In vitro capture of nucleic acids via modified oligonucleotides and magnetic beads

Abstract

A method is disclosed for capturing one or more target sequences utilizing modified, high stringency nucleic acids and strand displacement stategies. In this method, one or more modified, high stringency oligonucleotide (MHSO) conjugates are selected in which the conjugates are constructed from at least one modified nucleic acid, such as, for example, a locked nucleic acid (“LNA”) and a linking molecule. When incubated with a sample of nucleic acids, these MHSO conjugates capture the target sequence by selectively binding to complementary sequences of DNA or RNA, which may be either single or double stranded. Once bound, the resulting complexes constitute hybridized duplexes containing both a targeted sequence portion and a MHSO conjugate portion. The captured target sequences are separated from the sample by using a linking source that binds to the linking molecule of the hybridized duplex and extracting the linking source with the bound duplex from the sample.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of DNA purification and preparation. More particularly, the present invention relates to products and methods for enrichtment or depletion of nucleic acid libraries of specific sequences or clones utilizing strand displacement mechanisms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The ability to isolate, clone, and synthesize nucleotide sequences has led to the development of a number of highly effective techniques in disease diagnosis, genetic analysis and the design of genetic therapeutics. Particularly, the detection of DNA or RNA sequences associated with a particular antigen, phenotype or genotype currently enjoys widespread use in modern medicine and scientific research.

[0004] Typically, isolation of DNA, RNA, or other nucleotide sequences generally involves hybridization between a probe and a complementary target nucleotide sequence in order to isolate, identify, and analyze particular nucleotide sequences. Conventional techniques include target denaturation and either hybridization with a sample or probe nucleotide sequence immobilized onto a solid support, or hybridization of sample and probe sequences in solution, followed by separation of hybridized and unhybridized species. See, generally, Meinkoth et al. Anal. Biochem 138:267-284 (1984).

[0005] Unfortunately, immobilizing probes onto solid supports suffer from a number of substantial deficiencies. For example, many support materials such as agarose and cellulose generally have a low surface to volume ratio, resulting in poor hybridization kinetics, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the hybridization assay as well as significantly increasing the amount of time required to carry out the technique.

[0006] Alternatively, colony or plaque hybridization are well established methods, but they too have practical disadvantages. First, they require time-consuming and labor intensive steps of filter preparation that often limit the number of clones that can be screened. Second, since these procedures include prior denaturation steps and other treatments that destroy the integrity of the target DNA molecules, the corresponding clones must be isolated again from the original plates to obtain intact DNA molecules for further biological and biochemical manipulations. Frequently, many of these techniques entail a number of washing steps or other manipulations to decrease the amount of non-specific nucleotide binding, thus requiring expensive, and possibly error inducing, skilled, human interactions.

[0007] In attempts to overcome these deficiencies capture by triplex forming oligonucleotides has been used to detect and isolate intact nucleotide sequences from double stranded DNA without prior denaturation. In this method, a single stranded oligonucleotide probe is complexed to double stranded DNA to form an intermolecular triple helix. Formation of the oligonucleotide probe has been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,841 and 5,482,836, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, including any figures. Typically, an oligonucleotide template is coupled to biotin to construct the oligonucleotide probe. Upon formation of a triple helix with complementary double stranded DNA, the helix is isolated using streptavidin-coated beads. The use of streptavidin coated beads as a separation mechanism is well documented.

[0008] While triplex affinity capture has been used to isolate nucleotide sequences from double strand DNA, this method is limited by the absolute necessity of homopurine and homopyrimidine stretches of DNA residue in order to form the triple helix. The triplex structure is formed when pyrimidine thymine (T) recognizes adenine-thymine (AT) base pairs to form T-AT triplets. Likewise, pyrimidine cytosine (C) can recognize guanine-cytosine (GC) base pairs to form C-GC triplets. As such, nucleotide sequences that do not include homopurine or homopyrimidine rich residues can not be isolated using this method.

[0009] Recently, oligonucleotide analogues have been developed to investigate the conformational transition that occurs when oligonucleotides hybridize to a target sequence, from the relatively random coil structure of the single stranded state to the ordered structure of the duplex state. For example, conformationally restricted oligonucleotide analogues that include locked nucleoside analogues (LNAs) are described in International Patent Publication No. WO 99/14226, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,840,728, 5,869,666, and 6,083,482, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, including any figures. There is also Thio-LNA (2′S-4′C methylen bridge) and Amino-LNA (2′NR-4′C methylen bridge, R═H, Me), see Kumar et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett 1998, 8, 2219; and Singh et al. J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 10035), both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, including any drawings.

[0010] LNAs contain bicyclic nucleosides with a 2′-O-4′-C methylene bridge. This conformational and steric hindrance is believed to inhibit nuclease attack of the LNA, thereby resulting in an increased thermal stability of duplexes formed between LNA sequences and complementary DNA or RNA. To date LNAs have been developed primarily as blocking agents for translation and transcription in vitro and in vivo, as sequence specific inhibitors such as PCR clamping, as well as in various antisense therapies. See. e.g., www.proligo.com and www.Exiqon.com.

[0011] Thus, a need still remains for an accurate, efficient method of isolating specific target sequences in an economical, high throughput manner that obviates the limitations and compromises attendant in current technologies. Accordingly, a need exists for a method of capturing intact target sequences from double stranded DNA, without the need for denaturation, in a method that is highly sensitive, yet not labor intensive, and be conducted with a wide diversity of nucleotide sequences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention provides an in vitro method of capturing one or more target sequences utilizing strand displacement mechanisms.

[0013] In a specific embodiment the invention provides a method, which comprises the steps of:

[0014] providing one or more modified, high stringency oligonucleotide (MHSO) conjugates comprising a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a target sequence and a linking molecule;

[0015] incubating a sample of nucleic acids comprising, for example, DNA or RNA sequences having the target sequence to be captured by the MHSO conjugate according to the invention, which sample may be obtained from a plasmid library, preferably a double stranded DNA plasmid library, wherein at least one of the plasmids may be a circular plasmid, with the one or more modified oligonucleotide conjugates under non-denaturing conditions, thereby forming one or more hybridized duplexes, wherein each duplex comprises a target sequence portion and a modified oligonucleotide conjugate portion;

[0016] contacting substantially all of the hybridized duplexes with a linking source, such that the linking molecule of each duplex that contacts the linking source forms a bond with the linking source;

[0017] separating substantially all of the hybridized duplexes from the sample of nucleic acids by extracting the linking source from the sample; and

[0018] thus forming a new library enriched in, or depleted of, the targeted sequences.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment the incubating step comprises using reaction conditions at which substantially all of the target sequences form a strand displacing “A” helix with the modified oligonucleotide conjugates. In particular, the incubation of the sample of nucleic acids comprising the target sequence with the MHSO conjugate is done in a medium to low stringency buffer solution having a salt concentration in a range of between about 10 mM and 100 mM and at a temperature in the range of between about 65° C. to about 80° C.

