Nanogen expands patent portfolio in genetic analysis technologies.Nanogen, Inc. (San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , CA), developer of advanced diagnostic products, announced that its subsidiary Epoch Biosciences has been issued two patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office The United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO or USPTO) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides patent protection to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property for technologies related to genetic analysis. The new patents further bolster Nanogen's intellectual property position in genetic analysis technologies. United States Patent 6,972,339 "Compounds and Methods for Fluorescent Labeling," covers technologies that allow the high-throughput synthesis of fluorescently labeled nucleic acid nucleic acid, any of a group of organic substances found in the chromosomes of living cells and viruses that play a central role in the storage and replication of hereditary information and in the expression of this information through protein synthesis. probes and primers. The second, United States Patent 6,972,328, "Non-aggregating Non-quenching Oligomers Comprising Nucleotide Analogs, Method of Synthesis and Use Thereof" relates to the synthesis and use of pyrazoloprimidine and 7-deazapurine nucleosides as replacements for the natural guanosine guanosine /gua·no·sine/ (gwah´no-sen) a purine nucleoside, guanine linked to ribose; it is a component of RNA and its nucleotides are important in metabolism. Symbol G. nucleoside nucleoside Any of a class of organic compounds, including structural subunits of nucleic acids. Each consists of a molecule of a five-carbon sugar (ribose in RNA, deoxyribose in DNA) and a nitrogen-containing base, either a purine or a pyrimidine. in diagnostic nucleic acid oligomers. "Our extensive investment in the development of genetic analysis technologies is paying off with the building of a strong IP portfolio in real-time PCR PCR polymerase chain reaction. PCR abbr. polymerase chain reaction Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) , mirroring our strong position in electronic microarrays," noted Howard C. Birndorf, chairman and chief executive officer of Nanogen. "As molecular diagnostics gains further market penetration, these underlying technologies position Nanogen to address labs' needs with differentiated advanced diagnostic products." The '339 patent describes novel fluorescent dyes and methods of preparation of fluorescently labeled biological probes including the high-throughput manufacturing of nucleic acid probes and primers that are used in Nanogen's MGB MGB Mini-Gastric Bypass MGB Minor Groove Binder (molecular biology) MGB Manual Gearbox MGB Matthew Good Band MGB May God Bless MGB Medial Geniculate Body MGB Medium Girder Bridge MGB Motor Gun Boat MGB Microsoft Global Briefing Alert and MGB Eclipse assay formats. The manufacturing methods covered by the '339 patent may be applicable to other genomic analysis formats used in competitors' DNA sequencing, genotyping and gene expression analysis assays. By manufacturing nucleic acid probes and primers with such labor-saving techniques, Nanogen can reduce costs and deliver more economical products to the company's customers. The '328 patent relates to the use of pyrazolopyrimidine and 7-deazapurine nucleosides as replacements for the natural guanosine (G) nucleoside in nucleic acid probes. PCR-based assays that target sequences rich in G residues can be difficult or impossible to perform under normal conditions because of the formation of self-aggregates. In addition, G residues can cause an undesirable fluorescence quenching quenching Rapid cooling, as by immersion in oil or water, of a metal object from the high temperature at which it is shaped. Quenching is usually done to maintain mechanical properties that would be lost with slow cooling. effect in probe-based PCR chemistries. The use of Nanogen's proprietary pyrazolopyrimidines can resolve these performance issues and result in improved molecular diagnostic reagents. Nanogen's advanced technologies provide researchers, clinicians and physicians worldwide with improved methods and tools to predict, diagnose, and ultimately help treat disease. The company's products include real-time PCR reagents, the NanoChip electronic microarray platform and a line of reagents useful in rapid diagnostic tests. Nanogen's ten years of pioneering research involving nanotechnology holds the promise of miniaturization min·i·a·tur·ize tr.v. min·i·a·tur·ized, min·i·a·tur·iz·ing, min·i·a·tur·iz·es To plan or make on a greatly reduced scale. min and continues to be supported for its potential for diagnostic and biowarfare applications. Nanogen, Inc. +1-858-410-4600 www.nanogen.com |
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