Cyanine dye compounds

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to cyanine compounds useful for staining nucleic acids, including DNA. The invention has applications in the fields of molecular biology, particularly with respect to fluorescence-based assays.

#2. Background of the Invention

#FIG. 1: A plot showing the fluorescence emission intensity of Compound 25 bound to rRNA and DNA (calf thymus), respectively, with excitation at 500 nm, as described in Example 31.

#FIG. 2: A plot showing the intensity of the fluorescent signal from Compound 25 when bound to different concentrations of rRNA and DNA (calf thymus) in solution. Compound 25 exhibits little to no detectable fluorescent signal in the presence of RNA, even at a concentration of 10 mg/ml, as described in Example 32.

#FIG. 3: A plot showing the intensity of the fluorescent signal from Compound 25 when bound to different concentrations of DNA, RNA or RNA+DNA in solution. FIG. 3 indicates that in solution Compound 25 either does not bind RNA or binds RNA with little to no fluorescent signal intensity which is confirmed by the same fluorescence intensity signal for the RNA+DNA as for the corresponding DNA concentration, as described in Example 33.

#Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to specific compositions or process steps, as such may vary. It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a compound” includes a plurality of compounds and reference to “a nucleic acid” includes a plurality of nucleic acids and the like.

#Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention is related. The following terms are defined for the purposes of understanding the present disclosure.

#Certain compounds of the present invention can exist in unsolvated forms as well as solvated forms, including hydrated forms. In general, the solvated forms are equivalent to unsolvated forms and are encompassed within the scope of the present invention. Certain compounds of the present invention may exist in multiple crystalline or amorphous forms. In general, all physical forms are equivalent for the uses contemplated by the present invention and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.