AU743146B2 - Nucleic acid diagnostics based on mass spectrometry or mass separation and base specific cleavage - Google Patents

Description

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -1- NUCLEIC ACID DIAGNOSTICS BASED ON MASS SPECTROMETRY OR MASS SEPARATION AND BASE SPECIFIC

CLEAVAGE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a method for detecting a mutation in a nucleic acid molecule. The method of the present invention does not require prior knowledge of a reference or wild-type nucleotide sequence nor does it require a gel electrophoresis step. The method of the present invention is particularly useful in identifying mutations and polymorphisms in genomic DNA and more particularly in the human genome and to determine and/or confirm the nucleotide sequence of target nucleic acid molecules. The method of the present invention may also be automated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bibliographic details of the publications referred to by author in this specification are collected at the end of the description.

The increasing sophistication of recombinant DNA technology is greatly facilitating research and development in a range of biotechnological fields. A particularly important area is the generation of nucleotide mutants and the screening for and identification of such mutants. This in turn has implications, for example, in understanding the genetic basis behind certain disease conditions which is becoming of increasing relevance as the human genome is progressively sequenced.

An efficient and accurate method of mutation detection is crucial in implicating disease candidate genes and in the screening programs which follow identification of disease causing mutations.

Many human inherited and sporadic disorders are caused by small mutations including base substitutions, additions and deletions. Among these disorders are the Mendelian single gene disorders, sporadic somatic mutations causing cancers and complex genetic traits. Whilst some diseases are caused by a limited and well characterised set of mutations, most genetic diseases are caused by one or more of a large range of mutations occurring anywhere within the gene.

It is important, therefore, that a mutation detection protocol be able to scan a region of DNA, WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -2identify any change and describe the resulting nucleotide differences from wild-type. With the increasing use of population molecular genetics and as clinicians begin to use mutation analysis as a clinical tool, there is a need to develop mutation detection protocols which can be automated, are less dependant on user expertise and are more accurate and reliable.

Current mutation detection protocols require either a gel based detection system or sequence specific primers. Gel based detection methods include direct sequencing of amplified DNA fragments and various techniques involving either cleavage of mismatched bases in heteroduplexes or mobility differences of single or partially denatured DNA strands.

Detection of mutations by DNA sequencing can provide good results in relation to accuracy and information about the position and nature of the mutation (Hattori et al, 1993), however, although advances have been made in this area, the technique is not fully automated and is labour intensive. Most mutations occur as heterozygotes and there are technical difficulties with the ability of currently available computer software to identify two different nucleotide bases at a mutated residue.

Many mutation detection techniques exploit differential electrophoretic mobilities of DNA fragments with sequence differences. Single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) exploits the fact that the secondary structure of a single strand of DNA is sequence based and, therefore, strands with even just one base difference will migrate at a different rate (Orita et al, 1989). This technique is again gel based and can lack sensitivity. Furthermore, the method cannot be readily automated and requires a large amount of labour due to the necessary gel step which in most cases must be optimised to the specific sample being analysed. They also do not give any information about the position or nature of the change and do not routinely identify all mutations.

Mutation detection based on the identification of base pair mismatches in heteroduplex DNA strands is another method of identifying point changes. There are a number of techniques available that cleave DNA at mismatched base pairs in heteroduplex DNA. Mismatch cleavage protocols include chemical and enzymatic mismatch cleavage. The techniques are also gel based.

The chemical cleavage method uses osmium tetroxide to cleave at the mismatched base (Cotton WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -3et al, 1988) followed by separation of cleaved products on denaturing gels. A major disadvantage of the chemical cleavage protocol is the use of extremely toxic chemicals.

Other methods for detection of known mutations include minisequencing allele specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), oligonucleotide probe arrays (Lipshutz et al, 1995) which requires knowledge of the sequence of wild-type and mutant. Although this technique is suitable for non-gel based detection methods, it is only useful for know mutations. Furthermore, the large number of oligonucleotides required to cover all known mutations in many genes makes this approach prohibitively expensive and labour intensive.

With the development of the matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS), the ability to accurately determine the mass of biomolecules of a limited size has been achieved. Although detection of DNA fragments of up to 622 base pairs in length has been reported, large fragments cannot be accurately sized and a mass accuracy of ±3bp is quoted (Liu et al, 1995). This level of accuracy is clearly insufficient for the detection and characterisation of base substitutions.

There is a need, therefore, to develop an effective and accurate means of detecting mutations in nucleic acid molecules. Preferably, the mutation detection system would be automatable.

In work leading up to the present invention the inventors developed a mutation detection system which exploits the accuracy of mass determination of MALDI-TOF MS and which is applicable for large DNA fragments. The method of the present invention do not require gel electrophoresis nor is prior knowledge of the nucleotide sequence necessary. The method of the present invention is also capable of being automated.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -4- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Sequence Identity Numbers (SEQ ID NOs.) for the nucleotide and amino acid sequences referred to in the specification are defined following the bibliography.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

One aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising amplifying said test nucleic acid molecule by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), subjecting the test amplified nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising amplifying said test nucleic acid molecule by PCR, subjecting the test amplified nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments of from about 2 to about 1000 bases, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

Still yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising amplifying said test nucleic acid molecule and incorporating uracil residues, subjecting the test amplified nucleic acid molecule to uracil specific cleavage mediated by a uracil-N-glycosylase to generate oligonucleotide fragments of from about 2 to about 1000 bases, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a computer programme capable of controlling a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an 1.WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -6altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to an apparatus capable of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said apparatus comprising means of subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure and subjecting said separated fragments to further separation means, such as post source decay (PSD) or other similar technique, to separate fragmentation products to generate a spectrum dependent on nucleotide sequence and then identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -7- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a graphical representation showing mass spectrogram of cleavage products of two oligonucleotides, 1 and 2, which differ at two nucleotides, one produces a fragment with a different nucleotide composition and the other introducing a new cleavage site. The two line thicknesses represent the overlaid tracings of the two different oligonucleotides. 1636.3 represents a thick line peak and 3190.9 represents a thin line peak. 1811.1 is a thin line peak and 1828.2 is a thick line peak. Kratos Kompact MALDI 4v51.2; int. 100% 24mV (thin); 81mV (thick).

Figure 2 is a graphical representation showing mass spectrogram of reacted, separated products of normal TUB which represents a homozygote. Mode: linear; Accelerating Voltage: 20,000; Grid Voltage: 92.000%; Guide Wire Voltage 0-100%; Delay 1250N; Laser:1800; Scans Averaged: 128; Pressure: 9.94e-07; Low Mass Gate: 900.0; Negative Ions: ON.

Figure 3 is graphical representation showing mass spectrogram of reacted, separated products of both TUB-M and TUB which represents a heterozygote. Mode: linear; Accelerating Voltage: 20,000; Grid Voltage: 92.000%; Guide Wire Voltage 0-100%; Delay 1250N; Laser:1800; Scans Averaged: 128; Pressure: 1.89e-06; Low Mass Gate 900.0; Negative Ions: ON.

Figure 4 is a representation of the nucleotide sequence of IL-12 untranslated region PCR product used in Example 13. Primers are shown in bold. Expected cleavage products >2bp are underlined. The polymorphism is at position 97 and is indicated by asterisk. The polymorphism is a C to T change which results in a change of the cleavage products at that position from CGA to AGA in the forward strand and CAAGC to CAA in the reverse stand. The presence of C at position 97 results in a TaqI site and this allele is called the other allele is respectively Figure 5A is a photographic representation of a TaqI restriction digest of IL-12 PCR products from individuals (lanes 1, 4 and a individual (lane 3) and a individual (lane The 124 bp fragment is cleaved by TaqI (where possible) to produce 97 and 27 bp fragments.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -8- Figure 5B is a graphical representation showing linear MALDI-TOF spectra of cleavage products. The spectra on the left show a mass range of 1000 to 3500 and those on the right are the same spectra but show in detail the mass range from 1000 to 1700. Spectra i a and b are from a individual, spectra ii a and b are from a individual and spectra iii a and b are from a individual. Observed masses are indicated above peaks. Arrows show the peaks that change between the two alleles.

Figure 6 is a graphical representation of the mass spectrum analysed using post source decay (PSD) on a MALDI-TOF instrument. Spectrum A is a 6mer of sequence CATCCT [SEQ ID NO: 16] and spectrum B a 6mer of sequence CACCTT [SEQ ID NO:17]. Both have parent ion mass of 1727.2Da. Observed masses are shown above the peaks. PSD fragments are shown at an intensity magnification of five.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -9- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is predicated in part on a base specific cleavage reaction to generate a set of small oligonucleotides bounded by the base cleaved. The nucleic acid molecule may be completely or only partially cleaved or digested. These fragments are then separated based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS. This generates a fingerprint of the nucleic acid fragment comprising a series of peaks where each peak represents the mass of each small cleavage product. As a result of the sensitivity of mass determination, each oligonucleotide of given length but different nucleotide composition produces a different mass. The mass of each peak, therefore, corresponds to the nucleotide composition of the fragment as well as to its length.

Consequently, any nucleotide substitution results in either a shifted peak due to the mass difference in the new cleavage fragment or, if the mutation changes the targeted base, a cleavage product containing a different number of bases.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

Conveniently, screening is carried out by comparing the cleavage product masses of the reference or wild-type nucleic acid to those of the test sample. Mass changes corresponding to base changes are readily observed.

Accurate mass determination of these small fragments is possible allowing unambiguous assignation of base composition of each oligonucleotide. This knowledge allows deduction of the nature of the mutation and, after specific cleavage at different bases and integration of the WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 data, the position of the mutation.

The method of the present invention is applicable to any nucleic acid molecule such as but not limited to DNA, genomic DNA, cDNA, plasmid DNA, satalite DNA, mRNA and other RNA molecules as well as DNA:DNA, DNA:RNA and RNA:RNA hybrids. The present invention is particularly applicable to nucleic acid molecules amplified by, for example, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

According to this aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising amplifying said test nucleic acid molecule by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), subjecting the test amplified nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

A particularly preferred requirement is that the source of nucleic acid is cleavable to oligonucleotide fragments of from 2 bases to 1000 bases, preferably of from 3 bases to 500 bases, more preferably of from 4 bases to 100 bases and even more preferably of from 4 bases to 50 bases. Oligonucleotide fragments of form 4 bases to 40 bases are of particular usefulness in practising the present invention.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising amplifying said test nucleic acid molecule by PCR, subjecting the test amplified nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments of from about 2 to about 1000 bases, separating the resulting oligonucleotide WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 11 fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

The nucleic acid may be cleaved by a range of chemical molecules including enzymes. Enzymes are particularly preferred due to their specificity. One useful enzyme is uracil-N-glycosylase which cleaves DNA at uracil residues incorporated, for example, during a PCR. However, a range of enzymes may be employed.

According to this embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising amplifying said test nucleic acid molecule and incorporating uracil residues, subjecting the test amplified nucleic acid molecule to uracil specific cleavage mediated by a uracil-N-glycosylase to generate oligonucleotide fragments of from about 2 to about 1000 bases, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

The method of the present invention is predicated in part on the fact that any oligonucleotide fragment differing in nucleotide composition between mutant and wild-type (or reference) sequences will be detected. The method has advantages over previously employed techniques and such advantages include the absence of a gel electrophoresis step thereby reducing time, expertise and need for separation equipment and the lack of dependance on toxic chemicals, such as osmium tetroxide. Whilst the present invention extends to the use of such chemicals in base specific cleavage reactions, it is preferred to use an enzymatic reaction to cleavage the target nucleic acid molecule.

-WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -12- The method of the present invention is particularly useful in detecting previously unknown mutations. This is important as a screening mechanism for inherited diseases and cancers such as during pre-natal diagnosis, diagnosis of a suspected disease or screening for carriers of disease alleles. It also has applications in polymorphism analysis of populations and in studies of evolution, drug resistance, virulence or attenuation of disease agents such as bacteria, viruses or protozoa.

The method may be carried out simultaneously or sequentially with an analysis of a reference to wild-type nucleic acid molecule. Both the test and reference nucleic acid molecules can then be compared. Alternatively, the wild-type nucleic acid molecule may already have been analysed.

Conveniently, this information may be stored electronically and upon completion of the analysis of the test nucleic acid molecule, both the test and reference sequences may then be compared manually, electronically or by a computer assisted means.

The method of the present invention may also be used to determine the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule.

The nucleotide sequence may be completely determined or a partial sequence obtained for example, for selected nucleotides. The method of the present invention, therefore, permits the rapid determination of a nucleotide sequence which will be invaluable, for example, in the efficient analysis of mutations.

The method of the present invention may be semi or fully automated and the present invention extends to apparatuses for automating the mutation detection assay. The apparatus may also be electronically controlled by a computer programme to facilitate the automation and/or analysis process.

Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention contemplates a computer programme capable of controlling a method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide SWO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 13fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to an apparatus capable of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said apparatus comprising means of subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the method of apparatus of the present invention also employs a further fragment separation means such as but not limited to post source decay (PSD).

PSD, for example, uses the dissociation of highly energised ions during their flight to the detector creating a second dimension. The ions are directed into an electric field of opposite polarity and are reflected. Smaller ions are reflected earlier and reach the detector first. As the spectrum from the decay is dependent on the nucleotide sequence of an oligonucleotide rather than the nucleotide composition, this avoids missing mutations in an oligonucleotide having the same nucleotide composition as a reference oligonucleotide. Although PSD is one convenient fragment separation means, the present invention extends to other similar techniques to separate fragmentation products. Generally these techniques are based on mass although may also be based on electrophoretic mobility, base size, base charge, base paring or other suitable criteria.

Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention provides a method of detecting a difference WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -14of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure and subjecting said separated fragments to further separation means to generate a spectrum dependent on nucleotide sequence and then identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

The MALDI-TOF MS analysis and further separation means may be done sequentially or simultaneously.

Preferably, the further separation means includes or comprises PSD or other similar techniques to separate fragmentation products.

The present invention is particularly useful in identifying and/or locating mutants in heterozygotes. Mutations are detectable on both strains or on one strand only.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a method for identifying and/or locating a mutation in one or more bases in a target nucleic acid molecule, subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

Preferably, the separated fragments are subjected to further separation means such as but not limited to PSD.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 15 The present invention is further described by the following non-limniting Examples.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -16- EXAMPLE 1

OLIGONUCLEOTIDES

Two test 22mers oligonucleotides with two bases different were used in this study CCT CAT UTT TTU TTG TAA GAG G [SEQ ID NO:1] CCT CGT UTT TTU TTG TUA GAG G [SEQ ID NO:2] The different bases are shown in bold.

For the detection of point mutations (see Example the following oligonucleotides are used:

TUB:

GGT GAC CTG AAC CAC CTC GTG CGT CCA GCC GTT CGT GGC TGT CCA GTC CGC GAAC TCT GAC CTG CGC AAG [SEQ ID NO:3]

TUB-M:

GGT GAC CTG AAC CAC CTC GTG CGT CCA GCC GTT CGA GGC TGT CGA GTC CGCGAA CTC TGA CCT GCG CAA G [SEQ ID NO:4]

TUB-F:

GGT GAC CTG AAC CAC CTC GT [SEQ ID

TUB-R:

CTT GCG CAG GTC AGA GTT [SEQ ID NO:6] TUB and TUB-M are used as template DNA and differ at three residues, bolded above, which comprise two point mutations and one insertion (bracketed and bolded). TUB-F and TUB-R are the "reverse" and "forward" primers used to amplify either TUB or TUB-M in a polymerase chain reaction.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 17- EXAMPLE 2 CLEAVAGE REACTION The cleavage reactions were carried out using 100 pmol of oligonucleotide, 0.5 units uracil -Nglycoslyase (Perkin Elmer) IxPCR buffer (50mM KC1, 10mM Tris-HC1 pH 8.3) (Perkin-Elmer) in a 250/l reaction. The reaction mixture was incubated at 50°C for 20 minutes to allow cleavage of the N-glycosidic bond at uracil. It was then heated for 15 minutes to 105 0 C to allow degradation of the phosphate bonds at the basic sites. The mixture was then purified using anion exchange resin to remove buffer salts and other impurities.

EXAMPLE 3 SAMPLE PURIFICATION Qiagen Anion Exchange Resin was equilibrated in 5mM NH 4

HCO

3 (Sigma) pH 8.4 (sodium free). 40,41 of the slurry was added to the reaction mixture and the DNA was allowed to bind at room temperature for 5 minutes with gentle shaking. The beads were spun down in a bench centrifuge and the supernatant discarded. The beads were then washed with 3x1001l volumes of 5mM NH 4 HC0 3 pH 8.4 (sodium free) with incubation and centrifugation between each wash.

