Abstract: Novel oligomers are disclosed which have enhanced ability with respect to forming duplexes or triplexes compared with oligomers containing only conventional bases. The oligomers contain the bases 5-(1-propynyl)uracil, 5-(1-propynyl)cytosine or related analogs. The oligomers of the invention are capable of (i) forming triplexes with various target sequences such as virus or oncogene sequences by coupling into the major groove of a target DNA duplex at physiological pH or (ii) forming duplexes by binding to single-stranded DNA or to RNA encoded by target genes. The oligomers of the invention can be incorporated into pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and can be constructed to have any desired sequence, provided the sequence normally includes one or more bases that is replaced with the analogs of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides 4′-C-ethynyl pyrimidine nucleosides (other than 4′-C-ethynylthymidine) represented by formula [I]: wherein B represents a base selected from the group consisting of pyrimidine and derivatives thereof; X represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group; and R represents a hydrogen atom or a phosphate residue; and a pharmaceutical composition containing any one of the compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Preferably, the composition is used as an anti-HIV agent or a drug for treating AIDS.

Abstract: The invention describes a new method to sequence DNA. The improvements over the existing DNA sequencing technologies are high speed, high throughput, no electrophoresis and gel reading artifacts due to the complete absence of an electrophoretic step, and no costly reagents involving various substitutions with stable isotopes. The invention utilizes the Sanger sequencing strategy and assembles the sequence information by analysis of the nested fragments obtained by base-specific chain termination via their different molecular masses using mass spectrometry, as for example, MALDI or ES mass spectrometry. A flirter increase in throughput can be obtained by introducing mass-modifications in the oligonucleotide primer, chain-terminating nucleoside triphosphates and/or in the chain-elongating nucleoside triphosphates, as well as using integrated tag sequences which allow multiplexing by hybridization tag specific probes with mass differentiated molecular weights.

Abstract: Novel 5′-deoxy-cytidine derivatives represented by the general formula (I) wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a group easily hydrolyzable under physiological conditions; R2 is a hydrogen atom, or —CO—OR4 group [wherein R4 is a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched hydrocarbon group consisting of one to fifteen carbon atoms, or a group of the formula —(CH2)n—Y (in which Y is cyclohexyl or phenyl; n is an integer from 0 to 4)]; R3 is a hydrogen atom, bromo, iodo, cyano, a C1-4 alkyl group [which may be substituted with halogen atom(s)], a vinyl or ethynyl group [which may be substituted with halogen atom(s), C1-4 alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, or aromatic ring which may have one or more hetero atom(s)], or an aralkyl group which may be substituted for use in medical therapy, especially tumor therapy.

Abstract: Modified pyrimidine nucleotides derivatized at C5 to contain a functional group that mimics the property of a naturally occurring amino acid residues are provided. DNA molecules containing the modified nucleotides are also provided.