SummaryThe interaction of EcoRI with different oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) was analyzed using the method of the slow step-by-

The interaction of Escherichia coli Fpg protein, which catalyzes excision of several damaged purine bases including 8-oxoguanine (oxoG) from DNA with a set of single- (ss) and double-stranded (ds) 23-mer oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) containing 8-oxoguanine(s) at various positions, has been investigated. The affinities of different ss ODNs (KM = 0.55-1.3 microM) were shown to be 12-170 times less than those for corresponding ds ODNs (KM = 6-60 nM). Depending on the position of the oxoG within the ODNs, relative initial rates of conversion of ss substrates may be less than, comparable, or greater than those for ds ODNs. The enzyme can remove 5'-terminal oxoG from ODNs only if the 5'-end is phosphorylated. Fpg does not release oxoG residues from the ultimate and penultimate 3'-terminal positions. Duplexes containing two adjacent oxoG are poor substrates for the glycosylase.

A universal microchip was developed for genotyping Influenza A viruses. It contains two sets of oligonucleotide probes allowing viruses to be classified by the subtypes of hemagglutinin (H1–H13, H15, H16) and neuraminidase (N1–N9). Additional sets of probes are used to detect H1N1 swine influenza viruses. Selection of probes was done in two steps. Initially, amino acid sequences specific to each subtype were identified, and then the most specific and representative oligonucleotide probes were selected. Overall, between 19 and 24 probes were used to identify each subtype of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Genotyping included preparation of fluorescently labeled PCR amplicons of influenza virus cDNA and their hybridization to microarrays of specific oligonucleotide probes. Out of 40 samples tested, 36 unambiguously identified HA and NA subtypes of Influenza A virus.

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