Epoch Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Epoch Biosciences, Inc.

Howard B Gamper

Igor V Kutyavin

Rich B Meyer, Jr

Eugeny Alexander Lukhtanov

Alexander A Gall

Charles R Petrie

John C Tabone

Nigel L Webb

Gerald D Hurst

Jinsuk Woo

Minor groove binding molecules are covalently bound to oligonucleotides which in their base sequence are complementary to a target sequence of single stranded or double stranded DNA, RNA or hybrids thereof. The covalently bound oligonucleotide minor groove binder conjugates strogly bind to the target sequence of the complementary strand.

Covalently linked oligonucleotide minor groove binder conjugates

Chemically modified oligonucleotides (ODNS) are complementary, either in the sense of the classic &ldquo;four letter code&rdquo; recognition motif, or in the sense required for triple strand formation based on the more limited &ldquo;two letter code recognition motif&rdquo;, to a target sequence of double stranded DNA of an invading cell, organism or pathogen, such as a virus, fungus, parasite, bacterium, malignant cell, or any duplex DNA which is desired to be broken into segments for the purpose of &ldquo;mapping&rdquo;. The ODNs have cross-linking agents covalently attached at least to two different sites of the ODN. Alternatively, the cross-linking agent which is attached to one site on the ODN has two cross-linking functionalities, and therefore in effect comprises two cross-linking agents. The cross-linking agent typically includes a linker arm (such as an alkyl, alkoxy, aminoalkyl or amidoalkyl chain) and a reactive group which, after triple strand formation with the target sequence of DNA, is capable of reacting with the target DNA to form a covalent bond therewith. Each cross-linking agent of the novel modified ODNs is capable of forming a covalent bond with the target DNA. As a result of the covalent bond formation between the modified ODN and both strands of the target DNA sequence, replication and expression of the target DNA sequence is inhibited. Alternatively the duplex DNA is selectively cleaved with enzymes or amino acids, at the alkylation sites for &ldquo;mapping&rdquo; or other investigative purposes.

Bifunctional Crosslinking oligonucleotides adapted for linking to a target sequence of duplex DNA

A method for introducing a site-specific mutation into a target polynucleotide sequence is presented. The method involves the use of an oligonucleotide capable of binding to the target sequence, either by triplex formation (mediated by Hoogsteen, reverse Hoogsteen or equivalent base pairing) or by Watson/Crick base pairing (in the presence of a recombinase enzyme). The oligonucleotide of the invention is modified by the covalent attachment of one or more electrophilic groups. When a modified oligonucleotide is bound to its target sequence, the electrophilic group is able to interact with a nearby nucleotide in the target sequence, causing a modification to the nucleotide that results in a change in nucleotide sequence. Compositions used in the practice of the method are also disclosed.

Targeted mutagenesis in living cells using modified oligonucleotides

Minor groove binding molecules are covalently bound to oligonucleotides which in their base sequence are complementary to a target sequence of single stranded or double stranded DNA, RNA or hybrids thereof. The covalently bound oligonucleotide minor groove binder conjugates strongly bind to the target sequence of the complementary strand.

Covalently linked oligonucleotide minor grove binder conjugates

In a matched pair of oligonucleotides (ODNS) each member of the pair is complementary or substantially complementary in the Watson Crick sense to a target sequence of duplex nucleic acid where the two strands of the target sequence are themselves complementary to one another. The ODNs include modified bases of such nature that the modified base forms a stable hydrogen bonded base pair with the natural partner base, but does not form a stable hydrogen bonded base pair with its modified partner. This is accomplished when in a hybridized structure the modified base is capable of forming two or more hydrogen bonds with its natural complementary base, but only one hydrogen bond with its modified partner. Due to the lack of stable hydrogen bonding with each other, the matched pair of oligonucleotides have a melting temperature under physiological or substantially physiological conditions of approximately 40.degree. C. or less. However each of the matched ODN pair of the invention forms a substantially stable hybrid with the target sequence in each strand of the duplex nucleic acid. The hybrids of target duplex nucleic acids formed with the ODN pairs of the invention are useful for gene mapping and in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Selective binding complementary oligonucleotides

Oligonucleotides (ODNs) include a sequence that is complementary to a target sequence in single stranded RNA, or single or double stranded DNA, and an alkylating function which after hybridization alkylates the target sequence. ODNs adapted for alkylating single stranded RNA, such as messenger RNA, are complementary to the target sequence in the Watson Crick sense. ODNs adapted for alkylating double stranded DNA have at least two alkylating functions and are complementary to the target sequence in the Hoogsteen or reverse Hoogsteen sense. With these ODNs both strands of the target sequence are alkylated. A third class of ODNs have at least approximately 26 nucleotide units in a continous sequence which are complementary to the target sequence of double stranded DNA, and the alkylating function is covalently attached to a nucleotide unit in the continuous sequence. Alkylation or cross-linking with this class of ODNs occurs in the presence of a recombinase enzyme.

Crosslinking oligonucleotides

Covalently linked conjugates of oligonucleotides (ODNs) with a cyclopropapyrroloindole moiety or an analog thereof, selectively and efficiently alkylate and crosslink with nucleic acid sequences that are complementary to the base sequence of the ODN.

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Woodinville, WA, United States of America

Howard B Gamper