In order to analyze mutations in the mutational "hot spot" regions of the human p53 gene using an electrode-based assay, it is necessary to produce sufficient quantities of properly tailored DNA oligonucleotides representing pre-selected, "hot spot," regions of the p53 gene.  A 5'-biotinylated primer is used in standard PCR to produce amplified double-stranded DNA in which one strand is modified with biotin.  Incubation of the amplified product with streptavidin-coated magnetic beads allows for separation of the strands to yield a single-stranded DNA sequence that can serve as a template for hybridization.  Short DNA oligonucleotides possessing a biotin molecule a the 5' end are used to protect the desired "hot spot" regions from nuclease digestion using mung bean nuclease, a single-strand specific endonuclease.  Properly tailored single-stranded DNA fragments will be produced following denaturation and binding of the biotinylated strand to the streptavidin-coated beads.
     Preliminary data demonstrates that small conductivity differences characteristic of non-Watson-Crick base pairing, a mutation, can be detected following hybridization of the DNA oligomer to the wild-type DNA bound to the electrode.

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