MODIFIED LABELED NUCLEOTIDES AND POLYNUCLEOTIDES AND METHODS OF PREPARING, UTILIZING AND DETECTING SAME

Abstract: Nucleotides and polynucleotides, including DNA, are chemically modified or labeled so as to be capable of ready detection when attached to and/or incorporated in nucleic acid material.

Description: It is known to produce nucleotides or polynucleotides which are radioactively labeled, such as with isotopes or hydrogen (³H), phosphorus (³²P), carbon (¹⁴C) or iodine (¹²⁵I). Such radioactively labeled compounds are useful to detect, monitor, localize and isolate nucleic acids and other molecules of scientific or clinical interest. Unfortunately, however, the use of radioactively labeled materials presents hazards due to radiation. Also due to the relatively short half life of the radioactive materials employed to label such compounds or materials, the resulting labeled compounds or materials have a corresponding relatively short shelf life. It has been proposed to chemically label compounds of interest, such as nucleotides and polynucleotides, so as to overcome or avoid the hazards and difficulties associated with such compounds or materials when radioactively labeled. In the article by P.R. Langer, A. A. Waldrop and D. C. Ward entitled "Enzymatic Synthesis of Biotin-Labeled Polynucleotides: Novel Nucleic Acid Affinity Probes", in Proc . Natl. Acad. Sci. , USA, Vol. 78, No. 11, pp. 6633-6637 , November, 1981, there are described analogs of dUTP and UTP that contain a biotin molecule bound to the C-5 position of the pyrimidine ring through an alkylamine linker arm. The biotin-labeled nucleotides are efficient substrates for a variety of DNA and RNA polymerases in vitro . Polynucleotides containing low levels of biotin substitution (50 molecules or fewer per kilobase) have denaturation, reassociation and hybridization characteristics similar to those of unsubstituted controls. Biotin-labeled polynucleotides, both single and double stranded, are selectively and quantitatively retained on avidin-Sepharose, even after extensive washing with 8M urea, 6M guanidine hydrochloride or 99% formamide. In addition, biotin-labeled nucleotides can be selectively immunoprecipitated in the presence of antibiotin antibody and Staphylococcus aureus , Protein A. These unique features of biotin-labeled polynucleotides suggest that they are useful affinity probes for the detection and isolation of specific DNA and RNA sequences. The subject matter of said article is comprised in EP-A2-0063879 in which additionally it is disclosed that compounds having the structure: wherein B represents a purine, deazapurine, or pyrimidine moiety covalently bonded to the C 1' -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 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 either directly, or when incorporated into oligo- and polynucleotides, provide probes which are widely usely. Applications disclosed in EP-A2-0 063 879 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. By way of additional background with respect to the utilization of the biotin-polynucleotides of the above-identified Langer et al article in Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . USA, the publication by P. R. Langer-Safer, M. Levine and D. C. Ward in Genetics entitled "An Immunological Method for Mapping Genes on Drosophila Polytene Chromosomes", describes a method employing biotinated nucleotides as a probe for the localization of DNA sequences hybridized in situ to Drosophila polytene chromosomes. In this application these probes are detected using affinity purified rabbit antibiotin antibody as the primary antibody and fluoresceinated goat antirabbit antibody as the secondary antibody. Other techniques employing biotin-labeled reagents with avidin or enzyme-labeled avidin reagents are known for the detection and determination of ligands in a liquid medium, see U.S. Patent 4,228,237. Also, it is known to effect gene enrichment based on avidin-biotin interaction, particularly as applied to Drosophila ribosomal RNA genes, see the J. Manning, M. Pellegrini and N. Davidson publication in Biochemistry , Vol. 16, No. 7, pages 1364-1369 (1977). Other publications of background interest with respect to the practices of this invention are the D. J. Eckermann and R. H. Symons article entitled "Sequence at the Site of Attachment of an Affinity-Label Derivative of Puromycin on 23-S Ribosomal RNA of Escherichia coli Ribosomes", J. Biochem , 82, 225-234 (1978); the article by S. B. Zimmerman, S. R. Kornberg and A. Kornberg entitled "Glucosylation of Deoxyribonucleic Acid-II -Glucosyl Transferases from T2- and T6-Infected Escherichia coli in The Journal of Biological Chemistry , Vol. 237, No. 2, February 1962, and the article by J. Josse and A. Kornberg "III. α - and β-Glucosyl Transferases from T4-Infected Escherichia coli ", also appearing in The Journal of Biological Chemistry , Vol. 237, No. 6, June 1962. Of further interest in connection with the practices of this invention are the publications appearing in the J. Biol. Chem. , Vol. 236, No. 5, May 1961, pages 1487-1493; the same publication, Vol. 237, No. 4, pages 1251-1259 (1962); the same publication Vol. 239, No. 9, pages 2957-2963 (1964). Of special interest is the article appearing in The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry , Vol. 27, No. 8, pages 1131-1139 (1979) and in the publication Nucleic Acids Research , Vol. 5, No. 9, 1977, pages 2961-2973. Also of interest is the article appearing in the publication Biochimica et Biophysica Acta by A. De Waard entitled "Specificity Difference Between the Hydroxymethylcytosine β-Glucosyl-Transferases Induced by Bacteriophages T2, T4 and T6", pages 286-304, and also the article by T. W. North and C. K. Mathews entitled "T4 Phage-Coded Deoxycytidylate Hydroxymethylase: Purification and Studies in Intermolecular Interactions", published by Academic Press, 1977, pages 898-904 and the article by E. A. Bayer and M. Wilchek entitled "The Use of Avidin-Biotin Complex as a Tool in Molecular Biology in Methods of Biochemical Analysis , Vol. 26, pages 1-45 (1980). Other techniques useful in the practices of this invention include nick translation of DNA employing DNA polymerase. A technique for effecting nick translation is disclosed in the article by P. W. Rigby, M. Dieckmann, C. Rhodes