Microanalysis of Nucleic Acids Using the Limulus G Test

Abstract

The limulus G test has been used as a quantitative analysis of (1→3)-β-D-glucans, including schizophyllan (SPG) and curdlan. The present work extended the limulus G test to detect polynucleotide/SPG complexes. The complex showed an extremely sensitive response to the test, compared with SPG itself. The minimum concentration of the complex to show the response is almost 10-times as small as that of SPG itself, indicating the possibility to detect (1→3)-β-D-glucans or/and polynucleotides on the pico gram/ml scale.