Molecular beacons: a new approach for semiautomated mutation analysis.

Molecular beacons are oligonucleotide probes that become fluorescent upon hybridization. We designed molecular beacons to detect a point mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, a mutation that has been related to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and neural tube defects. The application of molecular beacons enables fast, semiautomated, accurate mutation detection. Moreover, the procedure is performed in a closed tube system, thereby avoiding carryover contamination. We believe these probes will find their way into nucleic acid research and diagnostics.