and P. Berg entitled "Labeling Deoxyribonucleic Acid to High Specific Activity in vitro by Nick Translation with DNA Polymerase" in J . Mol. Biol. (1977), 113 , 237-251. With respect to the recovery of streptavidin, such as from a culture broth of Streptomyces avidinii , the article by K. Hofmann, S. W. Wood, C. C. Brinton, J. A. Montibeller and F. M. Finn entitled "Iminobiotin Affinity Columns and their Application to Retrieval of Streptavidin" in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 77, No. 8, pp. 4666-4668 (1980), discloses a suitable approach for the recovery of streptavidin from a strepavidin-containing material, such as from a culture broth. Streptavidin is useful as a reagent in one of the practices of this invention. The present invention relates to nucleotides which are modified, such as at the 5 position of pyrimidine or the 7 position of purine, preparatory for the preparation therefrom of nucleotide probes suitable for attachment to or incorporation into DNA or other nucleic acid material. In the practices of this invention nucleotides, i.e. nucleic acids, preferably are modified in a non-disruptive manner such that the resulting modified nucleotides are capable of incorporation into nucleic acids and once incorporated in nucleic acids the modified nucleotides do not significantly interfere with the formation or stabilization of the double helix formed of the resulting nucleic acids containing the modified nucleotides. The non-disruptive modification of nucleotides and nucleic acids incorporating such modified nucleotides is in contrast with those modifications of nucleotides which are characterized as a disruptive modification in the sense that the resulting disruptively modified nucleotides and nucleic acids containing the same block proper double helix formation. In the practices of this invention, the nucleotides are desirably modified at the 5 position of the pyrimidine or the 7 position of the purine. The nucleotides so modified are non-disruptively modified and nucleic acids containing such nucleotides are capable of forming a double helix arrangement. Various methods are useful for the tagging or labeling of DNA in a non-disruptive manner. A technique for tagging DNA in a non-disruptive manner involves the addition of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5 HMC) in DNA using T4 phage glycoslyating enzymes followed by screening by means of a lectin-based assay. The present invention is directed to a nucleotide having the general formula P-S-B, wherein P is the phosphoric acid moiety, S the sugar or monosaccharide moiety and B is the base moiety, said nucleotide having covalently attached to the B moiety a chemical moiety Sig, wherein said Sig moiety comprises (1) a saccharide component, or (2) a saccharide component and a protein component capable of binding to a moiety comprising a saccharide component, or (3) a saccharide component and a protein component and a glycosylated enzyme component capable of binding to said protein component. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail in the following enumeration. 1. A nucleotide having the general formula P-S-B-Sig wherein P is the phosphoric acid moiety, S the sugar or monosaccharide moiety, B being the base moiety, the phosphoric acid moiety being attached at the 3' and/or the 5' position of the sugar moiety when said nucleotide is a deoxyribonucleotide and at the 2', 3' and/or 5' position when said nucleotide is a ribonucleotide, said base being a purine or a pyrimidine, said base being attached from the N1 position or the N9 position to the 1' position of the sugar moiety when said base is a pyrimidine or a purine, respectively, and wherein said Sig is a chemical moiety covalently attached to the base B of said nucleotide, said Sig when attached to said base B being capable of signalling itself or makes itself self-detecting or its presence known, said Sig moiety comprising (1) a saccharide component, or (2) a saccharide component and a protein component capable of binding to a moiety comprising a saccharide component, or (3) a saccharide component and a protein component and a glycosylated enzyme component capable of binding to said protein component. 2. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said nucleotide is a deoxyribonucleotide. 3. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said nucleotide is a ribonucleotide. 4. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said chemical moiety Sig is chemically attached to B at the N7 position when B is a 7-deazapurine, at the C5 position when B is a pyrimidine and at the C8 position when B is a purine. 5. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein Sig is attached to B at a position such that an oligonucleotide or polynucleotide containing said nucleotide is capable of forming a double-stranded ribonucleic acid, a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid or a DNA-RNA hybrid, or when said nucleotide is incorporated into said oligonucleotide or polynucleotide. 6. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein Sig is attached to B at a position such that said nucleotide is capable of being incorporated into or to form a double-stranded ribonucleic acid, a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid or a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid-ribonucleic acid hybrid. 7. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein Sig is attached to B at a position such that when said nucleotide is incorporated into or attached to or associated with a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid or double-stranded ribonucleic acid or DNA-RNA hybrid, said chemical moiety Sig is capable of signalling itself or making itself self-detecting or its presence known. 8. An oligonucleotide or polydeoxyribonucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1. 9. An oligonucleotide or polyribonucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1. 10. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig is attached to said base B at the C5 position when said base B is a pyrimidine or at the C7 position when said base B is a deazapurin. 11. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is a pyrimidine and wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached to the pyrimidine at the N3 position. 12. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is a pyrimidine and wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached to the pyrimidine at the C5 position. 13. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is a pyrimidine and wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached to the pyrimidine at the C6 position. 14. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is a purine and wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached to the purine at the N1 position. 15. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is a purine and wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached to the purine at the C2 position. 16. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is a purine and wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached to the purine at the N3 position. 17. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is a purine and wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached to the purine at the N7 position. 18. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is a purine and wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached to the purine at the C8 position. 19. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said S sugar is a pentose. 20. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety is a polysaccharide or an oligosaccharide. 21. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety is a sugar selected from the group consisting of triose or tetrose, or pentose, a hexose, or heptose, and an octose. 22. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached by or includes a glycosidic linkage moiety. 23. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety is a hexose moiety. 24. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is a 7-deazapurine and wherein said Sig chemical moiety is attached to the 7-deazapurine at the C7 position. 25. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety comprises a component selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, a radioactive component, and an antibody component. 26. A nucleotide in accordance with item1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety is a sugar residue and wherein said sugar is complexed with or attached to a polysaccharide binding protein. 27. A nucleotide in accordance with item 26 wherein said protein is a lectin. 28. A nucleotide in accordance with item 27 wherein said lectin is Concanavalin A. 29. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety comprises a-mannosyl residue and wherein said a-mannosyl residue is complexed with or bound to Concanavalin A. 30. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety comprises N-acetylglucosamine residue and wherein N-acetylglucosamine is complexed with or bound to wheat germ agglutinin. 31. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety includes or comprises a radioactive isotope. 32. A nucleotide in accordance with item 31 wherein said radioactive isotope is radioactive cobalt. 33. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said Sig chemical moiety includes or comprises an enzyme. 34. A nucleotide in accordance with item 33 wherein said enzyme is alkaline phosphatase. 35. A nucleotide in accordance with item 33 wherein said enzyme is acid phosphatase. 36. A single-stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1. 37. A single-stranded polynucleotide in accordance with item 36 wherein said single-stranded polynucleotide is a polydeoxyribonucleotide. 38. A single-stranded polynucleotide in accordance with item 36 wherein said single-stranded polynucleotide is a polyribonucleotide. 39. A double-stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1. 40. A double-stranded polynucleotide in accordance with item 39 wherein said double-stranded polynucleotide is a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid. 41. A double-stranded polynucleotide in accordance with item 39 wherein said double-stranded polynucleotide is a double-stranded ribonucleic acid. 42. A double-stranded polynucleotide in accordance with item 39 wherein said double-stranded polynucleotide is a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid-ribonucleic acid hybrid. 43. A single-stranded polynucleotide comprising at least 12 nucleotides, at least one of said nucleotides being a nucleotide in accordance with item 1. 44. A polynucleotide coupled or attached to a polysaccharide. 45. A polynucleotide in accordance with item 44 wherein said polysaccharide has attached thereto or complexed therewith a plant binding protein. 46. A polynucleotide in accordance with item 45 wherein said protein is Concanavalin A. 47. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is cytosine. 48. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is uracil. 49. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is thymine. 50. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is adenine. 51. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is guanine. 52. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is 2-methyladenine. 53. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is 1-methylguanine. 54. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is 5-methylcytosine. 55. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. 56. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is deazaadenine. 57. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1 wherein said base B is deazaguanine. 58. A nucleotide in accordance with item 33 wherein said enzyme is β-galactosidase. 59. A nucleotide in accordance with item 33 wherein said enzyme is glucose oxidase. 60. A nucleotide in accordance with item 33 wherein said enzyme is horseradish peroxidase. 61. A polynucleotide in accordance with item 45 wherein said protein is a lectin. 62. A polynucleotide in accordance with item 44 wherein said polynucleotide is terminally ligated to said polysaccharide. 