Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for synthesizing a polynucleotide of a predetermined sequence, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a nonswellable porous polystyrene support, remaining substantially mechanically rigid during synthesis; (b) providing a 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside, the 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside being attached to the nonswellable porous polystyrene support, such that the 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside forms a protected correct-sequence chain; (c) detritylating the correct-sequence chain to free a 5'-hydroxyl; (d) reacting with the 5'-hydroxyl of the correct-sequence chain a 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside monomer selected from the group consisting of 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside-3'-phosphoramidite and 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside-3'-hydrogen phosphonate to form either a protected correct-sequence chain or a failure sequence, the failure sequence having a 5'-hydroxyl; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the polynucleotide of the predetermined sequence is obtained; (f) cleaving the polynucleotide from the nonswellable porous polystyrene support to form a cleavage mixture, the cleavage mixture containing tritylated polynucleotide and untritylated failure sequences; and (g) purifying the polynucleotide by exposing the cleavage mixture to a hydrophobic adsorbent, washing the hydrophobic adsorbent to preferentially remove untritylated failure sequences, detritylating the 5'-hydroxyl of the tritylated polynucleotide, and eluting the untritylated polynucleotide from the hydrophobic adsorbent.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for synthesizing a polynucleotide of a predetermined sequence, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a nonswellable porous polystyrene support, remaining substantially mechanically rigid during synthesis; (b) providing a 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside, the 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside being attached to the nonswellable porous polystyrene support, such that the 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside forms a protected correct-sequence chain; (c) detritylating the correct-sequence chain to free a 5'-hydroxyl; (d) reacting with the 5'-hydroxyl of the correct-sequence chain a 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside monomer selected from the group consisting of 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside-3'-phosphoramidite and 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside-3'-hydrogen phosphonate to form either a protected correct-sequence chain or a failure sequence, the failure sequence having a 5'-hydroxyl; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the polynucleotide of the predetermined sequence is obtained; (f) cleaving the polynucleotide from the nonswellable porous polystyrene support to form a cleavage mixture, the cleavage mixture containing tritylated polynucleotide and untritylated failure sequences; and (g) purifying the polynucleotide by exposing the cleavage mixture to a hydrophobic adsorbent, washing the hydrophobic adsorbent to preferentially remove untritylated failure sequences, detritylating the 5'-hydroxyl of the tritylated polynucleotide, and eluting the untritylated polynucleotide from the hydrophobic adsorbent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of cleaving includes deprotecting said polynucleotide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 further including the step of capping said failure sequence by reacting a capping agent with said 5'-hydroxyl of said failure sequence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said hydrophobic adsorbent is a nonswellable polystyrene adsorbent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside monomer is 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside-3'-hydrogen phosphonate, and wherein said step of capping occurs after said step of repeating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside monomer is 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside-3'-phosphoramidite, and wherein said step of capping occurs after said step of reacting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said 5'-tritylated protected nucleoside-3'-phosphoramidite is defined by the formula: ##STR5## wherein: R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower aryloxy, cyano-, nitro-, or sulfono-substituted lower aryloxy; R' is selected from the group consisting of methyl and beta-cyanoethyl; DMT is dimethoxytrityl; and B is selected from the group consisting of adenine, guanine, thymidine, and cytidine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 7 wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, and propyl, and wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, methoxy, ethoxy, isopropoxy, tert-butyloxy, phenoxy, napthoxy, and biphenoxy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl, and wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethoxy, and phenoxy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said nonswellable polystyrene adsorbent is treated with an alkylammonium salt solution prior to said step of purifying.