Point mutation detection by surface plasmon resonance imaging coupled with a temperature scan method in a model system.

The detection of point mutations in genes presents clear biological and medical interest. Various methods have been considered. In this paper, we take advantage of surface plasmon resonance imaging, a technique allowing detection of unlabeled DNA hybridization. Coupled with a temperature scan, this approach allows us to determine the presence of single-point mutations in oligonucleotide samples from the analysis of DNA's melting curves in either the homozygous or heterozygous case. Moreover, these experimental data are confirmed in good agreement with numerical calculations.