Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A glycosidase substrate that is a fluorescein derivative of the general formula: ##STR9## wherein GlyX is a carbohydrate bonded to fluorescein by a glycosidic linkage; Y, which may be the same as GlyX or different, is an alkyl ether, an ester, or a glycosidically linked carbohydrate; R is a lipophilic residue containing from 1 to 21 carbon atoms; and L links the R residue to fluorescein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A glycosidase substrate that is a fluorescein derivative of the general formula: ##STR9## wherein GlyX is a carbohydrate bonded to fluorescein by a glycosidic linkage; Y, which may be the same as GlyX or different, is an alkyl ether, an ester, or a glycosidically linked carbohydrate; R is a lipophilic residue containing from 1 to 21 carbon atoms; and L links the R residue to fluorescein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 1, wherein both Y and GlyX are carbohydrates bonded to fluorescein by a glycosidic linkage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 2, wherein Y is the same carbohydrate as GlyX.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the carbohydrates is linked to the fluorescein derivative in a β-glycosidic linkage through an anomeric carbon atoms of said carbohydrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 1, wherein GlyS is selected from the group consisting of β-D-galactose, β-D-glucose, and β-D-glucuronic acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lipophilic residue R comprises an alkyl --(CH 2 ) n CH 3 , where n is greater than 1 and less than 22.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 6, wherein n is greater than 1 and less than 11.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 6, wherein n is greater than 9 and less than 18.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 1, wherein R is linked to the fluorescein derivative at the 5 or 6 position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said linking group L is alkyl --CH 2 --, amide --NHCO--, or carboxyamide --COHN--.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising substituents attached to a xanthene portion of the fluorescein derivative.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said substituents are halogens attached to the xanthene portion at the 2',4',5',7' positions or at the 2',7' positions, or at the 4',5' positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 1, wherein both GlyX and Y are β-D-galactose; R comprises an alkyl --(CH 2 ) n CH 3 , where n is greater than 10 and less than 18; and L, which is alkyl --CH 2 --, amide --NHCO--, carboxyamide --CONH--, carboxylate ester --COO--, urethane --NHCOO--, thiourea --NHCSNH--, urea --NHCONH--, or sulfonamide --NHSO 2 --, links R to the fluorescein derivative at the 5 or 6 position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A substrate, as claimed in claim 13, wherein R is --(CH 2 ) 10 CH 3 , and L is alkyl --CH 2 --, amide --NHCO--, or carboxyamide --CONH--.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
A non-fluorescent substrate that is a lipophilic fluorescein derivative specifically hydrolyzable by a glycosidase inside a cell to yield, after greater than about 2 minutes, a fluorescent detection product excitable at between about 460 nm and 550 nm and with fluorescence observable at an emission wavelength longer than the excitation wavelength, which fluorescent detection product is retained inside a viable cell more than about 2 hours at greater than about 15° C. and which is non-toxic to the cell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
A non-fluorescent substrate that is a lipophilic fluorescein derivative specifically hydrolyzable by a glycosidase inside a cell to yield, after greater than about 2 minutes, a fluorescent detection product excitable at between about 460 nm and 550 nm and with fluorescence observable at an emission wavelength longer than the excitation wavelength, which fluorescent detection product is retained inside a viable cell more than about 2 hours at greater than about 15° C. and which is non-toxic to the cell.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for evaluating a glycosidic enzyme in a sample comprising the steps of: a) contacting the sample to be evaluated with a non-fluorescent substrate that is a fluorescein derivative of the general formula ##STR10## wherein GlyX is a carbohydrate bonded to the fluorescein derivative by a glycosidic linkage and is specifically hydrolyzable by said enzyme to yield a fluorescent fluorescein analog; Y, which may be the same as GlyX or different, is an alkyl ether, an ester, or a glycosidically linked carbohydrate; R is a lipophilic residue containing from 1 to 21 carbon atoms, and L links the R residue to the fluorescein derivative; b) removing a first portion of said sample; c) exciting said first portion of the sample with a radiation source at a wavelength of between about 460 nm and about 550 nm; and d) observing the first portion in conjunction with means for the detecting fluorescence intensity of the fluorescent analog.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for evaluating a glycosidic enzyme in a sample comprising the steps of: a) contacting the sample to be evaluated with a non-fluorescent substrate that is a fluorescein derivative of the general formula ##STR10## wherein GlyX is a carbohydrate bonded to the fluorescein derivative by a glycosidic linkage and is specifically hydrolyzable by said enzyme to yield a fluorescent fluorescein analog; Y, which may be the same as GlyX or different, is an alkyl ether, an ester, or a glycosidically linked carbohydrate; R is a lipophilic residue containing from 1 to 21 carbon atoms, and L links the R residue to the fluorescein derivative; b) removing a first portion of said sample; c) exciting said first portion of the sample with a radiation source at a wavelength of between about 460 nm and about 550 nm; and d) observing the first portion in conjunction with means for the detecting fluorescence intensity of the fluorescent analog.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method, as claimed in claim 16, for evaluating a glycosidic enzyme inside living cells, wherein said step of contacting the sample with the substrate comprises incubating said cells in a medium containing said substrate for sufficient time, such that said substrate enters said cells.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method, as claimed in claim 17, for evaluating a glycosidic enzyme inside transformed living cells, wherein said step of removing a first portion from said sample comprises the steps of: a) removing from the sample, cells containing said fluorescent fluorescein analog; b) transferring the removed cells to a culture medium containing standard nutrients for growing the removed cells; c) culturing the removed cells to yield said first portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method, as claimed in claim 17, for evaluating a glycosidic enzyme inside transformed living cells containing an inducible promoter, further comprising the steps of: a) removing a second portion of said sample; b) adding an inducer specific for said promoter to said second portion; c) exciting said second potion of the sample with a radiation source at a wavelength of between about 460 nm and about 550 nm; p1 d) observing said second portion in conjunction with means for the detecting fluorescence intensity of the fluorescent analog; and e) comparing observation of said second portion with observation of said second portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sample comprises a β-glycosidase-protein construct.