Methods for tagging and tracing materials with nucleic acids

• US 5,451,505 A
• Filed: 05/21/1992
• Issued: 09/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Hoffmann-La Roche Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Dollinger, Gavin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parr, Margaret
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marschel, Ardin H.
• Application Number:
  US07/887,424
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 435/6, 435/91.1, 435/91.2, 436/518, 436/519, 436/523, 436/528, 436/174, 436/800, 436/804, 436/808, 436/63, 436/501, 436/30, 436/56, 935/77, 935/78, 536/25.3
• US Class Current: 435/6.11
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 23/008 Tagging additives
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/68 involving nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6816 characterised by the detection means C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2563/185 Nucleic acid dedicated to use as a hidden marker/bar code, e.g. inclusion of nucleic acids to mark art objects or animals
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 21/46 Elements suited for chemical verification or impeding chemical tampering, e.g. by use of eradicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/58 involving labelled substances G01N33/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/13 Tracers or tags

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for tagging and tracing materials using nucleic acids as taggants. The process of tagging involves altering a substance in a manner that allows for the subsequent identification of the substance by detecting the alteration. The alteration disclosed herein involves nucleic acids.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring the presence of a substance exposed to naturally occurring ultraviolet radiation which comprises tagging the substance with a nucleic acid of at least 20 and less than 1,000 nucleotides, releasing the tagged substance in a manner exposing said substance and nucleic acid to naturally occurring ultraviolet radiation, collecting the nucleic acid, amplifying said nucleic acid using the polymerase chain reaction, and monitoring the presence of the substance by detecting the amplified product of said nucleic acid.

2. A method of claim 1 wherein the nucleic acid is non-natural nucleic acid comprising inosine bases or derivatized nucleotides selected from the group consisting of 7-deaza-2'"'"'deoxyguanosine, alkyl-phosphonate oligodeoxy-nucleotides, phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides, and alpha-anomeric oligonucleotides.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein the nucleic acid comprises a derivatized nucleotide.

4. A method of claim 1 where the substance is selected from the group consisting of air pollutants, oils, aromatic compounds, explosive compositions, food stuffs, medicaments, inks, paper goods, and paint products.

5. A method of claim 4 wherein the nucleic acid is covalently bound to a component of the substance.

6. A method of claim 4 wherein the nucleic acid is covalently bound to a solid support.

7. A method of claim 4 wherein the nucleic acid is encapsulated by a lipophilic composition.

8. A method of claim 4 wherein the nucleic acid is encapsulated by a polymeric composition.

9. A method of claim 1 wherein the substance is tagged with a nucleic acid having two predetermined subsequences, the first identifying a genera of substances, and the second identifying a subgenera of substances.

10. A method of tagging a substance comprising the step of incorporating a non-natural nucleic acid having a specific sequence of nucleotide bases for retrospective identification into or onto the substance wherein the non-natural nucleic acid is exposed to naturally occurring ultraviolet radiation and is at least 20 nucleotides and less than 1000 nucleotides and further comprises inosine bases or derivatized necleotides selected from the group consisting of 7-deaza-2'"'"'deoxyguanosine, alkyl-phosphonate oligodeoxy-nucleotides, phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides, and alpha-anomeric oligodeoxynucleotides.

11. A method claim 10 where the substance is selected from the group consisting of air pollutants, oil, aromatic compounds, explosive compositions, food stuffs, medicaments, inks, paper goods, and paint products.

12. A method of claim 11 wherein the nucleic acid is covalently bound to a component of the substance.

13. A method of claim 11 wherein the nucleic acid is covalently bound to a solid support.

14. A method of claim 11 wherein the nucleic acid is encapsulated by a lipophilic composition.

15. A method of monitoring the presence or absence of a substance which comprises tagging the substance with a nucleic acid of at least 20 and less than 1,000 nucleotides, releasing the substance and nucleic acid, collecting the nucleic acid, amplifying said nucleic acid, and monitoring the presence or absence of the substance by detecting the presence or absence of the amplified product of said nucleic acid wherein the nucleic acid when released with the substance is not sealed collectively in a container and is exposed to the atmosphere.

16. A method of monitoring the presence or absence of a substance which comprises tagging the substance with a nucleic acid of at least 20 and less than 1,000 nucleotides, releasing the substance, collecting the nucleic acid, amplifying said nucleic acid, and monitoring the presence or absence of the substance by detecting the presence or absence of the amplified product of said nucleic acid wherein the nucleic acid when released with the substance is not sealed collectively in a container and is exposed to the atmosphere and wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of air pollutants, oil, aromatic compounds, explosive compositions, food stuffs, medicaments, inks, paper goods and paint products.