[0020] In still another preferred embodiment of the invention the modified oligonucleotide contains at least about 50% modified nucleobases, preferably at least about 85% modified nucleobases, and most preferably 100% modified nucleobases and is between about 9-20, preferably between about 10 to 12 bases long, with 12 bases being the most preferred length for many applications.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the target sequence portion of the hybridized duplex is a portion of the insert in a 2.5 kb-4.5 kb clone, alternatively in a 3.5 kb clone.

[0022] In a further specific embodiment of the invention the sample of nucleic acids contains one or more nucleic acid molecules having a nucleotide sequence which comprises one or more simple sequence repeats as the target sequence, wherein the simple sequence repeat portion may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4 or even more base repeats. The sample of simple sequence repeats may be obtained from genomic DNA or from RNA.

[0023] In still another embodiment the method according to the invention further comprises the step of disassociating the targeted sequence portion of each of the hybridized duplexes from the linking source and modified oligonucleotide conjugate, wherein the disassociating step may be accomplished, for example, by incubating the hybridized duplexes with an alkaline buffer, preferably a buffer that has a pH between 9 and 10, such that the targeted sequence portion is disassociated from the modified oligonucleotide conjugate and the linking source.

[0024] In still another specific embodiment of the invention,

[0025] (a) the linking molecule that may be used within the method according to the invention comprises biotin bound to a 5′ end of the modified oligonucleotide; an antibody, immunoglobulin, or carbohydrate;

[0026] (b) the linking source comprises streptavidin-; antigen-, avidin-, protein A-, or lectin-coated beads.

[0027] Appropriate means are then to be used such as, for example, a magnet to extract the linking source and hybridized duplexes from the sample of nucleic acid molecules.

[0028] In a specific embodiment of the invention the oligonucleotide conjugates are modified by incorporating therein a locked nucleic acid (LNA) conjugate, a peptide nucleic acid conjugate or another modified nucleic acid conjugate capable of capturing the target nucleic acid such as, for example, a phosphoramidate, a thiophosphoramidate, etc.

[0029] As a specific embodiment, the invention provides an in vitro method of capturing one or more target simple sequence repeats, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

[0030] (a) providing one or more modified oligonucleotide conjugates, wherein each of the modified oligonucleotide conjugates comprises at least one locked nucleic acid and a linking molecule;

[0031] (b) incubating a sample of nucleic acids with the modified oligonucleotide conjugates, thereby forming one or more hybridized duplexes, wherein each duplex comprises a target simple sequence repeat portion and a modified oligonucleotide conjugate portion:

[0032] (c) binding the linking molecule biotin on the modified oligonucleotides to streptavidin on coated magnetic beads, such that the magnetic beads are linked to the hybridization duplexes;

[0033] (d) separating the hybridized duplexes from other materials with a magnet;

[0034] washing the hybridized duplexes;

[0035] incubating the hybridized duplexes with buffer of pH of about 9.5 such that the targeted simple sequence repeat dissociates from the modified oligonucleotide conjugate and the magnetic bead;

[0036] (e) transforming the simple sequence repeats in E. coli; and

[0037] (f) sequencing the transformed simple sequence repeats.

[0038] The invention further provides a hybridized duplex comprising a locked nucleic acid portion, and a simple sequence repeat portion; and, optionally, a linking source; a library enriched with targeted simple sequence repeats, formed by the method according to the invention, wherein the targeted simple sequence repeats comprise 1, 2, 3, or 4 base repeats; a kit for capturing target simple sequence repeats, comprising:

[0039] (a) one or more modified oligonucleotide conjugates, wherein each of the modified oligonucleotide conjugates comprises at least one locked nucleic acid and a linking molecule.

[0040] (b) a hybridized duplex comprised of a simple sequence repeat portion and a modified oligonucleotide conjugate portion;

[0041] (c) a linking source, wherein the linking source is attachable to the linking molecule of the modified oligonucleotide conjugate; and

[0042] (d) a means for separating the hybridized duplexes from a sample of nucleic acids.

[0043] In still another embodiment, the invention provides a strand displacement method of capturing target nucleic acids, wherein the improvement comprises using one or more target nucleic acid molecules having a nucleotide sequence which comprises one or more simple sequence repeats.

[0044] The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying specification, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are described. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0046] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Except as otherwise indicated, standard methods may be used for the production of DNA libraries, oligonucleotides, vectors (e.g., plasmids), and transformed cells according to the present invention. Such techniques are known to those skilled in the art. See e.g., J. Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual Second Edition (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989), and F. M. Ausubel et al., Current Protocols In Molecular Biology (Green Publishing Associates, Inc. and Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1991)

[0047] Definitions:

[0048] In order to ensure a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and the claims, the following definitions are provided:

[0049] In the present disclosure, an “oligonucleotide” has its usual term in molecular biology. It refers to a polymer of nucleobases that can hybridize by Watson-Crick base pairing to a complementary sequence. Nucleobases comprise a base, which is purine, pyrimidine, or a derivative or analog thereof.

[0050] References herein to a “portion” of a DNA or RNA chain, or of a gene, mean a linear chain that has a nucleotide sequence which is the same as a sequential subset of the sequence of the chain to which the portion refers.

[0051] In the present disclosure, the term “complementary” has its usual meaning from molecular biology. Two nucleotide sequences or strands are complementary if they have sequences which would allow base pairing (Watson-Crick or Hoogsteen) according to the usual pairing rules. This does not require that the strands would necessarily base pair at every nucleotide; two sequences can still be complementary with a low level (e.g., about 1-3%) of base mismatch such as that created by deletion, addition, or substitution of one or a few (e.g., up to 5 in a linear chain of 25 bases) nucleotides, or a combination of such changes.

[0052] In the present disclosure, “hybridize” has its usual meaning from molecular biology. It refers to the formation of a base-paired interaction between nucleotide polymers. The presence of base pairing implies that a fraction of the nucleotides (e.g., at least 80%) in each of two nucleotide sequences are complementary to the other according to the usual base pairing rules. The exact fraction of the nucleotides which must be complementary in order to obtain stable hybridization will vary with a number of factors, including nucleotide sequence, salt concentration of the solution, temperature, and pH.

[0053] In the present invention, “non-denaturing conditions” has its usual meaning in molecular biology and refers to the combined use of moderate temperatures conditions and medium to low stringency buffers. The preferred temperature to be applied within the method according to the invention is in a range of between about 45° to about 85° C., preferably in a range of between about 55° to about 80° C. and most preferably in an range of between about 65° C. to about 80° C., with each individual temperature falling within the above range also being part of the invention.

[0054] In the present disclosure, “medium to low stringency buffer” has its usual meaning in molecular biology and refers to a buffer that has a salt concentration of between 0.5 mM and 150 mM, but especially of between 1 mM and 100 mM, or, alternatively, of between 10 mM and 50 mM. The pH is preferably to be kept in a range of between 6.0 to 8.5. Salts that may be used in the above buffer solutions are, without being limited thereto, for example those selected from the group consisting of NaC1, H3PO4, NaH2PO4, Na2HPO4, Na3PO4, NH4Cl, monosodium citrate, NaHCO3, disodium succinate, Tris(hydroxymet hyl)aminomethane.hydrochloride, and methylamine.

[0055] In the present disclosure, “high stringency oligonucleotide” refers to an oligonucleotide that contains at least about 50%, preferably at least about 75%, more preferably about 85%, even more preferably about 95% and most preferably 100% nucleobases, which are modified such as to result in an increased thermal stability of duplexes formed between nucleic acids containing those modified nucleobases and complementary DNA or RNA molecules.

[0056] In the present disclosure, “duplex” has its usual meaning in molecular biology and refers to strands of nucleic acids wherein each base of a first strand of the duplex corresponds to a base of a second strand of the duplex according to the scheme in which uracil or thymine and adenine correspond and cytosine and guanine correspond. Anti-parallel duplex strands having these correspondences are said to be Watson-Crick paired. Duplex nucleic acids can be of two major types, ribonucleic acids and deoxyribonucleic acids. Each ribonucleotide has an equivalent deoxyribonucleotide, e.g., adenosine and deoxyadenosine, cytidine and deoxycytidine, guanosine and deoxyguanosine, uridine and thymidine.

[0057] References herein to the term “correspond,” as in, for example, cDNA which “corresponds” to mRNA, means that at least a portion of one nucleic acid molecule is either complementary or homologous to a second nucleic acid molecule. Thus, a cDNA molecule may correspond to the mRNA molecule where the mRNA molecule was used as a template for reverse transcription to produce the cDNA molecule. Similarly, a genomic sequence of a gene may correspond to a cDNA sequence where portions of the genomic sequence are homologous or complementary to the cDNA sequence.

[0058] The present invention greatly alleviates the disadvantages of known detection and isolation techniques by providing a method of capturing one or more target sequences under non-denaturing conditions utilizing modified, high stringency oligonucleotide conjugates (MHSO) and strand displacement strategies.

[0059] Briefly, in a specific embodiment, one or more modified, high stringency oligonucleotide (MHSO) conjugates are provided in which the conjugates are constructed from at least one modified, high stringency oligonucleotide (MHSO) and a linking molecule, hereinafter referred to as “modified, high stringency oligonucleotide or MHSO conjugates”.

[0060] The MHSO has a sequence that is complementary to one or more target sequences comprised within a nucleic acid molecule to be captured by the MHSO conjugate. However, because strand recognition permits some degree of mismatch, each oligonucleotide of the MHSO need not correspond exactly to each nucleotide of the target sequence according to its Watson-Crick pairing. Any MHSO which will preferentially bind to a target sequence is contemplated within the present invention.

[0061] For certain applications such as depletion of DNA libraries of certain nucleic acid elements the requirements for selectivity are even less stringent and a certain degree of latitude in terms of complementarity is not only allowed but, in some instances, even desired. In this case, any MHSO which will bind to a target sequence that has a degree of sequence complementarity of at least about 70%, preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 95%, and most preferably at least about 98% is also contemplated within the present invention. However in certain cases it may be desireable to have absolute specificity which would require a high degree of complementarity between the target sequence and the MHSO. In that case, a degree of sequence complementarity of 98% and up to 100% would be preferred.

[0062] For an MHSO to be used in a depletion scheme for removing related nucleic acid molecules from a sample such as, for example, a DNA library, it is advantageous to recognize and preferentially bind to a target sequence that is common to all those molecules. This can be achieved by designing MHSOs that are complementary to conserved areas within related nucleic acid molecules so that the largest possible number of molecules can be removed per reaction. To further increase the efficiency of the process according to the invention, one or more additional MHSOs may be used within a single reaction which target one or more additional sequences within the nucleic acid molecule to be removed which is different from the first one and may or may not be conserved between related molecules in the sample. In this case, the two or more MHSOs used within a single reaction are preferably targeting sequences that are located within the 3′- and 5′ part of the nucleic acid molecule to be captured, respectively.

[0063] The MHSO according to the invention preferably is about 6-30 bases long, more preferably about 9-20 bases long (i.e., the MHSO may have 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 bases), even more preferably about 10-15 bases long and most preferably about 12 bases long, although any number of bases in these ranges may be included in the MHSO.

[0064] The length of the MHSO and the nucleobase content has to be balanced such that target specificity is maintained at sufficiently high a level to allow capturing the nucleic acid molecules comprising the target sequence under non-denaturing conditions. In a preferred embodiment, for any MHSO exceeding a length of 12 nucleobases the GC content ought to be in a range of between 5% and 75%; but preferably in an range of between 10% and 60%, and more preferably in an range of between 15% and 45%, most preferably about 25%, which each individual number falling within the given range of between 5% and 75% also being part of the invention.