63. A nucleotide having the general formula P - S - B - Sig wherein P is the phosphoric acid moiety, S the sugar and monosaccharide moiety, B being the base moiety, the phosphoric acid moiety being attached to the 3' and/or the 5' position of the sugar moiety when said nucleotide is deoxyribonucleotide and at the 2', 3' and/or 5' position when said nucleotide is a ribonucleotide, said base being a purine or a pyrimidine, said base being attached from the N1 position or the N9 position to the C1' position of the sugar moiety when said base is a pyrimidine or a purine, respectively, and wherein said Sig is a chemical moiety covalently attached to the base B of said nucleotide, said Sig being attached to the N⁶ or 6-amino group when said base B is adenine or the N² or 2-amino group when said base B is guanine or the N⁴ or 4-amino group when said base B is cytosine, said Sig when attached to said base B being capable of signally itself or makes itself self-detecting or its presence known. 64. A nucleotide having the general formula P-S-B, wherein P is the phosphoric acid moiety, S the sugar or monosaccharide moiety and B the base moiety, said nucleotide having covalently attached to the P or S or B moiety a chemical moiety Sig, said chemical moiety Sig when attached to said P, S or B being capable of signalling itself or makes itself self-detecting or its presence known. 65. A nucleotide in accordance with item 64 wherein said nucleotide is capable of being incorporated into to form a double-stranded ribonucleic acid, a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid or a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid-ribonucleic acid hybrid. 66. A nucleotide in accordance with item 64 wherein when said nucleotide is incorporated into or attached to a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid or double- stranded ribonucleic acid or DNA-RNA hybrid, said chemical moiety Sig is capable of signalling itself or making itself self-detecting or its presence known. 67. A single-stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 64. 68. A double-stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with 64. 69. A single-stranded polydeoxyribonucleotide containing at least 12 nucleocides and comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 64. 70. A nucleotide in accordance with item 64 wherein said Sig moiety is attached to the B base moiety through a mono- or oligosaccharide linkage. 71. A nucleotide in accordance with item 64 wherein said Sig moiety is monosaccharide or polysaccharide moiety attached to said B base moiety. 72. A polynucleotide comprising at least one nucleotide in accordance with item 64. 73. A polynucleotide comprising at least one nucleotide in accordance with item 70. 74. A polynucleotide comprising at least one nucleotide in accordance with item 71. 75. A nucleotide in accordance with item 64 or polynucleotide comprising at least one nucleotide in accordance with item 64 wherein said Sig chemical moiety comprises an agent for stimulating or inducing the production of interferon. 76. A method of chemotherapy suitable for inhibiting RNA and/or DNA synthesis which comprises administering to an organism capable of and/or functioning for the production or synthesis of DNA and/or RNA an effective DNA and/or RNA synthesis inhibiting amount of a nucleotide in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64. 77. A method for the stimulation or induction of cells for the production of lymphokines, cytokinins and/or interferon which comprises introducing into or bringing into contact with cells capable of and/or functioning for the production of said lymphokines, cytokinins and/or interferon an effective lymphokine, cytokinin and/or interferon stimulating and production inducing amount of a nucleotide in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64. 78. A nucleotide in accordance with item 64 wherein said Sig moiety comprises a saccharide component, a protein component capable of binding to said saccharide component and a glycosylated enzyme component capable of binding to said protein component. 79. A nucleotide in accordance with item 78 wherein said saccharide component is a monosaccharide. 80. A nucleotide in accordance with item 78 wherein said saccharide component is an oligosaccharide. 81. A nucleotide in accordance with item 78 wherein said saccharide component is a polysaccharide. 82. A nucleotide in accordance with item 78 wherein said protein component is a lectin. 83. A nucleotide in accordance with item 78 wherein said lectin is a plant lectin selected from the group consisting of Concanavalin A, LCH lentil lectin, PSA pea lectin and BFA Vicia Faba lectin. 84. A nucleotide in accordance with item 78 wherein said enzyme component is an enzyme selected from the group consisting of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and horseradish peroxidase. -- 85. A method of detecting a first compound which includes a nucleotide in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 as part of said first compound, which comprises contacting said first compound with a second compound capable of forming a complex therewith under suitable conditions so as to form said complex, said complex comprising said first compound and said second compound and detecting said complex. -- -- 86. A method in accordance with item 85 wherein said second compound is a polynucleotide. -- -- 87. A method of determining the presence of a deoxyribonucleic or ribonucleic acid molecule which comprises forming a double-stranded hybrid polynucleotide duplex which includes a single strand of deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid corresponding to or derived from said deoxyribonucleic or ribonucleic acid molecule and a nucleotide in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 and detecting said duplex. -- -- 88. A method of detecting the presence of a nucleic acid-containing etiological agent in a subject which comprises obtaining a suitable sample from said subject, detecting the presence in said sample of a deoxyribonucleic or ribonucleic acid naturally associated with said etiological agent by forming under suitable conditions a double-stranded polynucleotide duplex which includes a compound in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 and a single strand of deoxyribonucleic or ribonucleic acid corresponding to or derived from said deoxyribonucleic or ribonucleic acid which is naturally associated with said etiological agent under suitable conditions and detecting the presence of said double-stranded polynucleotide duplex. -- -- 89. A method in accordance with item 88 wherein said nucleic acid-containing etiological agent is a bacterium, a virus