The supernatant was discarded each time. The DNA fragments were then eluted using two 40/1 volumes of0.5M NH 4

HCO

3 pH 8.0 (sodium free), with incubation and centrifugation as before but with the supernatant being kept. The supernatant was then evaporated to dryness on a Savant Speedivac and resuspended twice in 20/1 distilled water and evaporated to dryness to remove any residual NH 4

HCO

3 The final product was resuspended in 5/.1 distilled water. The final concentration being approximately EXAMPLE 4 THE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTIONS AND DNA URACIL GLYCOSYLASE REACTION 20 ul reactions were set up containing 2.5mM MgCl 2 2.5 mM dATP, dCTP, dGTP, 5 mM dUTP, 0.5U Taq Gold (Perkin Elmer), 1.5 mM each TUB-F and TUB-R oligonucleotides and WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 18- 2.4 fg or either TUB or TUB-M or a mix of both. PCR assays were incubated at 95°C for minutes then cycled at 95°C 15 seconds, 60°C 35 seconds, 72°C 35 seconds for 40 cycles.

PCR reactions were pooled, each pool contained either 10 or 100 PCR reactions. Uracil DNA glycosylase (Perkin Elmer) was added at a ratio of 1U per 10 PCR reactions. Completeness of digestion was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis.

EXAMPLE PURIFICATION OF DIGESTED PCR PRODUCTS Each DNA glycosylase reaction was loaded onto a C8 aquapore RP300 column equilibrated with 0.1M TEAA, the column washed with 0.1M TEAA at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min and elute with 0.1M TEAA in 60% v/v CH 3 CN. Peaks were collected. Column eluates were desiccated on a Savant Speedivac, evaporative centrifuge, resuspended in water to the original volume and redessicated. Pellets were resuspended in 5 ml H 2 0. Mass spectrometric samples were prepared as described in Example 6.

EXAMPLE 6 MASS ANALYSIS 3-Hydroxypicolinic acid is prepared at a concentration of 75mg/ml in 1:1 acetonitrile and water and stored at room temperature in a closed vial in the dark. A new matrix solution is prepared weekly. Cation exchange beads (Bio-Rad, 50W-X4, mesh size 100-200pm) in ammonium form were used to reduce interference from sodium and potassium adducts (Nordhoff et al, 1992).

Samples were prepared as follows: 0.5/l matrix, 0.5gl sample (10pmol DNA) and 0.5l1 cation exchange resin were mixed on the slide and allowed to dry. The beads were then blown off with nitrogen gas. Samples were then analysed immediately.

Samples were run on the Kratos Kompact MALDI 4 with 337nm laser or a Perspective Voyager MALDITOF machine. Linear negative mode was used for all spectra. Fifty shots were fired at power setting 70 to find a sweet spot and then a further 50 shots were fired at the sweet spot to obtain the spectrum.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -19- EXAMPLE 7

SIMULATION

In order to assess the ability of this technique to detect mutations, a computer simulation was designed. Two different stimulations were conducted, one that models a mutation occurring in a haploid genome and the other modelling a mutation occurring in a diploid genome on the background of a wildtype sequence.

In order to optimise the detection of mutations, four separate base specific cleavage reactions have been performed using separated forward and reverse strands and two different base specific reagents, in this case, thymidine and cytosine. A random library of exonic sequences has been extracted from Genbank. This comprises 100,000 kb of coding sequence concatenated into one file. Sequence strings of incremental length are removed from this file. A fingerprint for each strand is generated. This is calculated by generating the sets of post cleavage fragments for each base-specific reagent and sorting the non-redundant fragments. Mutant sequences are created by mutating every residue in the wild-type sequence to each of three possible alternatives. The fingerprint of each mutant is generated and compared to the wild-type fingerprints. If the fingerprints are different, it is recorded as a successful detection and the next mutant examined.

If the first base specific cleavage reaction is unable to detect the mutation on the forward strand, the reverse strand is tried and so on until the reverse strand of the second reagent fails. This represents the total failure rate under the described conditions. Conceivably one could increase the power of the technique by using all four base specific reagents on both strands.

EXAMPLE 8 DETECTION OF BASE MUTATIONS Overlaid tracings from the mass spectrogram are presented in Figure 1. These show the cleavage products of two oligonucleotides 1 and 2 [SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO:2, respectively], which differ at two nucleotides, one producing a fragment with a different nucleotide composition and the other introducing a new cleavage site. The new fragments resulting from these differences are easily separated. This example, observed masses deviate from calculated WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 by This is sufficient to assign the correct base composition in this case, however, it is not sufficient to blindly assign base composition peaks from a sample of unknown sequence.

A study has been done which concluded that all base compositions can be uniquely specified up to the 14mer level if one base has a known composition (ie. G=1 in the case of the study, or in our case, T=0) with a measurement of mass to within This is presently achievable, dependent on the mass analyser used and the sample quality and quantity (Pomerantz et al, 1993).

Base specific cleavage and mass spectrometry is, therefore, able to differentiate between two identical length oligonucleotides with different nucleotide compositions and hence is able to differentiate between two sequences differing at one base (Table Where a mutation changes the residue involved directly in the base specific cleavage reaction (a residue in the case presented here), the difference in size of the resultant products is marked (Table The accuracy of mass determination allows deduction of the base composition of each fragment and therefore, where the sequence is known, will enable deduction of the nature of the mutation.

Table 2 presents stimulation date for the haploid genome case and Table 3 presents the stimulation data where a mutation occurs in a diploid organism in the presence of a wild-type copy. These data are presented as cumulative "failure to identify" mutations based on both strands and two base specific cleavage reactions. Therefore, the last column, which is where the reaction was unable to pick the mutation on the complementary strand represents the "total failure rate" of the technique under these conditions.

