of the excitation electrom~gnetic radiation such th.~t a given emission may be linked with the excitation/ detection site being irr~ ted For example, when optical fibers are used to deliver 30 the excitation electr m~gnetic radiation, the optical ~wi~cl~i~g means may alternate between W O96118892 PCTrUS9S/lS9Sl directing radiation from the source into every other optical fiber, or may provide radiation in rotation to every third or fourth fiber.
A ~Itern~tive embodiment of the invention is an apparatus CO~ )liSillg (a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder;
(b) at least one light emitting diode disposed to deliver excitation energy of afrequency suitable for excitation of the fluorophore to an array of excitation/detection sites on the gel holder, and (c) a detector, for example a photodiode, for ~etecting emissions from the array of excitation/detection sites. This latter form of the a~pa~ s is particularly advantageous due to the low costs of light emitting diodes (LEDs) compared to coherent light sources (e.g. Iasers).
m. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows a sectional side view of an apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a mounting plate for use in the present invention;
Figs. 3A and 3B shows excitation and detection systems useful in the present invention, Fig. 4 shows a spot array generating grating system useful in the present invention;
Fig. 5 shows an excitation and detection system employed in one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 shows a detection system useful in the present invention;
Figs. 7A and 7B show an ~It~ tive detection system useful in the present invention;
Fig. 8 shows a squashed excitation beamlet obtained using a cylindrical lens;
~ Figs. 9A, 9B and 9C show a further embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 10 shows an apertured barrier useful in the apparatus ofthe invention;
Fig. 11 shows a pler~ d A/D converter circuit; and Figs. 12A-12E shows the output of a photomultiplier tube when sequencing ~I13 using an apparatus of the invention.
W O96118892 P ~ AUS9S/I59SI
IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This application ~i.ccloscs a method and app~us for rapid gel electrophoresis and real-time fluorescçnce detection of a complex ~ lur~ of fluorophore-labeled organic ~ molCC~
S Figure 1 shows a sectional side view of an appa-~lus in accordance with the present invention. The a~p~lus has a housing 10 within which the means for electrophoretic sep~r~tion and detection of the sample are disposed. The housing 10 advantageously provides a sealed, light tight enviro~le. .l in which the processing of the sample is conll~.cte~
Within the housing 10, a loaded electrophoresis gel 102 within a gel holder 101 is 10 positioned on a mounting plate 109 which holds the gel in a fixed position relative to the rPm~inder of the apparatus, including the excitation/detection portions of the apl)aralus. The loaded gel is advantageously held in place using suction through the mounting plate 109 generated using suction pump 110 and tubing 11 3, although other methods of holding the loaded gel in place may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Opposing ends of the loaded gel 102 are placed in contact with two electrodes, such as solution electrodes 104 and 105. These electrodes are connected to a power supply 114 which generates an electric field within the gel. This field causes the sample to migrate in the gel from loading site 103 towards detection site 106.
An excitation source 107 which supplies electromagnetic radiation having a frequency 20 effective to excite the fluorophore used as a label is disposed within the housing 10 such that radiation from the excitation source 107 strikes the gel holder 101 at the detection site 106 causing any fluorophore labeled molecules at the detection site to emit light. This light is collected using optical system 115 and detected using detector 108. The analog output signal from detector 108 may then be converted to a digital signal using an A-to-D converter 1 l 6, 25 and output for further proc~esing andlor display.
The apparatus of the invention may be used with any type of electrophoresis gel and gel holder. Preferably, however, the apparatus is used with an ultrathin electrophoresis gel having a thickne~s of 25-250 rnicrons of the type disclosed and cl~im~cl in commonly assigned US Patent Application No. 08/332,577 which is incorporated herein by reference. Using such 30 gels, in which the çxcit~tlon/detection site is within about 12 cm of the loading site, it is possible to sequence up to 300 nucleotides (nt) in under 20 minutes. This is accomplished , j, "f~,,~,r~ j 1 / i~ iY~
~ CA 02207488 1997-06-11 throuol~ tlle use of field densities of 10()-~0() volt/cm whicl1 are madc possible by the ht1pro~ ed heat dissipatiQn which can be obtained usin~ ultratl~ rels. In addition. the volta(re n1av be varied throu(~hout any 4iven sample run in order to allo~/ maximum separation of sample.
To enhance the heat dissipation wl1ich is achieved as a result of the use of tl-in (~els. the prese11t invel1tiol1 preferably mai;es use of a vacuum mountin~ technique. In this techniclue. as sh< Wl1 in Fi(rure 1, the (~el holder l O I is mounted 011 a thermally conductive ceramic plate.
109, preferablv made of alumina. Figure ~ shows tlle structure of the mountil1(r plate in more detail. As shown, the plate has an openin~ I 6 cut to ali~n with the detection site 106. This openh1~J is preferably beveled so that it is wider Otl the side away from the (Jel mountil1(~
10 surface 1 1''. The ~el mountin(J surface I I ' has canal I I I formed h1 it which is conl1ected to vacuum pump 110 via ports 1''7 which are connected to tubin~ 113. The canal 1 l l is suitably about 0.~4 cm [. I inches] wide (e.~. 0.'~34 cm L 09 inches]) and 1~7 cm [.05 h1cl1es] (e.~, O. 1 19 cm [ 047 inches]) deep, and is sealed over by the back substrate of the ~el holder, l O I, when properly mounted. The ti;,ht ju~taposition of the baci~ substrate with the ceramic plate 1~ ~,ives improved heat transference when compared to ed(Je clampin(J devices. Vacuum sealh1(J
also allows for e~quisite precision in focussin~, excitation sources~ as described below.