or a fungus. -- -- 90. A method of testing a bacterium to determine its resistance to an antibiotic which comprises preparing a polynucleotide complementary to the deoxyribonucleic acid gene sequence of said bacterium which confers resistance of said bacterium to said antibiotic and which includes a nucleotide in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 incorporated therein, contacting said polynucleotide under suitable conditions with a deoxyribonucleic acid obtained from said bacterium so as to form a double-stranded hybrid duplex and detecting the presence of said duplex, the detection of said duplex indicating resistance of said bacterium to said antibiotic and the absence of said duplex indicating the susceptibility of said bacterium to an antibiotic. -- -- 91. A method in accordance with item 90 wherein said bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus pyogenes and Neisseria meningitidis and said antbiotic a penicillin. -- -- 92. A method in accordance with item 90 wherein said bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Staphylococcus aureus , Candida albicans , Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and said antibiotic a tetracycline. -- -- 93. A method in accordance with item 90 wherein said bacterium is Mycobacterium tuberculosis and said antibiotic is an amino glycoside. -- -- 94. A method of diagnosing a genetic disorder in a subject which comprises preparing a polynucleotide complementary to the deoxyribonucleic acid gene sequence of said subject which is associated with said genetic disorder and includes a compound in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 incorporated therein, contacting said polynucleotide under suitable conditions with deoxyribonucleic acid obtained from said subject so as to form a double-stranded hybrid duplex and detecting the presence or said hybrid duplex, the presence or absence of said hybrid duplex indicating the presence or absence of said genetic disorder. -- -- 95. A method of diagnosing thalassemia in a human subject which comprises preparing a polynucleotide complementary to the deoxyribonucleic acid gene sequence which is absent in β-minus-thalassemia subjects and includes a nucleotide in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 contacting said polynucleotide under suitable conditions with deoxyribonucleic acid obtained from said subject so as to form a double-stranded hybrid duplex and determining the presence of said duplex, the absence of said duplex indicating the presence of β-minus-thalassemia. -- -- 96. A method of chromosomal karyotyping which comprises preparing a series of modified polynucleotides corresponding to a series of defined genetic sequences located on chromosomes, said polynucleotides including one or more compounds in accordanc with item 1, 63 or 64 contacting said polynucleotides with deoxyribonecleic acid of or obtained from chromosomes so as to form hybrid duplexes and detecting said duplexes, thereby determining the location of said duplexes on said chromosomes and the location of said genetic sequences on said chromosomes. -- -- 97. A method of identifying or locating hormone receptor sites on the surface of cells which comprises binding a compound in accordance with items 1, 63 or 64, to said sites under suitable conditions permitting binding of said compound to said receptor sites and detecting said compounds bound to said receptor sites. -- -- 98. A method of tumor or cancer cell identification or detection which comprises identifying or detecting malignant cells by detecting abnormal receptor sites associated therewith in accordance with item 97. -- -- 99. A method of diagnosing a tumor cell which comprises preparing a polynucleotide which is complementary to a messenger ribonucleic acid synthesized from a deoxyribonucleic acid gene sequence associated with the production of a polypeptide diagnostic for or identifiable with said tumor cell or which is complementary to said deoxyribonucleic acid gene sequence and which includes a compound in accordance with items 1, 63 or 64, introducing said polynucleotide into contact with said cell under suitable conditions so as to permit said polynucleotide to hybridize with said deoxyribonucleic acid gene sequence or said messenger ribonucleic acid and detecting the formation of a resulting formed hybrid containing said polynuclectide. -- -- 100. A diagnostic kit useful for determining the presence of a nucleic acid-containing organism or the like which comprise a polynucleotide which includes in its make-up a compound selected from the compounds of items 1, 63 or 64 and which is complementary to all or an identifiable, distinct or unique portion of the nucleic acid contained in said organism and means for detecting or expressing the presence or absence of a resulting formed hybrid between said polynucleotide and said nucleic acid of said organism when said polynucleotide is brought into contact with the nucleic acid of said organism or the like under hybrid forming conditions. -- -- 101. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sig chemical moiety covalently attached to the base B of said nucleotide includes a coenzyme. -- -- 102. A nucleotide in accordance with item 101 wherein said coenzyme is selected from the group consisting of thiamine pyrophosphate, flavine mononucleotide, flavine adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, coenzyme A, pyridoxyl phosphate, biotin, tetrahydrofolic acid, coenzyme B₁₂, lipoic acid and ascorbic acid. -- -- 103. A method of detecting a first compound which includes in its make-up a nucleotide in accordance with item 101 which comprises contacting said first compound with an apoenzyme corresponding to said coenzyme. -- 104. A method in accordance with items 103 wherein said coenzyme is flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and wherein said apoenzyme is flavine adenine dinucleotide reductase. -- -- 105. A nucleotide in accordance with item 1, wherein said Sig component comprises a radioactive component. 106. A nucleotide in accordance with item 105, wherein said radioactive component comprises radioactive labeled avidin attached thereto. 107. A nucleotide in accordance with item 105, wherein said Sig component comprises radioactive labeled streptoavidin attached to biotin. 