[0065] In a further embodiment of the invention, the MHSO is designed such as to avoid or at least minimize inter- and intramolecular binding of the MHSO to an extent that it would not interfere with the MHSO-DNA hybridization. Intramolecular binding may lead to formation of secondary structures such as helixes and even more complicated structures. For example, an oligonucleotide may contain reiterated sequences of differing length such as direct (e.g. GAAT-N6-GAAT) and inverted (GAAT-N6-ATTC) repeats. The later, if sufficiently close may form stable stem-loop structures. Complementarity between the bases in the MHSO may lead to intermolecular binding between the MHSOs through MHSO-MHSO hybridization.

[0066] The person skilled in the art knows the rules to be applied to avoid or minimize secondary structure formation within or between oligonucleotides and will appreciate those rules when designing an MHSO for a particular application. In addition, there are software programs available that may assist the skilled artisan in finding the optimal design of the MHSO for each individual application such as, for example, Mufold (Mac) M or PcFold W [a MacOS port and PC version, respectively, of Michael Zucker's MFold software for prediction of RNA secondary structure by free energy minimization, including sub optimal folding with temperature dependence. (Author: D. Gilbert (mac port), M. Zuker (MFold); Home: iubio/mac/mulfold*, ftp://snark.wustl.edu/pub/ (MFold); Author: Michael Zuker et al., zuker@snark.wustl.edu]; Vienna RNA secondary structure prediction [(University of Vienna, Austria; http://www.tbi.univie.ac.at/cgi-bin/RNAfold.cgi)]; or. Oligonucleotids repeats finder—[(Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Novosibirsk, Russia;http://wwwmgs.bionet.nsc.ru/mgs/programs/OligoRep/-InpForm.htm)—finds direct, direct complementary, symmetric and invert repeats)]

[0067] Depending on the length of the MHSO and the nature of the target sequence one combination may be more appropriate than another and a person skilled in the art will know or can easily determine experimentally which combinations would be most appropriate for any given situation in order to achieve the optimal result.

[0068] The modified oligonucleotide conjugates may include a LNA conjugate, a peptide nucleic acid conjugate or another modified nucleic acid conjugate capable of capturing the target nucleic acid, for example phosphoramidates (JACS 1994, 116, 3143-3144, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) and thiophosphoramidates (Tetrahedron Lett. 1999, 40, 7661, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), or a combination thereof.

[0069] When incubated with a sample of nucleic acids, the MHSO conjugates of the invention, such as the LNA or other conjugates mentioned above, capture the target nucleic acids by selectively binding to complementary sequences of DNA or RNA, which may be either single or double stranded. The sample of nucleic acids that can be used within the process of the invention preferably includes linear or circular, single or double stranded DNA including plasmid and vector DNA comprising the target sequence. With the method according to the invention molecules with a size that equal about 2.5-4.3 kb in length can be processed, and in certain circumstances the length may be about 3.0-3.8 kb, about 3.2-3.6 kb, or about 3.4 kb, or any individual number within the range of between about 2.5 and 4.3 kb. Smaller molecules that are less than 2.5 kb in size can, of course, also be used as a sample nucleic acid. Once bound, the resulting complexes constitute hybridized duplexes containing both a nucleic acid molecule comprising the targeted sequence portion and a MHSO conjugate portion such as, for example, a LNA or another conjugate portion as mentioned hereinbefore above. The sample of nucleic acids preferably includes one target sequence, but may include 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more such sequences.

[0070] If samples are used within the process according to the invention that comprise more than 1 target sequence, the MHSO conjugates are preferably to be designed such that they show minimal secondary structure formation and intermolecular interactions by minimizing intra- or intermolecular complementarity amongst the MHSOs present in the reaction.

[0071] The different MHSO conjugates used within a reaction preferably do not include any non-modified oligonucleotides, but each single conjugate may include some non-modified nucleobases, for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more bases and up to 50% of the bases.

[0072] Hence, at least about 50%, preferably at least about 70%, more preferably at least about 85% and most preferably 100% of the nucleobases comprised within a modified oligonucleotide according to the invention are modified nucleobases. A particular good building block to combine the MHSO with for DNA recognition is RNA (Acc.Chem Res 1999, 32, 301-310, Table 1) and 2′OMeRNA also may be quite good.

[0073] The method according to the invention comprises incubating the MHSO conjugate(s) together with the sample molecules in an appropriate buffer solution in a molar excess to the sample nucleic acid molecules of between about 10× to 10×. The buffer solution is preferably a medium-to-low stringency-type buffer, most preferably a low stringency-type buffer containing the MHSO conjugate(s) in a molar excess to the sample nucleic acid molecules of between about 10× and 50×, but most preferably of about 20×.

[0074] A buffer that can be suitably used within the scope of the present invention is a buffer that has a salt concentration of between 0.5 mM and 150 mM, but especially of between 1 mM and 100 mM, or, alternatively, of between 10 mM and 50 mM. The pH is preferably to be kept in a range of between 6.0 to 8.5. All individual numbers falling within the above given ranges are also part of the present invention.

[0075] Salts that may be used in the above buffer solutions are, without being limited thereto, for example those selected from the group consisting of NaC1, H3PO4, NaH2PO4, Na2HPO4, Na3PO4, NH4Cl, monosodium citrate, NaHCO3, disodium succinate, Tris(hydroxymet hyl)aminomethane.hydrochloride, and methylamine.

[0076] Preferred is a buffer solution containing NaCl and for many applications contemplated within the scope of the present invention especially good results can be obtained by using a low stringency buffer with a NaCl concentration of 100 mM at an incubation temperature of 80° C. and an pH of 7.0.

[0077] The captured nucleic acids comprising the target sequence preferably are separated from the sample by using a linking source that binds to the linking molecule of the hybridized duplex and extracts the linking source with the bound duplex from the sample. In a preferred embodiment, the linking molecule is biotin and the linking source is streptavidin coated onto magnetic beads. In this embodiment, the hybridized duplex is composed of the nucleic acid comprising a target sequence and a MHSO conjugate, such as, for example, an LNA or other conjugate containing a biotin linking molecule. After formation of the hybridized duplex, streptavidin coated magnetic beads are contacted with the biotin of the duplex, resulting in biotin binding with streptavidin, and the now bound duplex is isolated from the sample via magnetic separation of the beads. In one aspect of the invention, the nucleic acid molecule comprising a target sequence may be detached from a MHSO conjugate, such as, for example, an LNA or other conjugates mentioned hereinbefore and the magnetic beads by treatment with an alkaline buffer.