A heat sini; (not shown) consistin~ of an alumh1un1 or other heat conductil1~l metal sheet with extended fins may be contacted with the baci; face of the ceramic plate in order to ht1prove heat conductal1ce away from the ~el.
~o The planar electrophoresis ~el 10~ ~enerally contains a pluralitv of lanes for loadin(J
and detectin(J sample across the widtl- of the ,~el. In many prior art devices, for example the device disclosed in US Patent No. 4,81 1,'~18, detection of various lanes is accompiished USil1(J
a sin~,le detector which moves across the width of the ~,el and collects data from each lane in series. Because of the rapid pro~ress of sample throu~h the ~,el whicl- is achieved usin~, the present invention, (under 300 v/cm electric field, there is only about six seconds betwee oli,,onucleotides differin(r by one nucleotide), however, svstems ~~hicl1 require physical n1ovement of a detector are inadequate to collect the data for each of the lanes Improvel11ents h1 the delivery of excitation ener(Jy and the detection of emitted energJy therefore had to be made as part of the development of an effective apparatus and method for hi~Jh throu~hput 3 0 electrophoretic separations.
I)elivery of E.Ycit71tion Ener~y j~,._,,~,_p W O96118892 PCTrUS9S/lS9SI
In one embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 3A, excitation energy is conveyed to the excitation site by a fixed mulffplexed fiber optic array, 20 l . Radiation, 202, from a source such as a laser, or light emit~in~ diode, 203, is coupled, using a fiber launch or the like, 204, into an optical fiber 205. Suitable optical fibers for this purpose are fibers of 125 S microns thi~kness with a core of 50 microns (if mlllhmo~e) or preferably a core of 3.7 microns (single mode). The optical fiber carries the beam to a mini~ re board mollntable switch, 206, that permits the ~wiLchi~g of an opffcal signal ~om one output fiber 210 to another. For example, optical ~wilc~ g can be accomplished using a switch available from AMP, Inc., ~ isburg, PA, in which a slight pivoting motion of a spherical mirror reflects the optical 10 signal into one oftwo output fibers. The switch takes ap~lvxi..~ ly 5-l0 milli~econds to settle after each change. Several switches can be used in combination permitting the excitation beam to be divided into any m3mber of output optical fibers 210.
As shown in Figure 3A, four output fibers 210 are used to permit the sequential excitaffon of four groups of excitation/ detection sites. The use of four output fibers is merely 15 exemplary, however. In general, the allpalaLus of the invention will divide the incid~nt light into from 2 to l0 groups.
Light in each output fiber 2 l 0 is con~lucted by the output optical fiber 2 l 0 to a beam splitter 207A, 207B, 207C or 207D which separates the beam into a plurality of final optical fibers 208, each conducting its respective fraction of the input excitation beam as an excitation 20 beamlet. Each of the split optical fibers conveys the beamlet to a SELFOC~ rod gradient index (GR~N) lens 209 (NSG America, lnc.; Somerset NJ) which is fixed in location and disposed to irradiate its respective excitation site, 106, one lens for each excitation site.
Exp~rim~nt~l evidence shows that use of the vacuum seal to mount the gel holder also provides the advantage that the focal length of the GRIN lens can be exquisitely positioned 25 with respect to the ultra-thin gel. The vacuum seal holds the gel extremely flat against the ceramic plate without the slight bowing or bending of gel holders found in edge clamped apparatuses.
The final optical fi~ers 208 and the lenses 209 are disposed to form a linear array of detection sites. Within this array, the final optical fibers 208 are ordered so that, when using 30 four groups of excitation signals, every fourth detection belongs to the same group. The effect is that only a sub-set of excitation sites are irra~ ted at any one time (A, B, C, or D).
~ CA 02207488 1997-06-11 Of course, if one ~-~ere using two groups of excitation si~nals (only a single split of the incident bean1 ~0'), the final optical fibers 708 would be arranged in an alternatingJ patten1 (see Fig.
3B). This provides the advantaae that a sin~le detector, 21 1, may be employed to detect emissio11s from a plurality of excitation/ detection sites if the detector output is synchronized 5 with the switch so as to allow the si~o,nal processor to identify which signal came from which excitation/detection site.
The optical switch, ~06, is programmed to switch the input laser beam into each of the output fibers 210 (and thus into the final optical fibers '08), for a period of preferably 20-100 milliseconds. Synchronization of the switch and detectors may be obtained with a10 microprocessor, ~12.
The fixed multiplexed fiber optic array permits a high number of data points per second to be taken from each lane of the gel by conveying pulsed irradiation to each excitation site.
Further, it permits use of a reduced number of detectors.
The fixed multiplexed fiber optic array can also be modified to brino dif~erent irradi-15 ation sources to the same excitation site in a series of alternating pulses as shown in Fig. 3B.Such an arrangement is constructed by employing different excitation sources '03 and ~03', each coupled to an optical fiber 205 and ''05'. An optical switch "20, operatina in the oppo-site direction to switch 06 is employed to alternately select which source is to be conducted to the optical switch 206 via optical fiber '21. This arrangement permits multicolor fiuores-~0 cence imaging for use when more than one fluorophore is used in any given lane of the gel.