108. A single-stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, wherein said Sig component is radioactive. 109. A double-stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1 and wherein said Sig component thereof is radioactive. 110. A nucleotide in accordance with items 63 or 64 wherein said Sig moiety thereof is radioactively labeled. 111. A polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with items 63 or 64 wherein said Sig moiety thereof is radioactively labeled. 112. A single-stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 64 wherein said Sig component thereof is radioactively labeled. 113. A single-stranded polydeoxyribonucleotide in accordance with item 69, wherein said Sig component thereof is radioactively labeled. 114. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sig moiety is radioactively labeled. 115. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sig chemical moiety comprises biotin attached to radioactively labeled avidin. 116. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sig chemical moiety comprises biotin attached to radioactively labeled strepavidin. 117. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sig chemical moiety comprises biotin and radioactively labeled avidin or strepavidin attached to said biotin. 118. A method of determining the presence of a polynucleotide, comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sig component of said nucleotide comprises biotin which comprises bringing said polynucleotide into contact with radioactive labeled avidin to bind said biotin to said radioactive labeled avidin and determining the presence of the biotin bound to said radioactive labeled avidin by detecting the radioactivity of the biotin-bound radioactive avidin. 119. A method of determining the presence of a polynucleotide, comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sig component of said nucleotide comprises biotin which comprises bringing said polynucleotide into contact with radioactive labeled strepavidin to bind said biotin to said radioactive labeled strepavidin and determining the presence of the biotin bound to said radioactive labeled strepavidin by detecting the radioactivity of the biotin-bound radioactive streptavidin. 120. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sig moiety comprises a radioactively labeled antibody. 121. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sig moiety comprises a radioactively labeled protein. 122. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with item 1, 63 or 64 wherein said Sign moiety comprises a radioactively labeled lectin. -- Further illustrative of the practices of this invention directed to nonradioactive methods or techniques of assaying for specific nucleic acids, the following example deals with the use of the sugar-lectin system. This example deals with the use of DNA which is not glycosylated in nature but rather has had a maltotriose group added thereto by way of nick translation described herein. The maltotriose modified dUTP and DNA modified therewith bind specifically to a column of concanvalin A covalently bound to sepharose. By this technique and in accordance with the practices of this invention, there is provided a means for specifically labeling any nucleic acid with sugars. As previously indicated herein, nick translation is only one of a number of techniques and approaches possible for the production of the modified nucleic acids in accordance with this invention. Original examples I-XXII, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXV, XXXVII and XXXVIII are abandoned. EXAMPLE XXIII Lambda DNA was nick translated as described herein with maltotriose coupled to 5-(3-amino-1-propenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine-5' triphosphate and ³H-2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate. Under these conditions DNA was substituted to 40 per cent of its thymidine residues with the maltotriose nucleotide and had a specific activity of 8x10⁵ counts per minute (cpm) per microgram of DNA. A control sample of DNA substituted only with ³H-dATP had a specific activity of 6x10⁵ cpm per microgram DNA. The nick translated DNA samples were purified free of reaction mixture components by Biogel P-60 chromatography as described herein. The purified samples were applied to Con A-Sepharose columns as described in Figures 2A and 2B. The maltotriose-labeled DNA was retained on the column when washed with PBS but was removed by subsequent elution with 10mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.2 (Figure 4A). The unsubstituted tritiated DNA did not bind to the column at pH 7.4 (Figure 4B). EXAMPLE XXIV Potentially immunogenic haptenes may be introduced at the 5 position of uridine by a variety of methods in the literature. 5-(perfluorobutyl)-2'-deoxyuridine was synthesized using a method of Cech et al, Nucl. Acids Res. 2, 2183 (1979). Copper-bronze was prepared by reacting copper sulfite (5 g, 20 mmol) with zinc powder (2 g) in 20 ml water. The mixture was decanted, and the residue washed with water and then 5% hydrochloric acid and water. Just before use, the solid (2 g) was activated with 2% iodine in acetone (20 ml). After filtration the residue was washed with acetone:concentrated hydrochloric acid and then pure acetone. Activated copper- bronze (130 mg, 2 mmol) and 1-iodo-1' , 2,2',3,3',4,4'heptafluorobutane (1.3 mg, 4 mmol) were stirred in 3 ml dimethylsulfoxide at 110 o C. for 1 hour. After cooling and filtration, 2'-deoxyuridine (245 mg, 1mmol) was added, and the mixture heated at 110 o C. for 1 hour. Water (5 ml) was added, and the mixture extracted with ether. The ether extracts were dried and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed on a silica gel column eluting with ethylacetate. EXAMPLE XXV Tubericydin was substituted at the 5 position by derivitizing the 5-cyano compound, toyocamycin. An example is the synthesis of 4-amino-5 (tetrazol)-5-yl)-7- (B- -ribofuranosyl) pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine using a procedure of Schram and Townsend, J. Carbohydrate , Nucleosides:Nucleotides 1 , 38 (1974). Toyocamycin (1.0 g) dissolved in water (100 ml) and glacial acetic acid (13 ml) was heated to reflux. Sodium azide (7.5 g) was added in 1.25 g portions over 10 hours. The solution was cooled to 5 o C. and the precipitated product collected, M.P. 276-277 o C. EXAMPLE XXVI 5-Cyano-2'-deoxyuridine was prepared according to Bleckley et al, Nucl. Acids Res . 