Anti-gene Development Group

Antivirals Inc.

Neu-gene Development Group

Eugene P Stirchak

Dwight D Weller

James E Summerton

A composition of polymer molecules effective to bind, with substantially uniform binding affinity, to a single-stranded polynucleotide containing a target sequence of bases. The polymer molecules are composed of a sequence of base-pairing moieties effective to hydrogen bond to corresponding, complementary bases in the target sequence, under selected binding conditions, and a predominantly uncharged, achiral backbone supporting the base-pairing moieties at positions and in orientations which allow hydrogen bonding between the pairing moieties of the polymer and the corresponding complementary bases in the target sequence. The composition has diagnostic uses, in a solid-support assay system, and therapeutic uses involving inhibition or inactivation of target polynucleotides.

Uncharged polynucleotide-binding polymers

Alpha-morpholino subunits and polymer compositions composed of alpha-morpholino subunits are disclosed. These subunits can be linked together by uncharged linkages, one to three atoms in length, joining the morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to the 5' exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit. Each subunit contains a purine or pyrimidine base-pairing moiety effective to bind by hydrogen bonding to a specific base or base-pair in a target polynucleotide. The polymers of the instant invention can be used in place of standard RNA or DNA oligomers. For example, the target-specific polymers of the invention can be used in a variety of diagnostic assays for detection of RNA or DNA having a given target sequence. Further, the polymers of the invention also have potential use as therapeutic agents.

Alpha-morpholino ribonucleoside derivatives and polymers thereof

Alpha-morpholino subunits and polymer compositions composed of alpha-morpholino subunits are disclosed. These subunits can be linked together by uncharged linkages, one to three atoms in length, joining the morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to the 5' exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit. Each subunit contains a purine or pyrimidine base-pairing moiety effective to bind by hydrogen bonding to a specific base or base-pair in a target polynucleotide. The polymers of the present invention can be used in place of standard RNA or DNA oligomers for a number of standard laboratory procedures, for example, as probes in solid-phase systems and nucleic acid hybridization analyses. Further, the polymers of the present invention have potential use as therapeutic agents in anti-sense-type technologies.

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Corvallis, OR, United States of America

Eugene P Stirchak