N-2 substituted purines

Abstract

This invention presents novel purine-based compounds for inclusion into oligonucleotides. The compounds of the invention, when incorporated into oligonucleotides are especially useful as agents that are capable of specific hybridization with a nucleotide sequence of an RNA. Oligonucleotides are used for a variety of purposes, such as regulating gene expression in experimental systems, assaying for RNA and for RNA products through the employment of interactions with such RNA, diagnosing diseases, modulating the production of proteins, and cleaving RNA in site specific fashions. The compounds of the invention include novel heterocyclic bases, nucleosides, and nucleotides. When incorporated into oligonucleotides, the compounds of the invention can be useful for modulating the activity of RNA.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.