Oligozymes. Oligonucleotide-enzyme conjugates.

The simple use of nonisotopic hybridization probes to detect complementary sequences provides valuable information in a large number of research and commercial applications. In hybridization assays, the four "S's (speed, simplicity, sensitivity, and specificity) are important criteria for determining the choice of probe and label. The direct chemical combination of synthetic oligonucleotide probes and enzyme labels offer advantages unmatched by other approaches, with the oligonucleotide providing rapid hybridization and high specificity, and the direct enzyme label providing simple and sensitive detection. Such oligonucleotide-enzyme conjugates ("oligozymes") can be used in a variety of hybridization and detection formats, including dot blots, Southern/northern blots, in situ, and solution hybridization/capture schemes. The practical synthesis and use of such oligozymes are summarized.