EXAMPLE 9 DETECTION OF POINT MUTATIONS The method of the present invention has been employed on PCR products and is able to detect point mutations and an insertion in DNA that has been amplified using the polymerase chain reaction as discussed below. The PCR templates used, TUB and TUB-M are described in Example 1 and have three differences, two of which are point mutations and the third is an insertion/deletion. All of these differences are visible in the mass spectrograms (Figures 2 and WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -21- Figure 3 represents the reacted, separated products of both TUB-M and TUB. This is a reconstruction of a heterozygote. Figure 2 is reacted, separated products of TUB, representing, in this case a homozygote normal. Table 4 gives the expected masses for each fragment and the corresponding comments on whether they have been seen. All mutations were seen on either both strands or on one strand only.

WO 98/54571 W098/4571PCT/AU98/00396 22 TABLE 1 oligol1:cleavage products caic. mass obs.mass a CCTCAT' 1810.2 1811.1 b TTTT 1318.8 1318.4 c TTGTAAGAGG 2 3190.0 3190.9 oligo2:cleavage products a CCTCGT' 1826.2 1828.2 b TTTT 1318.8 1318.4 c TTGT 1343.8 1343.5 d AGAGG 4 1635.0 1636.3 SEQ ID NO: 18 2 SEQ ID NO: 19 3 SEQ ID 4 SEQ ID NO:21 Table 2.

Sequence length 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 1000 Total number wildtype sequences 2500 1666 1250 1000 833 714 625 555 500 454 416 384 357 333 312 294 277 263 250 100 Total number mutd sequences 300000 299880 300000 300000 299880 299880 300000 299700 300000 299640 299520 299520 299880 299700 299520 299880 299160 299820 300000 300000 Number of ITIn' forward failures 10569 14723 18908 22825 26383 29751 32644 35692 38848 40970 43995 46387 48443 50812 52651 54768 56876 59231 60891 98902 1 1 forward failures 3.52 4.91 6.30 7.61 8.80 9.92 10.88 11.91 12.95 13.67 14.69 15.49 16.15 16.95 17.58 18.26 19.01 19.76 20.30 32.97 Number of 0.71 reverse failures 97 237 401 653 931 1225 1480 1955 2356 2828 3449 3923 4386 4904 5700 6130 6621 7445 7906 27716 %1 1710 reverse failures 0.03 0.08 0.13 0.22 0.31 0.41 0.49 0.65 0.79 0.94 1.15 1.31 1.46 1.64 1.90 2.04 2.21 2.48 2.64 9.24 Number of SoC" forward failures 1 14 26 43 72 93 145 188 264 348 500 541 643 759 949 1082 1221 1400 1507 10255 "eCi forward failures 0 0 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.06 0.09 0.12 0.17 0.18 0.21 0.25 0.32 0.36 0.41 0.47 0.50 3.42 Number Of Nicol reverse failures 1 2 8 11 21 24 32 62 8 50 103 142 155 188 236 240 3798 et$ reverse failures 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.05 0.06 0.08 0.08 1.27 Table 3.

Sequence Length Total Total Number Number "Tn Number S.C Number number num,ber of "T"n forward of reverse of forward of reverse wildtype mutatted forward Maiures reverse failures forward failures reverse failures sequences sequences failures failures failures failures 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 2500 1666 1250 1000 833 714 625 555 500 454 416 384 357 333 312 294 277 263 250 238 227 217 208 200 192 185 300000 299880 300000 300000 299880 299880 300000 299700 300000 299640 299520 299520 299880 299700 299520 299880 299160 299820 300000 299880 299640 299460 299520 300000 299520 299700 120699 132516 142523 150441 156926 163973 169582 173319 178247 181728 184465 188025 191722 194210 196727 199290 200599 203752 205749 207767 209037 210530 212472 214285 215159 215902 40 44 48 50 52 55 57 58 59 61 62 63 64 65 66 66 67 68 69 69 70 70 71 71 72 72 39139 48716 57790 65780 73381 81099 87388 92501 98957 103638 107959 112626 117075 120601 124257 127979 131116 134422 137686 140874 143182 145413 147958 149928 152227 153784 11468 16455 22043 27368 32832 38470 43686 48016 53122 57622 62015 65898 70162 73900 77929 81308 84764 87956 91319 94747 96836 99414 102503 104741 107376 109511 3993 6426 9600 12556 16347 20145 23767 27141 30973 34684 38330 41402 45504 48553 51963 54874 58213 60909 64056 67463 69713 71853 74722 77298 79507 81602 WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 25 TABLE 4 EXPECTED TUB FRAGMENTS FRAGMENTS NOT SEEN GGC 1045.6 CCAC 1198.8 CCACA [SEQ ID NO:22] 15 12* CCAG 1318.8 GGAC 1358.8 CCAGCCG [SEQ ID NO:23) 2226.4 GCGCAAG [SEQ ID NO:24] 2210.4 GCGCAAGA [SEQ ID NO:25] 2523.6* CCGCGAAC [SEQ ID NO:261 2539.6 GGAGCACGCAGG [SEQ ID NO:7) 3880.4 CGGCAAGCACCGACAGG [SEQ ID NO:81 5374.4 GGTGACCTGAACCACCTCGTGCG [SEQ ID NO:9] 5888.8 PRIMER CAGGCGCTrGAGACTGGACGCGT [SEQ ID NO: 10] 6258 PRIMER EXPECTED TUB-M FRAGMENTS CCAC 1198.8 END CGAG 1358.8 GGAC 1358.8 CGAGGC [SEQ ID NO:27] 1977.2 CCAGCCG [SEQ ID NO:28] 2226.4 GCGCAAG [SEQ lID NO:29J 2210.4 CGACAGCC [SEQ ID NO:30] 2539.6 CCGCGAAC [SEQ ID NO:31] 2539.6 CGAACGGC [SEQ ID NO:32] 2579.6 GGAGCACGCAGG [SEQ ID NO:1I 1] 3880.4 GGTGACCTGAACCACCTCGTGCG [SEQ ID NO: 12] 5888.8 PRIMER CAGGCGCTlGAGACTGGACGCGT [SEQ ID NO: 13] 6258