[0078] The MHSOs and the method according to the invention can be used for a great variety of applications including, but not limited to, the capture and isolation of simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Of specific interest is the isolation of SSRs of the plant genome, such as those, for example, without however being limited thereto, which contain dinucleotide repeats, (e.g., (dT-dC)n(dG-dA)n). Often the SSRs are hyper-variable in the number of repeat units (n) from individual to individual, or from line to line in inbred crops. They are highly informative DNA markers for genetic linkage mapping, marker-assisted breeding, genotyping, and trait ID. Unfortunately, SSRs have a low frequency of occurrence in most genomes (1 in every 100 kb or more), so an accurate and efficient method of detection and isolation is needed to identify genomic SSRs.

[0079] The present invention now provides such a method of capturing one or more target simple sequence repeats, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

[0080] providing one or more modified, high stringency oligonucleotide conjugates, wherein in each of the modified oligonucleotide conjugates at least half of the nucleotides comprise a modified nucleobase such as, for example, an LNA nucleobase and a linking molecule;

[0081] incubating a sample of nucleic acids with the modified oligonucleotide conjugates under non-denaturing conditions, thereby forming one or more hybridized duplexes, wherein each duplex comprises a target simple sequence repeat portion and a modified oligonucleotide conjugate portion;

[0082] contacting substantially all of the hybridized duplexes with a linking source, such that the linking molecule of each duplex that contacts the linking source forms a bond with the linking source; and

[0083] separating substantially all of the hybridized duplexes from the sample of nucleic acids by extracting the linking source from the sample.

[0084] In a further step the targeted simple sequence repeat portion of each of the hybridized duplexes is dissociated from the linking source and modified oligonucleotide conjugate, wherein the disassociating step may be accomplished by incubating the hybridized duplexes with an alkaline buffer, such that the targeted sequence portion is disassociated from the modified oligonucleotide conjugate and the linking source.

[0085] After completion of the dissociation step a new library will be formed which is enriched in one or more target simple sequence repeats.

[0086] Besides SSRs, alternative sequences may be targeted by designing an appropriate MHSO and using it in an enrichment scheme according to the invention to obtain

[0087] Enrichment of clones of genes from a specific multigene family in a single species

[0088] Enrichment of clones of genes from a specific multigene family across multiple species

[0089] Capture of clones of paralogous genes from a single species

[0090] Capture of clones of orthologous genes across multiple species

[0091] Capture of clones containing a single DNA or protein motif from a single species

[0092] Capture of clones containing a single DNA or protein motif across multiple species.

[0093] In still another embodiment of the invention sequences may be targeted for depletion purposes by designing an appropriate MHSO and used in a depletion scheme according to the invention to obtain

[0094] Depletion of one or more specific DNA elements from a library

[0095] Deletion of one or more specific abundant clones from a library.

[0096] For example, the large cereal genomes are mainly composed of retrotransposon elements or other repetitive DNA such as, for example, Gypsy-like repeats and copia-like retrotransposon repeats or centromeric repeats, EN/Spm—like repeats or DNA transposon mutator-like repeats. Removal of these repetitive DNA from cereal genomes prior to sequencing should make sequencing of the genomes more efficient and allow for major cost savings.

[0097] In another aspect, the present invention discloses a sequence specific kit for capturing a nucleic acid molecule comprising a target sequence that comprises the above-referenced MHSO/target sequence hybridized duplex or other similar duplex, a linking source, and a means for separating the hybridized duplexes from a sample of nucleic acids.

[0098] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the MHSO is modified by incorporating therein LNA building blocks.

[0099] Because locked nucleic acids may be derivatives of any nucleobase, the limitations placed on triplex affinity capture, for example, the necessity of homopurine or homopyrimidine rich residues in the target sequences, are absent from the present invention. Advantageously, conjugates composed of LNAs may selectively isolate and bind with a wide diversity of nucleotidic sequences, unhampered by base limitations. For example, the present invention is capable of isolating SSRs composed of heteropurine or heteropyrimidine bases that are currently not detectable using a triplex affinity capture method.

[0100] Advantageously, LNAs form more stable duplexes than their DNA or RNA counterparts. As such, the ability of LNAs to form stable duplexes under conditions, such as low ionic strength or in buffers containing strong chaotropic agents, i.e., conditions in which RNA-DNA or DNA-DNA duplexes are unattainable, manifests itself in LNAs' increased hybridization affinities for target SSRs.

[0101] The enhanced stability of LNAs is particularly beneficial when isolating very short sequences such as SSRs. Higher ionic strength conditions induce intrastrand folding of target DNA or RNA sequences. By lowering the salt conditions, decreased intrastrand folding results, thereby exposing more of the targeted sequence to hybridization. Because of SSRs' low frequency of occurrence in genomic strands as well as the shortness of the sequences, accessibility of the target strand is essential.

[0102] As another advantage related to the accessibility of target sequences, LNA sequences are particularly useful where the target sequence is difficult or impossible to access by unmodified oligonucleotide sequences due to the rapid formation of stable intramolecular structures such as those occurring in rRNA, tRNA, snRNA, and scRNA. LNAs present a distinct advantage over unmodified oligonucleotides in that the steric bulkiness and rigidity of the bicyclic component of LNAs hinder such intramolecular folding, thereby increasing the accessibility of infrequently occurring and short sequenced SSRs.

[0103] As a further advantage, LNA sequences can capture target SSR sequences, possibly via strand displacement in which the LNA sequence selectively binds to its complementary target sequence in double stranded DNA or RNA such that the second strand of the double strand is displaced. Unlike colony or plaque hybridization, which frequently require prior denaturation steps, the present invention is able to detect and isolate intact double stranded DNA. The strand displacement mechanism of the present invention also obviates the labor intensive, multi-step washing procedures required of colony and plaque hybridization techniques.

[0104] Another advantage of the present invention stems from the availability of a linking molecule. The linking molecule may be attached to LNA at either end of the modified oligonucleotide, at one or more internal positions, or via spacers attached to the 5′ or 3′ end according to the methods disclosed in PCT WO 99/14226, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including any figures.

[0105] In the following paragraphs, the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to FIG. 1 which illustrated the detection, isolation and separation of a simple sequence repeat (SSR) from a nucleic acid sample. Throughout this description, the preferred embodiments and examples shown should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention.