2 , 683 (1975). 5-lodo-2'-deoxyuridine (1.0 g, 2.82 mmol) was dissolved in refluxing hexamethyldisilizane (HMDS) (10 ml). Excess HMDS was removed at reduced pressure, and the resulting oil was dissolved in dry pyridine (50 ml). Cuprous cyanide (350 mg, 3.8 mmol) was added, and the solution heated at 160 o C. for 20 hours. Pyridine was removed at reduced pressure, and the residue extracted into toluene which was subsequently evaporated. The residue was heated in 50% aqueous ethanol at 100 o for 2 hours. The product was purified by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography and recrystallized from ethanol, M.P. 161 o C. EXAMPLE XXVII 4-amino-5-amino methylene-7-(β-D-2-deoxyfuranosyl) pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine dihydrochloride was obtained as follows. 4-amino-5-cyano-7-(β-D-2-deoxyfuranosyl) pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (Toyocamycin) (0.2 g) was dissolved in hydrochloric acid (10 ml). 10% palladium on charcoal (0.1 g) was added as the mixture hydrogenated at 40 psi for 5 hours at room temperature. After filtration the water was evaporated at reduced pressure. The residue was triturated with ethanol, and the product recrystallized from 50% ethanol. EXAMPLE XXVIII 5-amino-2'-deoxyuridine was prepared from 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine according to the procedure of Roberts and Visser, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 14:665-669 (1952). 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (2g, 6.2 mmol) dissolved in liquid ammonia (20 ml) was scaled in a glass tube and heated at 50 o for 5 days. The tube was opened, and the ammonia was evaporated. 5-amino-2'-deoxyuridine was recrystallized from 5 ml water and 75 ml hot isopropyl alcohol. EXAMPLE XXIX 5-(methylamino)-2'-deoxyuridine (0.2 g) was prepared as follows. 5-cyano-2'-deoxyuridine (0.2 g, 0.05 mol) was dissolved in 1 N hydrochloric acid (10 ml). 10% palladium on charcoal (0.1 g) was added, and the mixture hydrogenated at 40 p.s.i. for 10 hours at room temperature. The mixture was filtered and the water evaporated at reduced pressure. The residue was triturated with ether, and the product was recrystallized from 80% ethanol. EXAMPLE XXX Maltose triose was oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acid by the following method. Maltose triose (0.5 g, 0.94 mmol) was dissolved in water (5 ml). Lead carbonate (0.42 g, 1.1 mmol) and bromine (0.17 ml), 3.3 mmol) were added, and the mixture was allowed to react at room temperature for six days after which no reducing sugar remained. The mixture was filtered, and silver carbonate (0.2 g) added. After refiltering, the filtrate was deionized by elution through Dowex 50 (H⁺ form). Evaporation of water and drying in the presence of phosphorus pentoxide yielded the desired product. EXAMPLE XXXI Maltose triose was coupled to 5-(3-amino-1-propenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine-5'triphosphate by the following procedure. Oxidized maltose triose (190 mg, 0,18 mmol) was dissolved in dimethylformamide (0.8 ml) and cooled to 4 o C. Isobutyl chloroformate (25 mg, 0.18 mmol) and tri-n-butylamine (43 ul, 0.38 mmol) were added, and the solution allowed to react at 4 o C. for 15 minutes. 5-(3-amino-1-propenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate (9.0 umol), dissolved in dimethyl formamide (1.2 ml) and 0.1 M sodium borate and cooled to 4 o C., was added to the above solution. The mixture was incubated at 4 o C. for 1 hour and at room temperature for 18 hours. It was then loaded on a DEAE-cellulose column and eluted with a gradient of 0.1 to 0.6 M triethylammonium bicarbonate, pH 7.5. The product was finally purified by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. EXAMPLE XXXIV A DNA probe was ligated to a synthetic DNA composed of repeated sequences of E. coli lac operator DNA. After hybridization to detect antiprobe sequences, the hybridized DNA was detected by reaction with biotinylated lac repressor which was, in turn, detected by an enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay using goat antibiotin IGG to react with the biotin and a second antibody coupled to horse radish peroxidase. The lac polyoperator DNA has been described by Caruthers (Second Annual Congress for Recombinant DNA Research, Los Angeles, 1982), and it was ligated, in a blunt end ligation, using T4 ligase, to an adenovirus DNA probe. In situ hybridization of the polyoperator-labeled probe DNA was carried out as described by Gerhard et al (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 78 , 3755 (1981). Biotinylated lac repressor was prepared as described by Manning et al (Chrom o soma , 53, 107-117 (1075) and was applied to adenovirus infected cells, fixed to a glass slide, in Binding buffer composed of (0.01 MK Cl, 0.01 M tris (pH 7.6), 0.01 M MgSO₄, 10⁻⁴ MEDTA, 10⁻⁴ M DTT, 5% DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and 50 ug/ml bovine serum albumin by J. Miller, Experiments in Molecular Genetics , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1972). The slides were washed in binding buffer to remove unbound biotinylated lac repressor and then assayed for biotin using the horse radish peroxidase-linked double antibody procedure. This procedure could be adapted to create an affinity column where the probe could be bound to immobilized repressor protein and then removed by elution with a specific inducer, for example, isopropylthigalactoside or thiomethylgalactoside. The affinity of the repressor- operator complex is quite high 10⁻¹¹ M. When a specific inducer binds to the repressor the operator-repressor complex collapses. EXAMPLE XXXVI Calf intestine alkaline phosphate was biotinylated as follows: The enzyme (1 mg, 7.7 mmol) was chromatographed on a G-50 column eluting with 0.1 M Hepes buffer pH 8.0 containing 0.1 M sodium chloride. The pooled fractions were reacted with N-biotinyl-6-amino-caproic acid-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (0.675 mg, 0.77 µmol) dissolved in 10 ml diemthylformamide at room temperature for 1 hour. Sodium periodate (0.1 M 125 µl) was added and stirring continued for 2 