Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A duplex nucleic acid structure capable of extended photonic energy transfer, said structure comprising: a first polynucleotide; a second polynucleotide hybridized to said first polynucleotide; a terminal donor chromophore linked by linker arms to one of said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide; at least one intermediate donor chromophore linked by linker arms to one of said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide; and at least one acceptor chromophore linked by linker arms to one of said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide; wherein the distance between said terminal donor chromophore and one said acceptor chromophore is greater than 5 nm and there is at least one said intermediate donor chromophore spaced from said terminal donor chromophore by a donor-donor transfer distance; and wherein said donor and said acceptor chromophores are alternately positioned on said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide such that said photonic energy transfer crosses between said first and said second polynucleotides of said duplex.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A duplex nucleic acid structure capable of extended photonic energy transfer, said structure comprising: a first polynucleotide; a second polynucleotide hybridized to said first polynucleotide; a terminal donor chromophore linked by linker arms to one of said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide; at least one intermediate donor chromophore linked by linker arms to one of said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide; and at least one acceptor chromophore linked by linker arms to one of said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide; wherein the distance between said terminal donor chromophore and one said acceptor chromophore is greater than 5 nm and there is at least one said intermediate donor chromophore spaced from said terminal donor chromophore by a donor-donor transfer distance; and wherein said donor and said acceptor chromophores are alternately positioned on said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide such that said photonic energy transfer crosses between said first and said second polynucleotides of said duplex.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said donor-donor transfer distance is 1.4 to 6.1 nm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said donor chromophores are selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diisothiocyanatodihydro-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, succinimidyl pyrene butyrate, acridine isothiocyanate, 4-dimethylaminophenylazophenyl-4'-isothiocyanate (DABITC), Lucifer Yellow vinyl sulfone, fluorescein isothiocyanate, Reactive Red 4 (Cibacron® Brilliant Red 3B-A) rhodamine X isothiocyanate, sulforhodamine 101, Malachite Green isothiocyanate and IR1446.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said donor chromophores are non-fluorescing chromophores.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said at least one intermediate donor chromophore comprises 1 to 99 chromophores.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure of claim 1, further comprising at least one fluorescing acceptor chromophore operatively linked by linker arms to one of said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide, wherein said at least one fluorescing accepting chromophore is positioned by said linker arms at a donor-acceptor transfer distance from at least one of said donor chromophores.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein said donor-acceptor transfer distance is 0.1 to 1.7 nm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein said fluorescing acceptor chromophore is selected from the group consisting of pyrene, Lucifer Yellow, acridine, riboflavin, fluorescein, rhodamine, sulforhodamine 101, and IR 144.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first polynucleotide and said second polynucleotide is linked to a solid support.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 9, wherein the solid support is selected from the group consisting of glass, metals, silicon, organic polymers, membranes, and bio-polymers.