PRIMER

L I Fragments obtained due to the terminal transferase activity of Taq polymerase which results in the addition of a dATP at the 3' end of the PCR product.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -26- EXAMPLE MODIFICATION DETECTION PROTOCOL The method of Example 8 is employed except DNA polymerase enzymes are employed with the ability to incorporate both dNTPs and rNTPs. Specific cleavage reactions are performed on PCR products in which one of the nucleotides is substituted for rNTP. This permits the base specific cleavage reactions to be conducted in alkali at high temperature.

EXAMPLE 11 IDENTIFICATION OF MUTATION POSITION The method of Example 8 employs Uracil-N-glycososylase which cleaves DNA at uracil. It is, therefore, a T reaction as uracil is replacing thymidine in the PCR product. In this Example, cleavage occurs at each of other bases so as to create sets of overlapping data to give information about the position of the mutation.

EXAMPLE 12 DETERMINATION OF NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE The method of the present invention is used to determine a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid fragment. The method employed is substantially as described in Example 8.

EXAMPLE 13 DETECTION OF PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN MUTATIONS The method of the present invention is further demonstrated on a sequence polymorphism in the IL-12 gene. This previously unreported sequence change results in a TaqI RFLP and, therefore, can be followed by enzymatic digestion of PCR products.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -27- Methods Template DNA was genomic DNA from human volunteers of each possible genotype of the IL- 12 polymorphism (ie. and where is the presence of the Taq restriction site). PCRs were carried out in 201l reactions in 192 well plates in a Corbett Thermocycler with the following reaction mixture: 50mM KC1, 10mM Tris-HCl pH 8.3, 25mM MgC1 2 2.5mM dATP, dCTP and dGTP (Promega), 5mM dUTP (Boehringer Mannheim GmbH), 0.5U AmpliTaq Gold (Perkin Elmer), 0.4pM primers (Bresatec). After an initial 15min incubation at 95 0 C, the reactions were cycled 95 0 C 15 sees, 58 0 C 35sec, 72 0 C 35sec, for 40 cycles. 7 reactions were pooled for the homozygotes and 9 for the heterozygote. 1 unit of AmpErase Uracil-Nglycosylase (Perkin Elmer) was added to each pool and the reaction incubated at 50 0 C for 1 hour, followed by 30 minutes at 105°C. The extend of completion of the cleavage reaction was monitored by the absence of a band on an agarose gel. The cleavage reaction was monitored by the absence of a band on an agarose gel. The cleavage products were purified using reverse phase HPLC on a 100x2. 1mm C8 aquapore RP300 column (Applied Biosystems). The flow rate was 0.5ml/min and absorbance was monitored at 254nm. The sample washed with 0.1M triethylaminoacetate (TEAA) and eluted in 0.1M TEAA/60% w/v acetonitrile and the fraction with absorbance at 254nm was collected and evaporated to dryness using a Savant Speedivac.

The residue was resuspended in 10011 distilled deionised water and evaporated to dryness and then resuspended in 1l1 water. 0.5pl of this was mixed with 0.51pl 3-hydroxypicolinic acid (saturated solution in 50% w/v acetonitrile and 0.5pl NH 4 ion-exchange beads (BioRad, X4, mesh size 100-200pm) on a sample slide. The mass spectrometer used to characterise the reaction products was a Voyager BioSpectrometry Workstation from PerSeptive Biosystems.

128 laser pulses at power 1800 were averaged. Post Source Decay spectra were collected using a Kratos Kompact MALDI4 TOF mass spectrometer with 377nm laser and a curved field reflector in positive ion mode. Matrix and sample preparation as above. After scanning in linear mode for the sweet spot, the ion gate was set 34.8 Da above and 36.2 Da below the parent ion at 1727.2 Da. 200 profiles at 5 shots per profile were averaged. Spectra were corrected for the curved field.

Genotypes were confirmed by demonstrating the presence or absence of the TaqI restriction site WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -28by digesting PCR products with TaqI restriction enzyme (Gibco-BRL) and analysing the products by agarose electrophoresis. DNA bands were stained with ethidium bromide.

A computer simulation of the method has been written and 100kb of random coding sequence from Genbank has been fed into it. The program takes discrete-length bites of sequence from a file of concatenated cDNA sequence from Genbank. Each base is mutated to each hypothetical variant of the original sequence by removing the cleaved base leaving the residual short strings.

The mass spectrometry was modelled, fragments of different nucleotide composition being distinguishable and those of identical composition being indistinguishable. As quantitation is difficult on the MALDI, changes in peak height was not used as an indication of a change in underlying sequence. The program then compares "spectra" and tallies the number of mutations that were missed. The program can model the detection of a mutation in the presence of a wildtype sequence (heterozygote) or can model the differences between two homozygotes. In the first case a mutation can only be detected by the presence of a new peak and in the latter case, as well as the presence of a new peak, the disappearance of a peak can also signal a change. All four base specific cleavage reactions were used and reactions were performed on separated strands giving a total of 8 reactions per PCR product. Also the model has been refined to take account of the ability of post source decay (PSD) to identify changes in peaks containing a complex mix of oligonucleotides. In this case fragments of different sequence are distinguishable.

