| abstract |
Compounds having the structure: <IMAGE> wherein B represents a purine, 7-deazapurine, or pyrimidine moiety covalently bonded to the C1'-position of the sugar moiety, provided that when B is purine or 7-deazapurine, it is attached at the N9-position of the purine or 7-deazapurine and when B is pyrimidine, it is attached at the N1-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 represents <IMAGE> <IMAGE> either directly, or when incorporated into oligo- and polynucleotides, provide probes which are widely useful. 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. |