[0106] FIG. 1 shows a method 100 of detecting, isolating, and separating simple sequence repeats (SSRs) from a nucleic acid sample. This method may be automated or conducted manually on either a laboratory benchtop or industrial scale. In the disclosed example, a modified oligonucleotide conjugate 105 (“LNA conjugate”) is selected wherein conjugate 105 contains an LNA nucleotide sequence complementary to a target within 111 and LNA conjugate 105 is composed of at least one locked nucleic acid (LNA) 107 and a linking molecule 112. The number, type and combination of LNAs 107 that comprise LNA oligonucleotide sequence 110 will depend on the nucleotide sequence of a target SSR 120 contained in 111.

[0107] Generally, an LNA oligonucleotide sequence 110 will be chosen that is complementary to the target SSR 120 to be captured. For example, if the target SSR 120 has a nucleotide sequence of 5′-(CA)6-3′, a preferred LNA oligonucleotide sequence 110 would be 3′-(GT)6-5′. (Alternatively, the complementary sequence in the target dsDNA could be targeted by a complementary LNA sequence). However, because strand recognition permits some degree of mismatch, each LNA oligonucleotide 107 need not correspond exactly to each SSR nucleotide according to its Watson-Crick pairing. Any LNA oligonucleotide sequence 110 which will selectively bind to a target SSR sequence 120 is contemplated within the present invention. LNA oligonucleotides sequences 110 may be obtained commercially from Proligo, LLC (Boulder, Colo.). Alternatively, LNA oligonucleotide sequences 110 may be synthesized according to the methods described in PCT WO 99/14226, or by any other methods know to those skilled in the art of synthesizing modified oligonucleotide sequences.

[0108] A linking molecule 112 is attached to LNA oligonucleotide sequence 110 by any method known in the art. For example, methods of attaching biotin to an LNA olignonucleotide sequence 110 at its 3′ or 5′ ends are described in PCT WO 99/14226. In a preferred embodiment, the linking molecule 112 is biotin. Other linking molecules 112 such as antibodies, immunoglobulins, or carbohydrates may also be used. Alternatively, linking molecule 112 may be any molecule that may be recognized by a linking source 134 and used to extract targeted SSR 120 from a sample. Preferably, linking molecule 112 should have a high capacity of molecular recognition for linking source 134 and a high capacity to bind to linking source 134. Linking molecules 112 with such an affinity to linking source 134 are conventional and therefore are not described in detail herein. Techniques for preparing and utilizing such systems are well-known in the literature and are exemplified in, for example, the publication Tijssen, P., Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Practice and Theories of Enzyme Immunoassays, eds. Burdon and Knippenberg, New York, Elsevier Press, (1988).

[0109] The LNA conjugates 105 are incubated with a sample of nucleic acids 117 containing the target SSR 120. Incubation conditions are dependent upon the LNA oligonucleotide sequence 110 utilized in accordance with this invention. For example, temperature conditions are specific to the type of LNA oligonucleotide sequence 110 and preferably is about 80° C.

[0110] A wide variety of samples 117 are contemplated within the present invention. For example, the sample 117 may be obtained from genomic libraries, DNA sequences, genomic DNA, RNA sequences, plasmids, double stranded DNA, double stranded DNA plasmid libraries, and single stranded DNA. Preferably, the sample is obtained from a plasmid library, and more preferably, a circular plasmid library, and even more preferably, from 3.5 kb double stranded clones (plasmid and insert). Alternatively, the present invention contemplates obtaining sample 117 from any source in which SSRs are present. In a preferred embodiment, sample 117 contains target SSRs 120 from a genomic library in pBluescript KS-/sacB construct. Multiple and different SSRs 120 may be found in any sample 117. Target SSR 120 may be of any length, but preferably comprise between 1 and 4 base pair repeats.

[0111] Once incubated together, LNA conjugate 105 and target SSR 120 form hybridized duplex 125. Because of the higher annealing temperature and higher thermal stability of LNA duplexes than corresponding DNA or RNA duplexes, LNA conjugate 105 invades double-stranded DNA and aligns itself with the complementary sequence of target SSR 120, thereby forming an “A” helix, reminiscent of a DNA-RNA double helix. Beneficially, this enables the present invention to capture SSRs 120 from double-stranded DNA, and represents an advantage over current technologies which are not able to isolate SSRs from double stranded DNA without denaturation.

[0112] After hybridized duplex 125 is formed, duplex 125 is contacted with a linking source 134 to form a linked complex 135 comprised of duplex 125 bound, either covalently or uncovalently, with linking source 134 through linking molecule 112. In a preferred embodiment, linking source 134 comprises magnetic beads 130 and streptavidin molecules 133 attached to magnetic beads 130. In the disclosed example, contact of linking source 134 with duplex 125 may be accomplished by introducing the streptavidin coated beads 130 into sample 117 containing hybridized duplex 125 and shake the solution to create a suspension of magnetic beads 130, thereby maximizing contact with hybridized duplex 125. Alternatively, hybridize duplex 125 may be stirred or vortexed with linking source 134; duplex 125 may be passed down a column or fluidized bed of linking source 134, or contacted with linking source 134 with no movement at all, allowing equilibrium conditions to attach duplex 125 to linking source 134.

[0113] The time period for contact between duplex 125 and linking source 134 is dependent upon the equilibrium conditions necessary for linking molecule 112 to attach to linking source 134, and is easily ascertainable by practitioners of the art. For example, a smaller time period may be needed to attach linking molecule 112 for duplexes 125 that are vigorously shaken with linking source 134, than if linking molecule 112 was introduced into solution with duplex 125 without shaking. Similarly, the time period for attachment may be less or more if linking molecule 112 was an antibody and linking source 134 was a corresponding antigen coated onto magnetic beads, than if linking molecule 112 and linking source 134 were biotin and streptavidin, respectively.

[0114] The present invention contemplates using any molecule 133 capable of recognizing linking molecule 112 that is also attachable onto a solid support 130, as a viable linking source 134. For example, the linking source may be composed of avidin, which recognizes biotin; antibodies that recognize their corresponding antigens; protein A and its corresponding immunoglobulin; or lectin that recognizes corresponding carbohydrates. Solid support 130 may be any solid material that is capable of forming a bond, either covalently or uncovalently, with molecule 133 without preventing binding between molecule 133 and linking molecule 125. As examples, solid support 130 may include agarose, cellulose, nitrocellulose, cross-linked dextrose, silicon, silica, nylon, glass, metallic and magnetic compositions and numerous plastics. Preferred structures are particles or beads but tubes, disks, and microplates are also acceptable. For example, a preferred embodiment uses magnetic beads as solid support 10.

[0115] Following incubation and attachment of linking molecule 112 with linking source 134, the resulting linking complex 135 is separated from sample 117. The method of separation will depend upon the type of linking source 134 and linking molecule 112 selected. In a preferred embodiment, an applied magnetic field such as a magnet separates linking complex 135 from sample 117 and any concomitant reaction medium when linking molecule 112 is biotin and linking source 134 is streptavidin coated magnetic beads. Alternatively, sample 117 and any reaction solution may be decanted from linking complex 135. Column or bed washings with an appropriate buffer, centrifugation, and filtering are also contemplated within the present invention.

[0116] In a preferred embodiment, treatment of linking complex 135 with a slightly alkaline buffer disrupts the hydrogen bonds between targeted SSR 120 and LNA conjugate 105, thereby disassociating the targeted SSR 120 from LNA conjugate 105 and linking source 134. Preferably, the pH of the buffer is between 8.0 and 10.0 and more preferably between 9.0-9.5. The time period and temperature conditions of the treatment are dependent upon the amount of SSR 120 isolated and the specific type of SSR 120, and is readily ascertainable by practitioners in the art. Once disassociated, targeted SSR 120 may be recovered from the buffer solution by conventional methods such as phenol/chloroform extraction (1:1 (vol/vol)) and ethanol precipitation or electrophoresis.

[0117] Once isolated, subsequent bacterial transformation produces very pure and substantial quantities of SSRs for a wide variety of uses such as genetic markers.

[0118] In another aspect of this invention, a hybridized duplex 125 is described. The duplex comprises a locked nucleic acid portion and a simple sequence repeat portion. The locked nucleic acid portion contains any LNA conjugate 105 wherein LNA conjugate 105 contains LNA nucleotide sequence 110 composed of at least one LNA 107 and linking molecule 112. The number, type and combination of LNAs 107 that comprise LNA oligonucleotide sequence 110 will depend on the nucleotide sequence of target SSR 120. Typically, LNA oligonucleotide sequence 110 is chosen to be complementary to target SSR 120 to be captured, and is described above. Target SSR 120 maybe of any length, but preferably comprise between 1 and 10 base pair sequences, and more preferably between 1 and 4 base pair sequences. In one aspect of the invention, the hybridized duplex also comprises a linking source 134.

[0119] In yet another aspect of the invention, a kit for capturing target SSR 120 is also described. This kit contains one or more LNA oligonucleotide conjugates 105, hybridized duplex 125 comprised of a target SSR portion and a LNA conjugate portion, linking source 134, and a means for separating hybridized duplexes 125 from any sample of nucleic acids 117 that contain target SSR 120. Preferably, the means for separating hybridized duplex includes an alkaline buffer, which disassociates target SSR 120 from LNA conjugate 105 and linking source 134. More preferably, the alkaline buffer has a pH between 9 and 10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0120] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from the following detailed description, along with the accompanying figure in which like reference numerals identify like elements throughout and wherein:

[0121] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a method of isolating simple sequence repeats made in accordance with the present invention.

[0122] This figure is a schematic representation for purposes of illustration and does not necessarily depict the actual relative sizes or locations of the elements shown.

EXAMPLE

[0123] One aspect of this invention, namely a method of capturing target simple sequence repeats, was demonstrated using a plasmid pBluescript KS-/sacB containing a known C-A repeat. 5′ biotinylated LNA oligonucleotide (GT)6 was obtained from Proligo, LLC (Boulder, Colo.) (referred hereinafter as “LNA oligo”). Streptavidin-coated magnetic beads (Dynabeads Streptavidin M-280) and a magnetic particle concentrator (Dynal MPC-?) were obtained from Dynal, Inc. (Great Neck, N.Y.). Streptavidin-coated magnetic beads were washed and resuspended with hybridization buffer prior to use.

[0124] 1 μg plasmid was incubated with 75 ng LNA oligo in 60 μl hybridization buffer (100 mM NaCl, 10 mM Na2PO4, pH 7.0) for 50 minutes at 80° C. 60 μl washed Dynabeads were incubated with the LNA oligo/plasmid hybridization medium for 80 minutes in a 50° C. water bath. Shaking of the water bath ensued every 10 minutes to maintain a suspension of the beads.

[0125] After removal from the water bath, the hybridization medium was centrifuged and Dynabeads separated using a Dynal magnet. Supernatant was removed and the beads washed 8 times with 500 μl of hybridization buffer. 150 μl of disassociation buffer (1.0 M Tric-Cl, pH 9.0, 0.5 mM EDTA) was added to the bead mixture with stirring. The resulting mixture was incubated at 90° C. for 20 minutes.

[0126] After centrifugation, the supernatant was retained and the beads discarded. 200 μl of ddH2O (pH 5.0), 35 μl of 3M NaOAc (pH 5.2), and 875 μl of 100% EtOH was added to the supernatant. The resulting solution was incubated at −20° C. for at least 12 hours. The resulting mixture was centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 30 minutes. After decanting the supernatant, the precipitate was washed with 500 μl of ice-cooled 70% EtOH and centrifuged for 20 minutes. After decanting the supernatant, the resulting precipitate was dried and 100 μl 1× TE (pH 8.0) was added. The resulting mixture was purified using a Qiagen PCR purification kit.

[0127] Life Technologies DH12s electrocompetent cells were transformed with 1 μl DNA to 40 μl cells using a BioRad Gene Pulser II (25 μF, 200 Ω, 1.8 kV). Upon addition of SOC broth, the transformation mixture was shaken gently for 1 h at 37° C. 75 μl of transformation mixture were plated onto LB amp plates containing 5% sucrose. Upon room temperature incubation for at least 12 h, colonies were collected into LB plates with 8% glycerol. After room temperature incubation for at least 12 h, the resulting colonies were stored at −80° C. for sequencing.

[0128] One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the preferred embodiments which are presented in this description for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow. It is noted that equivalents for the particular embodiments discussed in this description are also within the scope of the present invention and that preferred embodiments or features of one aspect of the invention can be incorporated into any of the other aspects of the present invention.