In a second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Fiaure 4, radiation 301 from anexcitation source 107 is directed to the excitation site 106 by use of a multiple beam split ter 30~, such as a Spot Array Generation Grating which splits the incident beam into a number of beamiets, generally from 2 to 24 beamlets. Preferred diffraction gratin;,s are of the type ~5 i;nown as "transmissive" or "phase" gratings, because such gratings can be designed to produce an even intensity distribution of light among the resulting beamlets. In the illustrated embodiment, an incident laser beam of a frequency suitable for excitation of the fluorophore is directed into a binary phase grating, approximately I cm square, mounted on glass, thermo-plastic or the like of approximately .318 cm [1/8th inch] thickness (Semiconductor Technol-30 ogy Inc, Pointe Claire, Quebec). The transmitted beam is divided into a linear array of thedesired A~E~ . T --~
~ ~ _ f_ ~
W Og6/18892 PCTnUS9~1S9S
r of ~,~xci~tion beamlets, 303, one for each intended excitation site, 106. The beam~ets are directed to a foc~ in~ lens, 304 (e.g., Stock # G69, 129, Catalog 1994, F~lmlln~i ~çjPntific) The focl~sing lens has in the embodiment shown preferably has a focal distance, f, of 50S rn~L The spot at each excitation site can be varied in size by rh~n~n~ the distance, d, 5 between the lens and the excitation site. The spots are suitably beLween 0. lmm and 0.2 mm m~ter In a ~,~;r~il.ed embodiment the spot array generation grating divides the incident laser beam into a linear array of 16 spots, and the lens is disposed between 200 to 500 mm from the gel.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, any excitation source can be used in 10 embo~ utili7ing a fiber optic array or a spot array generating grating, provided that the source is matched with the fluorophore to be used so that the radiation from the source excites the fluorophore to stimlll~te emission of cletect~ble r~ ti-)n For example, the following non-limiting examples of c~ r~;ially available excitation sources can be e-m--ployed in the present invention: Optical lasers, e.g., Argon ion lasers, Argon hypton mixed gas lasers, 15 ~eli~lm-neon lasers and doubled YAG lasers; Laser Diodes, Fiber (Solid State) Lasers; and Blue, Green, Red or infra red-Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
In a third embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 5, an independent excitation source is used for each excitation site. An effective and extremely low cost excitation source for this purpose is a light emitting diode for example those available from 20 Stanley Corp. and identified as Type No. AN, BN, CN or DN. Unlike lasers, LEDs emit light in a broad band spectrurIL Bandpass filters 403 disposed between the excitation/ detection site 106 and the detector 402 should therefore be carefully selected to elimin~te as much overlapping excitation irradiation from the detector as possible. One LED, 401, is disposed to irradiate each excitation site, 106, with or without a focussing lens 404 to focus the emitted 2~ ~adiation. An LED can emit 1.5-1 SmW, sufficient to excite a population of fluorophores. In this embodiment, using an infra-red L~D with Cy8 or Cy9 as a fluorophore, where the emitted light is in the infra-red region, the detectQr is preferably a photodiode detector 402.
While it is possible to have each LED 401 in the array constantly illllmin~ted such that data collection from each lane can be continllous, it may be advantageous to use a pulsed 30 excitation source in this embodiment as well. For example, where the lanes are close together, Wo 96/18892 Pcrlusssllsssl pulsing ~It~rn~te lanes, or every fourth lane, may improve the accuracy of the detector by çlimin~hn~ carry over form one lane to the next.
Fluorophores useful in the present invention are those which can be coupled to organic molecules, particularly proteins and nucleic acids and which emit a detect~kle amount of S electrom~gnetic radiation in response to excitation by an available excitation source. As used herein, the term fluorophore encomra~ses materials having both fluorescent and phosphor-escent emissions. It is desirable that the fluorophore exhibit a sufflcient Stokes shift to permit filterin~ of emitted radiation from the excitation irr~ ti- n. A further limitin~ factor on the choice of fluorophore is whether the fluorophore contains functional groups that prevent it from surviving intact during the cleavage and deprotection reactions of commercially available oligonucleotide synthesis.
Suitable fluorophores for this invention .nclude fluorescein and its analogs, rhodamine and its analogs, cyanine and related polymethines and their analogs, and the like. Specific fluorophores which are suitable for use with the present invention are Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FlTC); 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-F); Texas Red~) (Molecular Probes, Inc.; Eugene, OR); teLI~llelllyl rhodarnine isothiocyanate (TRITC); and Cyanine dyes, especially, Cy5, Cy 5.5 Cy7, Cy7.5, Cy8 and Cy9 (Biological Detection Systems, Piu~bul~, PA). Fluorescein fluorophores are preferably excited using an argon ion laser, while rhodamine fluorophores are preferably excited using a helium neon laser. The cyanine dyes, which are described in US Patents Nos. 4,981,977 and 5,268,486, which are incorporated herein by reference, are useful in combination with a red or infrared LED excitation source because the cyanine fluorophores Cy5 to Cy9 absorb and emit in the red and infra-red regions or laser diodes. Infra-red emissions are detected preferably with photodiodes, and particularly silicon photodiodes, 402, rather than PMTs.
An alt~m~tive to using LEDs in the above embodiment is use of laser diodes. Red and infra-red laser diodes can be used to excite fluorophores such as Cy5, Cy5.5, and Cy7.
I:~ete~tion Qf FluorQPhore E~itted R~ ti~ n Emissions from the fluorophores are detected by a detector disposed to receive radiation from the detection site.
Figure 6 illustrates a first embodiment, particularly suited for use with a fixed multiplexed fiber optic array. A linear array of detectors 501, is disposed to receive emissions WO 96118892 PCTAUS9S/lS951 502, from a linear array of detection sites 106. A llet~ctor may be any two dimPn~ional detector, such as a CCD, a photodiode or, in the ~l~r~ d embo~lim~.nt, a photom-lltiI-lier tube (P~). Disposed between the detection site a~d the PMT are a collecting lens 503, a bandpa~s filter 504, a foc~ ing lens 505, and a spatial filter 506. The b~ntlp~ filter is an 5 illlel~,c;ce filter (Omega Optical, Inc. Brattleboro, VT) or the like of 20 to 40 nm tran~mission wavelength width chosen to transmit the fluoresc~n~e emission and to block reflected light of the excitation source. The spatial filter is chosen to o~Lillf;~e recognition of the band of fluorophore-labeled sample as it passes through the detection site. F.limin~tion of fringes and tails of bands using a spatial filter tends to increase the signal to noise ratio of the ~etecte~ signal. P~r~lled spatial filters are rectan~ular in shape with a height of 100 microns and width of 250 microns.