Results A PCR assay was designed to incorporate the mutated region and then subjected to uracil -N glycosylase treatment. The products were purified and analysed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The sequence of the PCR primers and product along with the mutation are shown in Figure 4. The C to T change gives rise to a Taq RFLP and this can be seen in homozygote and heterozygote state in Figure 5. The spectra generated by the MALDI-TOF can alsu be seen in Figure 5. The expected and observed masses of the cleavage products from the two alleles are given in Table 5. The position of the mutation and deduction of the changed base is evident from study of this Table.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -29- A limitation to the sensitivity of this method results from the lack of quantitative data available from the MALDI. When the fragment derived from the mutated sequence coincides with other fragments of identical nucleotide composition in the wild-type sequence, its disappearance will go undetected. Similarly, the appearance of a new fragment in the mutated sequence will go unnoticed of it has identical nucleotide composition to one or more other cleavage products. If both these conditions exist for all cleavage reactions, then the mutation will be missed. This technique, therefore, is not as advantageous for longer fragment as for small fragments.

To address this problem, the inventors employed a second dimension detection protocol on the MALDI-TOF machine. Post source decay (PSD) uses the dissociation of the highly energised ions during their flight to the detector as this second dimension. They are directed into an electric field of opposite polarity and are reflected. The smaller ions are reflected earlier and reach the detector first. As the spectrum from the decay is dependent on the sequence of the oligonucleotide (and not the nucleotide composition), the aforementioned limitation is bypassed, generating a method of mutation detection that is now extremely sensitive.

The utility of MALDI-TOF analysis with PSD is demonstrated in Figure 6 where two oligonucleotides of identical nucleotide composition are separated by MALDI-TOF using PSD.

The resulting spectra are quite distinguishable. Sequence determination of small oligonucleotides is feasible using molecular dissociation methods and, therefore, the subject method extrapolates into an accurate resequencing protocol.

A computer simulation of data from the linear separation of cleavage products has been written.

Using Genbank data, the expected number of base substitution that would be identified when comparing two homozygotes over a 250bp PCR distance is 98.5%. the comparable figure is when a homozygote is compared to a heterozygote. If each mass peak from a base specific cleavage is analysed using a secondary dissociation technique, eg. PSD on the MALDI-TOF machine, then sensitivity of mutation detection improves dramatically. This has also been simulated and for a 1000bp fragment subjected to base specific cleavage, and analysed with PSD, 99% of all substitutions will be detected for a homozygote to heterozygote comparison and 99.8% when two homozygotes are compared.

SWO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -31

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Cotton, Rodrigues, and Campbell, R.D. (1988). Reactivity of cytosine and thymine in single-base-pair mismatches with hydroxylamine and osmium tetroxide and its application to the study of mutations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 85: 4397-401.

2. Hattori, Shibata, Yoshioka, and Sakaki, Y. (1993). Orphan peak analysis: a novel method for detection of point mutations using an automated fluorescence DNA sequencer. Genomics 15: 415-417.

3. Lipshultz, Morris, Chee, Hubbell, Kozal, Shah, Shen, N., Yang, and Fodor, S.P. (1995). Using oligonucleotide probe arrays to access genetic diversity. Biotech. 19: 442-447.

4. Lui, Bai, Zhu, Liang, Siemieniak, Venta, and Lubman, D.M.

(1995). Rapid screening of genetic polymorphisms using buccal cell DNA with detection by Matrix Assisted Laser Desoprtion/Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Rapid Commun.

Mass Spectrom. 9: 735-743.

Nordhoff, Ingendoh, Cramer, Overberg, Stahl, Karas, Hillenkamp, and Crain, P.F. (1992). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of nucleic acids with wavelengths in the ultraviolet and infrared. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 6: 771-776.

6. Orita, Iwahana, Kanazawa, Hayashi, and Sekiya, T. (1989). Detection of polymorphisms of human DNA by gel electrophoresis as single-strand conformation polymorphisms. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 86: 2766-70.

7. Pomerantz, Kowalak, J.A. and McCloskey, J.A. (1993). Determination of oligonucleotide composition from mass spectrometrically measured molecular weight.

J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 4: 204-209.

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -32- SEQUENCE LISTING GENERAL INFORMATION: APPLICANT: (Other than US): THE WALTER AND ELIZA HALL INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH (US only): FOOTE Simon, ELSO Colleen, SIMPSON Richard, REID Gavin (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: A NOVEL METHOD (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 32 (iv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: ADDRESSEE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE STREET: 1 LITTLE COLLINS STREET CITY: MELBOURNE STATE: VICTORIA COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA ZIP: 3000 COMPUTER READABLE FORM: MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS SOFTWARE: PatentIn Release Version #1.25 (vi) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: APPLICATION NUMBER: PCT INTERNATIONAL FILING DATE: 28 MAY 1998

CLASSIFICATION:

(vii) PRIOR APPLICATION DATA APPLICATION NUMBER: PO 7102 FILING DATE: 28 MAY 1997 APPLICATION NUMBER: PO 7109 FILING DATE: 30 MAY 1997 APPLICATION NUMBER: PP 1665 FILING DATE: 5 FEBRUARY 1998 APPLICATION NUMBER: PP3592 FILING DATE: 19-MAY-1998 (viii) ATTORNEY/AGENT

INFORMATION:

NAME: HUGHES, DR E JOHN L REFERENCE/DOCKET NUMBER: EJH/AF (ix) TELECOMMUNICATION

INFORMATION:

.WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 33 TELEPHONE: +61 3 9254 2777 TELEFAX: +61 3 9254 2770 TELEX: AA 31787 WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -34- INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 22 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1: CCTCATUTTT TUTTGTAAGA GG 22 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 22 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2: CCTCGTUTTT TUTTGTUAGA GG 22 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 70 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3: GGTGACCTGA ACCACCTCGT GCGTCCAGCC GTTCGTGGCT GTCCAGTCCG CAAACTCTGA CCTGCGCAAG WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 69 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4: GGTGACCTGA ACCACCTCGTG CGTCCAGCCG TTCGAGGCTG TCGAGTCCGC (G)AACTCTGAC CTGCGCAAG 69 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 20 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID GGTGACCTGA ACCACCTCGT INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 18 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6: CTTGCGCAGG TCAGAGTT

IR

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -36- INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 11 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7: GGAGCACGCAG G 11 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 17 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8: CGGCAAGCAC CGACAGG 17 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 23 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9: GGTGACCTGA ACCACCTCGT GCG 23 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -37- LENGTH: 23 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID CAGGCGCTTG AGACTGGACG CGT 23 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 12 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11: GGAGCACGCA GG 12 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 23 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12: GGTGACCTGA ACCACCTCGT GCG 23 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 23 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single SWO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -38- TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13: CAGGCGCTTG AGACTGGACG CGT INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 124 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:

CACAACGGAA

CGUUUUUUUA

GCUAAAUGCU

TAGACCCAAA AAGAUAAUUU CUAUCUGAUU UGCUUUAAAA GGAUCACAAU GAUAUCUUUG CUGUAUUUGU AUAGUUCGAU CAUUGAAACA AUCA INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 124 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID

GUGUUGCCUU

GCAAAAAAAU

CGATTTACGA

AUCUGGGUUU

CCUAGUGUUA

GTAACTTTGT

UUCUAUUAAA

CUAUAGAAAC

TAGT

GAUAGACUAA ACGAAAUUUU GACAUAAACA UAUCAAGCUA INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 6 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -39- STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:

CATCCT

INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 6 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:

CACCTT

INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 6 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:

CCTCAT

INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 10 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19: TTGTAAGAGG INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 6 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID CCTCGT 6 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 5 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21: AGAGG INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 5 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -41- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:

CCACA

INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 7 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:

CCAGCCG

INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 7 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:

GCGCAAG

INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 8 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:

GCGCAAGA

WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -42- INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 26: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 8 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 26: CCGCGAAC 8 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 6 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 27: CGAGGC 6 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 28: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 7 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 28: CCAGCCG 7 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 29: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 7 base pairs WO 98/54571 PCT/AU98/00396 -43- TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 29: GCGCAAG 7 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 8 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:

CGACAGCC

INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 31: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 8 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 31:

CCGCGAAC

INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 32: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 8 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear WO 98/5457 1 PCT/AU98/00396 -44 (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 32: CGAACGGC 8

Claims (19)

1. A method of detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule, said method comprising subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the nucleic acid molecule to be tested is amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) prior to base specific cleavage.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the base specific cleavage results in oligonucleotide fragments of from about 2 bases to about 1000 bases.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the base specific cleavage results in oligonucleotide fragments of from about 3 bases to about 500 bases. A method according to claim 4 wherein the base specific cleavage results in oligonucleotide fragments of from about 4 bases to about 100 bases.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the base specific cleavage is uracil specific cleavage.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the uracil specific cleavage is mediated by uracil- N-glycosylase.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 further comprising subjecting PAOPER\JEH\Rs Clns 2(M)l\Nov 2(I) l2211683 cms2.doc-2I November 24M) -46- fragmentation products to further separation (PSD) to generate a spectrum from decay dependent on the nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the further separation of fragmentation products is by post source decay (PSD). An apparatus when used for detecting a difference of one or more nucleotides between a nucleic acid molecule to be tested and a reference nucleic acid molecule according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 9, said apparatus comprising means of subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a fingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak represents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising further fragmentation separation means to generate a spectrum from decay dependent on the nucleotide sequence S* of the oligonucleotide. *°o

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the further fragmentation separation means is post source decay (PSD).

13. A method for identifying and/or locating a mutation in one or more bases in a target nucleic acid molecule, subjecting the test nucleic acid molecule to base specific cleavage to generate oligonucleotide fragments, separating the resulting oligonucleotide fragments based on mass by MALDI-TOF MS and/or other equivalent procedure to produce a Sfingerprint of the oligonucleotide fragments comprising one or more peaks wherein a peak Srepresents the mass of each fragment and identifying an altered peak relative to a reference P:OPER\EH\Rcs sims 21OI\Nos 2(M) 1X2116X 1 chus2 dm.2( Nm-nibmr. 21XJI -47- nucleic acid molecule subjected to the same procedure wherein the presence of an altered peak is indicative of a difference of one or more nucleotides in said tested nucleic acid molecule.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the nucleic acid molecule to be tested is amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) prior to base specific cleavage. A method according to claim 13 or 14 wherein the base specific cleavage results in oligonucleotide fragments of from about 2 bases to about 1000 bases.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the base specific cleavage results in oligonucleotide fragments of from about 3 bases to about 500 bases.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the base specific cleavage results in oligonucleotide fragments of from about 4 bases to about 100 bases.

18. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 17 wherein the base specific cleavage is uracil specific cleavage.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the uracil specific cleavage is mediated by •uracil-N-glycosylase.

20. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 19 further comprising subjecting fragmentation products to further separation (PSD) to generate a spectrum from decay dependent on the nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the further separation of fragmentation products is by post source decay (PSD). P.'OPERUEH\Rcs Ch-~ 21M I 21X 1I22 I1183 (I2d Q No ,u 2(W)I -48

22. A method according to any one of claims I to 9 or 13 to 21 or an apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures and/or Examples. DATED this 20I' day of NOVEMBER, 2001 THE WALTER AND ELIZA HALL INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant(s)