| abstract |
Compounds having the structure:n n wherein B represents a purine, 7-deazapurine, or pyrimidine moiety covalently bonded to the C 1 -position of the sugar moiety, provided that when B is purine or 7-deazapurine. it is attached at the N'-position of the purine or 7-deazapurine and when 8 is pyrimidine, it is attached at the N'-position; wherein A represents a moiety consisting of at least three carbon atoms which is capable of forming a detectable complex with a polypeptide when the compound is Incorporated into a double-stranded ribonucleic acid. deoxyribonucleic acid duplex, or DNA-RNA hybrid; wherein the dotted line represents a chemical linkage joining B and A. provided that if B is purine, the linkage is attached to the 8-position of the purine, if B is 7. deazapurine, the linkage is attached to the 7-position of the deazapurine, and if B is pyrimidine, the linkage is attached to the 5-position of the pyrimidine; and wherein each of x. y and z representsn either directly, or when incorporated into oligo- and polynucleotides, provide probes which are widely useful. n Applications include detection and localization of polynucleotide sequences in chromosomes, fixed cells. tissue sections, and cell extracts. Specific applications include chromosomal karyotyping, clinical diagnosis of nucleic acid-containing etiological agents, e.g. bacteria, viruses. or fungi, and diagnosis of genetic disorders. |