Claims

1. An in vitro method of capturing one or more target sequences, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing one or more modified, high stringency oligonucleotide conjugates (“MHSO”) comprising a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a target sequence and a linking molecule; incubating a sample of nucleic acids comprising the target sequence to be captured with the MHSO conjugate under non-denaturing conditions, thereby forming one or more hybridized duplexes, wherein each duplex comprises a target sequence portion and a modified oligonucleotide conjugate portion; contacting substantially all of the hybridized duplexes with a linking source, such that the linking molecule of each duplex that contacts the linking source forms a bond with the linking source; and separating substantially all of the hybridized duplexes from the sample of nucleic acids by extracting the linking source from the sample.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of disassociating the targeted sequence portion of each of the hybridized duplexes from the linking source and modified oligonucleotide conjugate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the disassociating step further comprises incubating the hybridized duplexes with an alkaline buffer, such that the targeted sequence portion is disassociated from the modified oligonucleotide conjugate and the linking source.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the alkaline buffer has a pH between 9 and 10.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the incubating step comprises using reaction conditions at which substantially all of the target sequences form a strand displacing “A” helix with the modified oligonucleotide conjugates.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified oligonucleotide is about 9-20 bases long.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified oligonucleotide is 12 bases long.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least 50% of the nucleobases of the modifided oligonucleotide are modified nucleobases.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least 85% of the nucleobases of the modifided oligonucleotide are modified nucleobases.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a 100% of the nucleobases of the modifided oligonucleotide are modified nucleobases.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the modifided nucleobase is a locked nucleoside analogue (LNA).

12. An in vitro method of capturing one or more target sequences, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing one or more LNA conjugates comprising a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a target sequence and a linking molecule, wherein at least in one of the LNA conjugates 85% of the nucleobases are locked nucleoside analogues (LNAs); incubating a sample of nucleic acids comprising the target sequence to be captured with the LNA conjugate in a low stringency buffer solution under non-denaturing conditions, thereby forming one or more hybridized duplexes, wherein each duplex comprises a target sequence portion and a modified oligonucleotide conjugate portion; contacting substantially all of the hybridized duplexes with a linking source, such that the linking molecule of each duplex that contacts the linking source forms a bond with the linking source; and separating substantially all of the hybridized duplexes from the sample of nucleic acids by extracting the linking source from the sample.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the incubation of the sample of nucleic acids comprising the target sequence with the MHSO conjugate is done in a low stringency buffer solution and at a temperature in the range of between about 65° C. to about 80° C.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the salt concentration of the buffer solution is in a range of between about 10 mM and 100 mM.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method forms a new library enriched in the targeted sequence.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the method forms a new library depleted in the targeted sequence.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the target sequence portion of the hybridized duplex is a portion of the insert in a 3.5 kb clone.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining the sample from a plasmid library.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the one or more plasmids is a circular plasmid.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining the sample from a double stranded DNA plasmid library.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining the sample from genomic DNA.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining the sample from RNA sequences.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the linking molecule comprises biotin bound to a 5′ end of the modified oligonucleotide.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the linking molecule comprises an antibody, biotin, immunoglobulin, or carbohydrate.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the linking source comprises streptavidin-coated beads.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the linking source comprises an antigen, avidin, protein A, or lectin.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the separating step comprises using a magnet to extract the linking source and hybridized duplexes from the sample sequences.

28. An in vitro method of capturing one or more target sequences, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing one or more LNA conjugates comprising a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a target sequence and a linking molecule, wherein at least in one of the LNA conjugates 100% of the nucleobases are locked nucleoside analogues (LNAs); incubating a sample of nucleic acids comprising the target sequence to be captured with the LNA conjugate in a low stringency buffer solution with a salt conentration of between 10 mM and 100 mM under non-denaturing conditions at a temperature of between about 65° C. to about 80° C., thereby forming one or more hybridized duplexes, wherein each duplex comprises a target sequence portion and a modified oligonucleotide conjugate portion; contacting substantially all of the hybridized duplexes with a linking source, such that the linking molecule of each duplex that contacts the linking source forms a bond with the linking source; and separating substantially all of the hybridized duplexes from the sample of nucleic acids by extracting the linking source from the sample.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample of nucleic acids contains one or more nucleic acid molecules having a nucleotide sequence which comprises one or more target simple sequence repeats.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured simple sequence repeat portion comprises 1, 2, 3, or 4 base repeats.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified oligonucleotides comprise nucleotide sequences that are complementary to the target simple sequence repeats.

32. A library enriched with targeted simple sequence repeats, formed by the method of claim 1.

33. An in vitro method of capturing one or more target simple sequence repeats, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing one or more modified oligonucleotide conjugates, wherein each of the modified oligonucleotide conjugates comprises at least one locked nucleic acid and a linking molecule; incubating a sample of nucleic acids with the modified oligonucleotide conjugates, thereby forming one or more hybridized duplexes, wherein each duplex comprises a target simple sequence repeat portion and a modified oligonucleotide conjugate portion: binding the linking molecule biotin on the modified oligonucleotides to streptavidin on coated magnetic beads, such that the magnetic beads are linked to the hybridization duplexes; separating the hybridized duplexes from other materials with a magnet; washing the hybridized duplexes; incubating the hybridized duplexes with buffer of pH of about 9.5 such that the targeted simple sequence repeat dissociates from the modified oligonucleotide conjugate and the magnetic bead; transforming the simple sequence repeats in E. coli; and sequencing the transformed simple sequence repeats.

34. A hybridized duplex comprising a locked nucleic acid portion, and a simple sequence repeat portion.

35. The hybridized duplex of claim 31, further comprising a linking source.

36. A strand displacement method of capturing target nucleic acids, wherein the improvement comprises using one or more target nucleic acid molecules having a nucleotide sequence which comprises one or more simple sequence repeats.

37. A kit for capturing target simple sequence repeats, comprising: one or more modified oligonucleotide conjugates, wherein each of the modified oligonucleotide conjugates comprises at least one locked nucleic acid and a linking molecule; a hybridized duplex comprised of a simple sequence repeat portion and a modified oligonucleotide conjugate portion; a linking source, wherein the linking source is attachable to the linking molecule of the modified oligonucleotide conjugate; and a means for separating the hybridized duplexes from a sample of nucleic acids.