(19)
(11) EP 1 178 305 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
22.05.2002 Bulletin 2002/21

(43) Date of publication:
06.02.2002 Bulletin 2002/06

(21) Application number: 01125166.7

(22) Date of filing: 09.09.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G01N 27/447
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 16.09.1998 US 154178

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
99945645.2 / 1101104

(71) Applicant: PE Corporation (NY)
Foster City California 94404 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Sharaf, Muhammed A.
    Oakland, CA 94605 (US)
  • Roque-Biewer,Maria C.
    Davis, CA 95616 (US)

(74) Representative: Grund, Martin, Dr. et al
Dr. Volker Vossius, Patentanwaltskanzlei, Holbeinstrasse 5
81679 München
81679 München (DE)

 
Remarks:
This application was filed on 23 - 10 - 2001 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 62.
 


(54) Spectral calibration of fluorescent polynucleotide separation apparatus


(57) The invention relates to methods, compositions, and systems for calibrating a fluorescent polynucleotide separation apparatus. One aspect of the invention is multiple color calibration standards and their use. A multiple color calibration standard is a mixture of at least two polynucleotide of different length, wherein each of the polynucleotide is labeled with a spectrally distinct fluorescent dye. Another aspect of the invention is to produce total emission temporal profiles of multiple color calibration standards for use in calibrating fluorescent polynucleotide separation apparatus. The peaks corresponding to the fluorescently labeled polynucleotide in the total emission temporal profile may be detected using a peak detector that is driven by changes in the slopes of the total emission temporal profile. Calibration of fluorescent polynucleotide separation apparatus with various embodiments ofthe methods ofthe invention include the step of identification of the labeled polynucleotide of the multiple color calibration standards. The process of spectral calibration of fluorescent polynucleotide separation apparatus using multiple color calibration standard may include the step of the estimating (extracting) of the dyes' reference spectra, using information from the peak detection process performed on the total emission temporal profile. Other aspects of the invention include systems for separating and detecting fluorescently labeled polynucleotide, wherein the system is designed for spectral calibration in accordance with the subject calibration methods employing multiple color calibration standards. Another aspect of the invention is methods and compositions for detecting the flow of electrical current through a separation channel of a fluorescent polynucleotide separation apparatus. These methods an compositions employ monitoring dyes. Monitoring dyes are fluorescent dyes that are spectrally distinct from the dye on the polynucleotide intended to convey genetic information, e.g., fluorescent polynucleotide sequencing reaction products.