| Research Abstract |
Many human diseases are caused by small alterations in DNA sequence of the disease-causing genes. DNA diagnosis for human diseases is, therefore, realized by the analysis of the alterations in the DNA sequence of disease-causing genes. In this study, we developed microfabricated device integrated by PCR and capillary array electrophoresis on a chip. Laser-induced fluorescence detection system for the chip has been constructed by the modification of laser confocal fluorescence microscopy and we investigated DNA conformational dynamics using fluorescence microscopy. Even sigle DNA molecule labeled by intercalating fluorescence dyes was detected during migrating into the array of microchannels and conformational dynamics of single DNA molecule in microchannels filled with linear polyacrylamide under electric field was observed by this system to elucidate the separation mechanism of DNA and to optimize the separation conditions for DNA analysis. In the optimum conditions established in this study, DNA fragments up to 1 kbp were separated within only 60 s. In these instances, many data shown here demonstrate that integrated microdevice technology is a promising technology for DNA diagnosis of human diseases with high throughput, high accuracy, less labor-intensive, and cost effectiveness.
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