The invention relates to a method for the electrochemical detection of
sequence-specific nucleic acid oligomer hybridization events. To this end
single DNA/RNA/PNA oligomer strands which at one end are covalently
joined to a support surface and at the other, free end, covalently linked
to a redox pair, are used as hybridization matrix (probe). As a result of
treatment with the oligonucleotide solution (target) to be examined, the
electric communication between the conductive support surface and the
redox pair bridged by the single-strand oligonucleotide, which
communication initially is either absent or very weak, is modified. In
case of hybridization, the electric communication between the support
surface and the redox pair, which is now bridged by a hybridized
double-strand oligonucleotide, is increased. This permits the detection
of a hybridization event by electrochemical methods such as cyclic
voltametry, amperometry or conductivity measurement.