The detector collects a signal, which is integrated over a finite time-span and converted to a digital output. A suitable integr~tion time for the invention is 5-100 milli~econds. When a PMT is used to record a plurality of excitation/ detection sites, the width of the PMT is selected in a manner con~i~tPnt with the number of sites. In general. PMT's with width of from 3-15 mm, and preferably about 5 mm are suitable. In this case, the integration of signal must be synchronized with the mllltiple~ing switch of the excitation irradiation source. Such syncllr~ aLion can be controlled by a microprocessor 212. As stated above, a suitable period of multiplex switching is 20-100 milli~econds, although any period that results in a sufflcient number of data points for analysis can be used. Fluorescence emissions can therefore be correlated with the respective detection site on the gel. Fluorophore must be chosen such that the delay in fluor~scençe emission from an old detection site does not cause significant overlap with the new fluor~cPnce emissions from a new detection site.
In another embodiment, if multiplexed excitation beams are not used, then a single detector is required for each detection site. Any type of ~letector may be employed, such as CCDs, PMTs or silicon photodiodes (Series S2386 or S2387; ~m~m~t~ll Photonics KK, City, Japan). The silicon photodiode 601 is disposed at the focal distance of the lens of the diode 603 from the a~arel.~ detection site 106 and to collect emitted light 602 in a position out of ~lignm~nt with the excitation beam as illll~tr~tecl in Figures 7A and 7B.
ID Fig. 7A, the light 107 from the irradiation source is directed to the excitation site along the huli~o~ l axis of the gel. A linear array of detectcrs can be positioned both above ' CA 02207488 1997-06-11 and belo-v said axis in diode holders ~0~. Thus, if a first linear array of detcctors is t'ocussed at e~;citation sit s sta~ ered t;om the e.~citation sites recorded by tlle second 1inear arra~ of detectors, it is possible to utilize twic~ as many excitation spots per gel. Further, a lhlear array of detectors may be disposed on the opposite side of the (Jel. a ,ain above or belo~ the 5 horizontal axis of the gel. If all detectors detect excitation sites sta~ ered from each other, it is possible to detect at least four excitation sites for every unit of detector width.
Fi~,. 7B shows an alternative embodiment of a photodiode detector usefill hl theinvention. Light 107 from the excitation source impin~es on the gel holder 101 at an an~le relative to the surface of the ,~el holder. The detector element 70 collects light whicll is 10 emitted substantially perpendicular to the surface of the ~el holder 101 . The detector element 70 has a body member 701 in which a AR-coated (antirefiective) aspherical lens 71 1, two AR-coated cut-offfilters 71 and 713 selected to transmit li~Jht ofthe emitted wavelen~tll, a second AR-coated aspherical lens 71~ and a photodiode 715 are mounted. A spacin~ between the filters (~ 1/'~ to 3/4 inch) may be used to reduce back~round radiation reaching the 1~ photodiode 71 ~, since radiation which is not directed straight into the detector is absorbed by the interior of the body member 701.
All si~nals received from detectors are preferably converted from analo~r to di~gital and conveyed to a serial port for transmission to a multipurpose computer for stora~e and for further processin~ and analysis. It will be understood, however, that the analo;, output could ~0 be sent directlv to an output device for display or printing ln selectingJ a combination of optics for use in the apparatus of the present invention, it may be advantageous to use a lens to concentrate the excitation beam into a smaller area withill the detection zone. In particular, it may be desirable to use a cylindrical lens which reduces the dimension ofthe excitation beam in one direction (e.g. vertical) while leavin~ it unaltered in the other (horizontal) direction. (Fi~. 8) Such a "squashed" e:;citation beam can increase the resolution of the apparatus since a shorter length of the electrophoresis oel is interro~ated.
Fi~. 9A shows a cross-section view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The various components of the apparatus are disposed within a housin~, 90, wllicl '0 has a access door 91 the front thereof. The access door 91 is hinged to permit movement between a closed position (solid line) and an open position (dashed line).
AM~ c~_~r~
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CA 022074X8 l997-06-ll W 096/18892 I~~ 9sll595 Within the housing 90, the gel holder 901 is held in position b~we~ two solutionelectrodes 902, 902' against mounting plate 903. The mounting plate 903 and the solution electrodes pivot oulw~rd on pin 925 to facilitate loading of an electrophoresis gel. A heating çl~mPnt 904 is disposed in thermal contact with the back surface of the l. .o~ ;..g plate 903 to S permit heating of the gel. A fan 905 which is surrounded to a sub-housing 906 and vented to the exterior of the housing 90 blows room temperature air across the back of the heating e1em~nt 904. Through a combination of heating and cooli~g provided by the heating element 904 and fan 905, respectively, a desired temperature in the range of from 30 to 55 degrees C
can be m~in~ined to a tolerance of 0.5 degrees.
Figs. 9B and 9C show the mounting of the gel within the apparatus of Fig. 9A in greater detail. Fig. 9B shows the electrode assembly when viewed from the inside. The assembly is forrned from a base plate 930, a main body portion 931, and three reservoir wall portions 932,933 and 934, all formed from plastic. The body portion 931 has a first reservoir opening 935 cut in the top edge thereof and a second reservoir opening 936 cut in the bottom edge thereof. Reservoir wall portion 934 entirely covers the outside face of reservoir opening 935 to partially define the upper solution electrode 902, while reservoir wall portion 932 at least partially covers the outside face of reservoir opening 936.
