METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SYNTHESIZING NUCLEIC ACIDS
First Claim
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1. A method for synthesizing an oligonucleotide, comprising:
- exposing an oligonucleotide attached to a solid support to a nucleotide analog in the presence of a nucleotidyl transferase enzyme and in the absence of a nucleic acid template such that the nucleotide analog is incorporated into the oligonucleotide,wherein the nucleotide analog comprises a nucleotide, a cleavable linker, and an inhibitor, the nucleotide comprising an unmodified 3′
hydroxyl and coupled, by the cleavable linker, to the inhibitor, wherein the inhbitor prevents the nucleotidyl transferase from catalyzing incorporation of a nucleotide or an additional nucleotide analog into said oligonucleotide until said inhibitor is removed by cleavage of said cleavable linker.
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Abstract
The invention provides improved methods for synthesizing polynucleotides, such as DNA and RNA, using enzymes and specially designed nucleotide analogs. Using the methods of the invention, specific sequences of polynucleotides can be synthesized de novo, base by base, in an aqueous environment, without the use of a nucleic acid template. Because the nucleotide analogs have an unmodified 3′ OH, i.e., as found in “natural” deoxyribose and ribose molecules, the analogs result in natural polynucleotides suitable for incorporation into biological systems.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for synthesizing an oligonucleotide, comprising:
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exposing an oligonucleotide attached to a solid support to a nucleotide analog in the presence of a nucleotidyl transferase enzyme and in the absence of a nucleic acid template such that the nucleotide analog is incorporated into the oligonucleotide, wherein the nucleotide analog comprises a nucleotide, a cleavable linker, and an inhibitor, the nucleotide comprising an unmodified 3′
hydroxyl and coupled, by the cleavable linker, to the inhibitor, wherein the inhbitor prevents the nucleotidyl transferase from catalyzing incorporation of a nucleotide or an additional nucleotide analog into said oligonucleotide until said inhibitor is removed by cleavage of said cleavable linker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for synthesizing an oligonucleotide, comprising:
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exposing an oligonucleotide attached to a solid support to a nucleotide analog in the presence of a nucleotidyl transferase enzyme and in the absence of a nucleic acid template such that the nucleotide analog is incorporated into the oligonucleotide, the nucleotide analog comprising an unmodified 3′
hydroxyl,wherein the synthesized oligonucleotide remains attached to the solid support for subsequent use in an application. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification