Appeal No. 1997-3242
Application 07/929,834
BACKGROUND
According to the specification, the invention “pertains generally to compounds and
to the design of these compounds targeted to bind to ribonucleic acid [(RNA)]; and more
particularly, to compounds that bind specifically to certain nucleotide base pairs in
combination with elements of the secondary structure of the minor groove of [RNA]
molecules.” Page 1. Further according to the specification (pages 1 and 2):
Three principal types of RNA exist in cells: messenger RNA, transfer RNA
and ribosomal RNA. . . .
The RNAs share a common overall structure, though each kind of RNA has a
unique detailed substructure. Generally RNA is a linear, single-stranded . . . ,
repetitive polymer in which nucleotide subunits are covalently linked to each
other in sequence. Each nucleotide subunit consists of a base linked to the
ribose-phosphate of the polymeric backbone. The bases in RNA are
adenine (A), uracil (U), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). The sequence of
bases imparts specific function to each RNA molecule. Nucleotide bases
from different parts of the same or different RNA molecules recognize and
noncovalently bond with each other to form base pairs. Since RNAs
generally are a single covalent strand, base pairing interactions are usually
intrastranded . . . [and] play a major part in determining the three-
dimensional structure of each of the RNAs and the interaction of RNA
molecules with each other and with other molecules. . . .
The RNA molecule forms a helix with major and minor grooves spiraling
around the axis . . . Nucleotide bases are arranged near the center of the
helix with the ribose phosphate backbone on the outside. The bases are
planar, perpendicular to the axis, and stacked on one another. Because the
helix is in the alpha form, bases and sequences of bases are most
accessible from the minor groove, which is wider and more shallow than the
major groove . . .
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