Reservoir wall portion 933 is disposed on the interior surface of the of the body portion 931. Reservoir wall portions 932 and 933, the base plate 930 and the body portio 931 together define the lower solution electrode 902'. Reservoir wall portion 933 has a stepped region 937 within the lower solution electrode on which the edges of the gel holder rest when in place. Wires 927, 927' extend across both solution electrodes 902, 902' to provide the electric field for electrophoresis.
In use, as shown in Fig.9C, the gel holder 901 is placed on set portions 937 of the reservoir wall member 933 so that the beveled edge is submerged within the upper solution electrode 902 when it is filled with buffer. The electrode assembly is then tipped back into the apparatus so that the gel holder 101 is sandwiched between the body member 931 and the mounting plate 903, and held tightly in place using knurled knob screws. Gasket materials 926 disposed around the first reservoir opening 935 and on the interior surface of the body member 931 act to seal the upper solution electrode 902 and to cushion the plessule on the ' CA 02207488 1997-06-11 gel holder 101 Buffer is added to the solution eiectrodes 902 and 90 ' and the sample is then loaded onto the gel through the beveled opening.
A detector module 907 (Fig 9A) consisting of a linear array of photodiodes such as those shown in Fig. 7B, each connected to a circuit board is aliOned with the e~ccitation detection site in the gel, and collects light which is emitted perpendicular to the surface of the ~el holder 901. The circuit board contains an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter which converts the analo~ current output of the diode to a digital volta~e si~nal. This di~ital signal may then be further processed by the computer circuit board 914 disposed within the housing or transmitted to an external computer for processing.
While essentially any conventional AJD converter can be employed in the apparatus of the invention, preferred A/D converters are of the type described in US Patent Application Serial No. 08/45'~,719 which is incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, in such a device as shown in Fig. I 1, an eight-bit di~ital-to-analo(r converter (D/A) 1 103 is provided, which ~enerates an output on line 1 105. The output of the D/A is controlled by processor I 1 15 through di~ital bus 1 14. Digital bus 1 14 provides a select line and eight data lines 104 to the D/A I 103. In this way, the processor I 1 15 can provide an offset or base level for the signal beh1g processed.
The programmed offset from D/A 103 and the voltage level from amplifier I 10' are summed and amplified by op amp 1 106. The output of op amp 1 106 is then provided to 0 hlte~rrator 1 107, which comprises an op amp, a highly stable capacitor 1 108, and related components. Integrator 1 107 is controllable with respect to the starting and ending time of its integration periods by analog switch I 109, controlled by discrete control line I I 10. The output of the integrator 1 107 is provided to ,~VD I 1 12. AVD I 1 1~ is preferably a multiple-illpUt ,LVD, and only one of its inputs is shown in Fig 1 I for clarity. AID 1 1 1 ' has a serial control line 1 1~7 and a serial data line 1 1 13, which carries I ~ bits of data from the A/D
conversion process. Processor I 1 15 has a bidirectional serial link I 1 16 with a personal computer or work station omitted for clarity in Fig. 11.
In an apparatus incorporating an ~VD circuit of this type, the dynamic range of the A/D
I I I '' is not spread out over the entire range of possible outputs from the detector I 100.
Instead, the offset from D/A 1 103 is used to set a base level which is the starting point for the dynamic ran,~e of the iVD I 1 1~. In addition, the integratioll periods, namely periods durhlg I p--,!~ ~--p ~ CA 02207488 1997-06-11 which switch 1 109 is open so that inte~ration takes place. are son-etimes sllort and sometimes long. Shorteni_~ tlle integratioll period permits the A/D I I I ' to e~tract meanin(rt'ul data e~en at times when the photon flu~; along path I 1 17 is very high, much hi~her than the flu:i durin~
times when a ta~ed nucleotide is present in the sensin(r area.
The excitation beam is provided by a laser diode 908 mounted in aligJnment witll an aspherical lens 909. The asphericaî lens 909 collimates the output from the laser diode 908 and directs it towards a transmissive diffraction ,ratin~ 920 which divides the li;,ht from the laser diode into 16 beamlets of substantially equal intensity. These beamlets are conducted by lens 921 and mirrors 910, 91 I to a cylindrical lens 91~ which forms the squashed spots at the excitation/detection sites. The mirrors 910, 91 I may be aluminum or aluminum coated (Jlass when the excitation wavelength is below 650 nm, but are advantageously gold coated glass when for loner wavelen ,ths because of the ;,reater reflectivity of ~old at these wavelen;,ths.
Dielectric mirrors may also be used although they are substantially more expensive.
Within the apparatus shown in Fig. 9, there is also an apertured barrier 9~ of the type shown in Fi~. 10 between the last mirror 911 and the cylindrical lens 91~7 ali~rned so that each beamlet passes through an individual hole ( 1-3 mm diameter) in the barrier. This barrier reduces the amount of scattered li~ht WlliCIl reaches the excitation detection site.
A power supply 913is disposed within the housing 90 and is connected to the solution electrodes 90~ to provide the volta~e gradient for electrophoresis.
~0 The sequencin~ apparatus of the invention can provide a signal directly to a dedicated computer, for example a personal computer, for processin~ an sequence analysis. For many applications~ however, improved performance at reduced cost can be obtahled by COllllCCtill~, a number of sequencin~ apparatus to a sin~le computer hl a networl; confi~uration. For example, several sequencers can be connected into a network as described in concurrently filed ''~ U.S. Patent Application No.081~70,994 whichis incorporated herein by reference. In this case. the apparatus of the invention will also suitably include an on-board computer board 915 containing a buffer memory of sufficient size to store substantial portions of the data from a sequencin~, run and a microprocessor for controllin2 the acquisition of data and the subsequent transfer of this data to a shared network computer for sequence analysis processing.
Aî~ ) S~-~tc IPI-~I~P
wo 96/18892 PCTIUS9511S9Sl It will be appreciated that the apparatus shown in Fig. 9 may incorporate additional re~ s without in any way departing from the present invention. For example, a light may be placed inside the housing which illllmin~tes the gel holder when the access door 91 is in the open position to f~ilit~te loading of the appa~lus. Similarly, status lights and indicators may S be disposed on the lower portion of the housing to indicate parameters such as the duration of an on-going sequencing operation. The apparatus of Fig. 9 can also be used with an external light source such as a laser and an optical train (for example fiber optics or mirrors) to direct the light from the source to the aspherical lens 909.
10 Example A single str~n~led M13 DNA molecule is hybridized to FITC labeled universal primer.
Sequencing reactions are undertaken using SEQUENASETM in the recommended reaction buffers. After completion of r~ctio~c, loading buffer of xylene cyanol, bromophenol blue and glycerol is added to the reaction tubes to provide a visible loading marker. A microgel, lS~ d as disclosed in US Patent Application 08/332,577 is mounted on an ~ min~ plate by vacuum seal. A solution electrode is affixed such that the upper chamber contacts the upper end of the gel, and the lower ch~mher contacts the lower end of the gel. GRIN lenses, each attached to its respective optical fiber of a fiber optic array are disposed at the focal length from the excitation site near the lower end of the gel. An argon ion laser of 5 mW power 20 output, 488 nm wavelength is directed into the optical fiber by the fiber launch (upstream from the beam splitter). A linear array of PMTs is disposed to receive fluorescence emissions from the detection sites, one PMT per detection site. The M13 sample is loaded into the loading site. An electric field of 250 v/cm is suspended across the gel. Electrophoresis of the sample through the gel is recorded and displayed as in Figures 12A-12E, where the x-axis shows time 25in tenths of seconds. The data shows clearly resolved M13 sequence data out to 220 nt in 12 I--;llul~s
Claims (45)
1. An apparatus for electrophoretic separation and real-time fluorescence detection of a sample comprising:
(a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder;
(b) an excitation source of electromagnetic radiation;
(c) means for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to each of a plurality of pre-defined excitation/detection sites within a linear array of excitation/detection sites on a gel holder disposed within the housing;
(d) means for applying an electric field to a gel holder disposed within the housing for separation of a sample applied to a gel within the holder;
(e) means for detecting emissions from the sample at the excitation/detection site, wherein the housing holds the gel holder in a fixed position relative to the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation and the means for detecting emissions when the gel holder is disposed within the housing; and (f) a thermally conductive mounting plate, characterized in the that the apparatus further comprises means for vacuum affixing the gel holder to the mounting plate.
(a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder;
(b) an excitation source of electromagnetic radiation;
(c) means for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to each of a plurality of pre-defined excitation/detection sites within a linear array of excitation/detection sites on a gel holder disposed within the housing;
(d) means for applying an electric field to a gel holder disposed within the housing for separation of a sample applied to a gel within the holder;
(e) means for detecting emissions from the sample at the excitation/detection site, wherein the housing holds the gel holder in a fixed position relative to the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation and the means for detecting emissions when the gel holder is disposed within the housing; and (f) a thermally conductive mounting plate, characterized in the that the apparatus further comprises means for vacuum affixing the gel holder to the mounting plate.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is formed from a ceramic.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is alumina.
4. An apparatus for electrophoretic separation and real-time fluorescence detection of a sample comprising:
(a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder;
(b) an excitation source of electromagnetic radiation;
(c) means for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to each of a plurality of pre-defined excitation/detection sites within a linear array of excitation/detection sites on a gel holder disposed within the housing;
(d) means for applying an electric field for to a gel holder disposed within the housing for separation of a sample applied to a gel within the holder; and (e) means for detecting emissions from the sample at the excitation/detection sites, characterized in that the housing holds the gel holder in a fixed position relative to the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation and the means for detecting emissions when the gel holder is disposed within the housing, and in that the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to each of a predefined group of excitation/detection sites comprises a plurality of optical fibers for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to a linear array of excitation/detection sites on the gel holder, optical switching means for sequentially directing, electromagnetic radiation into each of several pre-defined groups of the optical fibers, each group including at least two optical fibers for delivering electromagnetic radiation to at least two spatially separated excitation/detection sites within the array; and means for correlating a detected emission with the switching of the excitation electromagnetic radiation such that a given emission may be linked with the excitation/
detection site being irradiated.
(a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder;
(b) an excitation source of electromagnetic radiation;
(c) means for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to each of a plurality of pre-defined excitation/detection sites within a linear array of excitation/detection sites on a gel holder disposed within the housing;
(d) means for applying an electric field for to a gel holder disposed within the housing for separation of a sample applied to a gel within the holder; and (e) means for detecting emissions from the sample at the excitation/detection sites, characterized in that the housing holds the gel holder in a fixed position relative to the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation and the means for detecting emissions when the gel holder is disposed within the housing, and in that the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to each of a predefined group of excitation/detection sites comprises a plurality of optical fibers for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to a linear array of excitation/detection sites on the gel holder, optical switching means for sequentially directing, electromagnetic radiation into each of several pre-defined groups of the optical fibers, each group including at least two optical fibers for delivering electromagnetic radiation to at least two spatially separated excitation/detection sites within the array; and means for correlating a detected emission with the switching of the excitation electromagnetic radiation such that a given emission may be linked with the excitation/
detection site being irradiated.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detection means comprises at least one photomultiplier tube aligned to receive light from a plurality of adjacent excitation/detection sites within the array.
6. An apparatus for electrophoretic separation and real-time fluorescence detection of a sample labeled with a fluorescent label comprising:
(a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder, (b) an excitation source of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength effective to excite the fluorescent label;
(c) means for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to each of a plurality of pre-defined excitation/detection sites within a linear array of excitation/detection sites on a gel holder disposed within the housing;
(d) means for applying an electric field for to a gel holder disposed within the housing for separation of a sample applied to a gel within the holder; and (e) means for detecting emissions from the sample at the excitation/detection site, wherein the housing holds the gel holder in a fixed position relative to the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation and the means for detecting emissions when the gel holder is disposed within the housing, characterized in that the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation comprises a diffraction grating for dividing the electromagnetic radiation from the source into a plurality of excitation beamlets of the wavelength effective to excite the fluorescent label, and further comprising means for directing each excitation beamlet to an excitation/detection site on the electrophoresis gel.
(a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder, (b) an excitation source of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength effective to excite the fluorescent label;
(c) means for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to each of a plurality of pre-defined excitation/detection sites within a linear array of excitation/detection sites on a gel holder disposed within the housing;
(d) means for applying an electric field for to a gel holder disposed within the housing for separation of a sample applied to a gel within the holder; and (e) means for detecting emissions from the sample at the excitation/detection site, wherein the housing holds the gel holder in a fixed position relative to the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation and the means for detecting emissions when the gel holder is disposed within the housing, characterized in that the means for delivering electromagnetic radiation comprises a diffraction grating for dividing the electromagnetic radiation from the source into a plurality of excitation beamlets of the wavelength effective to excite the fluorescent label, and further comprising means for directing each excitation beamlet to an excitation/detection site on the electrophoresis gel.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the diffraction grating is a transmission diffraction grating.
8. An apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising an apertured barrier disposed between the means for directing the excitation beamlets and the excitation/detection site, said apertured barrier having apertures formed therein said apertures being aligned with the beamlets exiting the means for directing the beamlets to permit passage of the beamlets to the excitation/detection site.
9. An apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the means for directing the excitation beamlets is a cylindrical lens.
10. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the means for applying an electric field is a power supply for providing an electric field of 100-400 V/cm to a gel within the holder.
11. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the excitation source is a laser.
12. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the excitation source is a plurality of light emitting diodes.
13. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the excitation source is a laser diode.
14. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the means for detecting emission is an array of photomultiplier tubes.
15. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the means for detecting emission is an array of photodiodes.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the photodiodes are silicon photodiodes.
17. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 16, further comprising a plurality of mirrors disposed within the housing for directing the electromagnetic radiation along an optical path from the source to the excitation/detection sites in the gel.
18. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the means for delivering electromagentic radiation from the excitation source delivers said energy to a major surface of an electrophoresis gel disposed within the gel holder.
19. A method for electrophoretic separation and real-time fluorescence detection of plurality of samples labeled with a fluorophore comprising the steps of:
(a) loading the samples onto a plurality of lanes of an electrophoresis gel at aplurality of loading sites;
(b) applying an electric field to the loaded gel such that the samples migrate through the gel from the loading sites to a plurality of detection sites;
(c) delivering electromagnetic radiation having a frequency effective to induce emission of electromagnetic radiation from the fluorophore sequentially into each of a plurality of pre-defined groups of detection sites, each group including at least two detection sites;
(d) detecting emission from the detection sites while the sample is migrating through the gel; and (e) correlating detected emission with the detection sites to which the electromagnetic radiation is delivered whereby a given emission is linked with the detection site being irradiated.
(a) loading the samples onto a plurality of lanes of an electrophoresis gel at aplurality of loading sites;
(b) applying an electric field to the loaded gel such that the samples migrate through the gel from the loading sites to a plurality of detection sites;
(c) delivering electromagnetic radiation having a frequency effective to induce emission of electromagnetic radiation from the fluorophore sequentially into each of a plurality of pre-defined groups of detection sites, each group including at least two detection sites;
(d) detecting emission from the detection sites while the sample is migrating through the gel; and (e) correlating detected emission with the detection sites to which the electromagnetic radiation is delivered whereby a given emission is linked with the detection site being irradiated.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is delivered using a laser.
21. A method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is delivered using a plurality of optical fibers.
22. A method according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the fluorophore used is fluorescein and the electromagnetic radiation delivered is 488 nm light from an argon ion laser.
23. A method according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the fluorophore used rhodamine and the electromagnetic radiation delivered is from a helium neon laser.
24. A method according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the fluorophore used is Cy 5.5 and the electromagnetic radiation delivered is from a laser diode.
25. A method according to any of claims 19 to 24, wherein the sample labeled with a fluorophore is an oligonucleotide.
26. A method according to any of claims 19 to 25, wherein the electric field applied is from 100 to 400 V/cm.
27. A method for electrophoretic separation and real-time detection of a sample labeled with a fluorophore, comprising:
(a) loading the samples onto a plurality of lanes of an electrophoresis gel at a plurality of loading sites;
(b) applying an electric field to the loaded gel such that the samples migrate through the gel from the loading sites to a plurality of detection sites;
(c) dividing an incident beam of coherent radiation having a wavelength effective to excite the fluorophore into a plurality of excitation beamlets using a diffraction grating and directing each excitation beamlet to an excitation/detection site on the electrophoresis gel, wherein each of the excitation beamlets are of the same wavelength as the incident beam, and (d) detecting emission from the detection sites while the sample is migrating through the gel.
(a) loading the samples onto a plurality of lanes of an electrophoresis gel at a plurality of loading sites;
(b) applying an electric field to the loaded gel such that the samples migrate through the gel from the loading sites to a plurality of detection sites;
(c) dividing an incident beam of coherent radiation having a wavelength effective to excite the fluorophore into a plurality of excitation beamlets using a diffraction grating and directing each excitation beamlet to an excitation/detection site on the electrophoresis gel, wherein each of the excitation beamlets are of the same wavelength as the incident beam, and (d) detecting emission from the detection sites while the sample is migrating through the gel.
28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the incident beam of coherent radiation is supplied by a laser.
29. A method according to claim 7, wherein the fluorophore is rhodamine and the incident beam of coherent radiation is supplied by a Helium Neon laser.
30. A method according to claim 27, wherein the fluorophore is Cy5.5 and the incident beam of coherent radiation is supplied by a red laser diode.
31. A method according to claim 27, wherein the fluorophore is fluorescein and the incident beam of coherent radiation is supplied by an argon ion laser.
32. A method according to any of claims 27 to 31, wherein the diffraction grating divides the incident beam into from 2 to 24 beamlets.
33 An apparatus for electrophoretic separation and real-time detection of a sample labeled with a fluorophore, comprising, (a) a housing adapted to receive an electrophoresis gel holder;
(b) means for applying an electric field to an electrophoresis gel received within the housing;
(c) a linear array of excitation sources disposed to deliver excitation energy of a frequency suitable for excitation of the fluorophore to an array of excitation/detection sites on the gel holder, and (d) a linear array of detectors for detecting emissions from the array of excitation/detection sites, wherein the number of excitation sources, the number of excitation/detection sites in the gel holder and the number of detectors are equal.
(b) means for applying an electric field to an electrophoresis gel received within the housing;
(c) a linear array of excitation sources disposed to deliver excitation energy of a frequency suitable for excitation of the fluorophore to an array of excitation/detection sites on the gel holder, and (d) a linear array of detectors for detecting emissions from the array of excitation/detection sites, wherein the number of excitation sources, the number of excitation/detection sites in the gel holder and the number of detectors are equal.
34. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the detectors are photodiodes.
35. An apparatus according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the excitation sources are light emitting diodes.
36. An apparatus according to any of claims 33 to 35, further comprising means for sequentially directing electromagnetic radiation from the array of excitation sources to at least two spatially separated groups of excitation/detection sites within the array; and means for correlating a detected emission with the irradiated excitation/detection site such that a given emission may be linked with the excitation/
detection site being irradiated.
detection site being irradiated.
37. A method for electrophoretic separation and detection of a sample labeled with a fluorophore, comprising the steps of:
(a) loading the samples onto a plurality of lanes of an electrophoresis gel at aplurality of loading sites;
(b) applying an electric field to the loaded gel such that the samples migrate from the loading sites to a plurality of detection sites;
(c) delivering radiation from an array of excitation sources to an array of excitation/detection sites on the gel holder, and (d) detecting emissions from the array of excitation/detection sites using anarray of detectors, wherein the number of excitation sources, the number of excitation/detection sites in the gel holder and the number of detectors are equal.
(a) loading the samples onto a plurality of lanes of an electrophoresis gel at aplurality of loading sites;
(b) applying an electric field to the loaded gel such that the samples migrate from the loading sites to a plurality of detection sites;
(c) delivering radiation from an array of excitation sources to an array of excitation/detection sites on the gel holder, and (d) detecting emissions from the array of excitation/detection sites using anarray of detectors, wherein the number of excitation sources, the number of excitation/detection sites in the gel holder and the number of detectors are equal.
38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the fluorophore is a cyanine dye.
39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the fluorophore is selected from the group consisting of Cy5, Cy 5.5, Cy7, Cy7.5 and Cy9.
40. A method according to any of claims 37 to 39, wherein excitations sources are light emitting diodes.
41. A method according to any of claims 37 to 40, wherein the sample labeled with a fluorophore is an oligonucleotide.
42. A method according to any of claims 37 to 41, wherein the electric field applied is from 100 to 400 V/cm.
43. An apparatus for electrophoretic separation and detection of a sample labeled with a fluorophore, comprising, (a) a housing;
(b) a thermally conductive mounting plate disposed within the housing;
(c) means for vacuum affixing a gel holder to the mounting plate;
(d) means for applying an electric field to a gel in the gel holder;
(e) means for delivering radiation to at least one excitation/detection site, and (f) means for detecting emissions from the excitation/detection site.
- 24 a-
(b) a thermally conductive mounting plate disposed within the housing;
(c) means for vacuum affixing a gel holder to the mounting plate;
(d) means for applying an electric field to a gel in the gel holder;
(e) means for delivering radiation to at least one excitation/detection site, and (f) means for detecting emissions from the excitation/detection site.
- 24 a-
44. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the mounting plate is formed from a ceramic.
45. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the mounting plate is alumina.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/353,932 | 1994-12-12 | ||
| US08/353,932 US5710628A (en) | 1994-12-12 | 1994-12-12 | Automated electrophoresis and fluorescence detection apparatus and method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2207488A1 true CA2207488A1 (en) | 1996-06-20 |
Family
ID=23391202
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002207488A Abandoned CA2207488A1 (en) | 1994-12-12 | 1995-12-12 | Automated electrophoresis and fluorescence detection apparatus and method |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US5710628A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0797771A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH10512045A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU4419196A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2207488A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1996018892A1 (en) |
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| US6914250B2 (en) | 1997-03-07 | 2005-07-05 | Clare Chemical Research, Inc. | Fluorometric detection using visible light |
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Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH10512045A (en) | 1998-11-17 |
| WO1996018892A1 (en) | 1996-06-20 |
| US5710628A (en) | 1998-01-20 |
| AU4419196A (en) | 1996-07-03 |
| US6005663A (en) | 1999-12-21 |
| EP0797771A1 (en) | 1997-10-01 |
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