hours. The mixture as dialyzed at 4 o overnight in 0.1 M Hepes buffer pH 8.0 with 0.1 M NaCl after which the pH was adjusted to 7.4. Biotin hydrazide (0.1 M, 0.5 ml) dissolved in 0.1 M Hepes buffer pH 7.4 and 0.1 M NaCl was added and the reaction stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature. The pH was adjusted to 8.0 with 0.2 M sodium carbonate and 0.5 ml of freshly prepared 0.1 M sodium borohydride in water was added, the solution was dialyzed against 0.1 M tris buffer pH 8.0 with 0.1 M NaCl. EXAMPLE XXXIX Horse radish peroxidase (20 mg) dissolved in 5 ml distilled water was added to 1.0 ml freshly prepared 0.1 M sodium periodate solution. After stirring at room temperature for 20 minutes it was dialyzed overnight at 4 o C. against 1 mM sodium acetate pH 4.4. Biotin hydrazide (2.6 mg, 5x10-2 mmol) dissolved 2.0, 0.1 M Hepes buffer pH 7.4 with 0.1 M sodium chloride was brought to pH 8.0 with 0.2 M sodium carbonate and 0.5 ml of a freshly prepared 0.1 M sodium borohydride solution in water was added. After 2 hours at 4 o C. the protein was purified on a Sephadex G-50 column eluting with 0.1 M Hepes and 0.1 M NaCl. EXAMPLE XL Carrot acid phosphatase has been mentioned by Brunngraber and Chargaff, J. Biol Chem. , (1967) 242, 4834-4840 as a byproduct of the purification of phosphotransferase and has been purified to a specific activity of 460 uM/mg/min at 37 o C. with paranitrophenylphosphate as the substrate. The purification involved the steps of (a) absorption of non-specific proteins by DEAE cellulose; (b) acid purification of the enzyme; (c) acetone fractionation; (d) concanvalin A affinity chromatography; (e) hydroxyapatite chromatography and (f) Sephadex G-100 fractionation. The specific activity of the enzyme subjected to the Sephadex G-100 fractionation due to loss of activity in the preceding affinity chromatography step (d) was 170 uM/mg/m. By changing elution conditions at step (d), these losses can be avoided with the result that the specific activity of the enzyme before the Sephadex G-100 fractionation can be improved to 340 uM/mg/m. The Sephadex G-100 fractionation step should yield an enzyme having a specific activity of 800 uM/mg/m or higher. Carrot acid phosphatase was biotinylated using a procedure of Wilchek et al Biochemistry 6, 247 (1967). To the enzyme (20 mg) dissolved 0.1 M NaCl, pH 5, was added biotin hydrazide (2.0 mg, 7x10⁻³ mmol) and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodimide hydrochloride (1 mg, 7x10⁻³ mmol) dissolved in 0.1 M NaCl, pH 5. After 2 hours at 4 o C. the enzyme was chromatographed on Sephadex G-50 eluting with 0.1 M sodium acetate, pH 5.0. Streptavidin, a protein produced by a Streptomyces avidinii is a large molecular weight component of a synergistic pair of compounds which are both present in the culture filtrates of this microorganism. Each of the pair is inactive but in combination are active against gram-negative microorganisms. It has been found that the small component of this antibiotic prevents de novo synthesis of the vitamin biotin and thus, at least in synthetic media, show antimicrobial activity. In complex medium, however, the large component has to be included to exert the same effect on bacteria. This has been shown to be due to the presence of external biotin in the complex medium. The large molecular component has been found to bind external biotin and thus demonstrating the same kind of action as avidin from eggs and oviduct tissues of laying birds. Streptavidin has been purified and shown to be a 60,000 dalton polypeptide. Like avidin, streptavidin contains four subunits and binds tightly four molecules of biotin. Unlike avidin, however, it is non-glycosylated and it has PI of 5.0 as compared to avidin with PI = 10.5. Due to the difference in pI streptavidin does not have a tendency to non-specifically interact with DNA. PREPARATION OF STREPTAVIDIN A semi-synthetic medium containing salt, 1% glucose, 0.1% asparagine, 0.05% yeast extract and trace elements was prepared. The cultures were grown at 26 o C. for three days. Mycellium was removed by centrifugation and protein in the supernatant were absorbed to DEAE-cellulose in a batchwise process after pH was adjusted with 1M HCl to 7.2. DEAE-cellulose was filtered off and washed with 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.2) until no absorbancy at 280 nm was recorded. Streptavidin was eluted with 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.2) containing 0.5 M NaCl. Ammonium sulfate precipitation was used to further concentrate the streptavidin (50% w/v at 4 o C.). The precipitate was dissolved in water and dialyzed against 1.0 M NaCl, 50 mM Na₂CO₃. In the next step affinity column chromatography on iminobiotin sepharose was used. Eluted streptavidin from iminobiotin sepharose column was shown to be chromatographically pure by non-denaturing agarose-gel electrophoresis. The final purification of streptavidin is accomplished by affinity purification through an iminobiotin-sepharose column. Iminobiotin is an analog of biotin in which the carbonyl of the urea moiety is substituted with an imine function. Iminobiotin will bind avidin and streptavidin at basic pH but the complex is dissociable at acidic pH. Iminobiotin is prepared from biotin in several steps. Biotin is hydrolyzed by barium hydroxide to cis-3,4-diamino-2-tetrahydrothiophene-valeric acid which is reacted with cyanogen bromide to iminobiotin. The iminobiotin is coupled to amino sepharose via the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of its hydrobromide salt. The crude protein mixture from DEAE eluted Streptomyces avidinii incubation media is dissolved in 50 mM sodium carbonate and 1.0 M sodium chloride (pH 11) and applied to an iminobiotin column pre-equilibrated with this solution. The column is eluted at pH 11. Streptavidin is subsequently eluted with 50 mM ammonium acetate, pH 4.0 containing 0.5 M sodium chloride. The eluent is dialyzed three times against 1 mM Tris pH 7.4 and lyophilized to dryness. In the practices of this invention avidin is useful as a detecting mechanism for labeled DNA, such as biotin-labeled DNA. However, avidin itself, such at about neutral pH, complexes with DNA with the result that any signal derivable from a complex between biotin-labeled DNA and avidin might be lost or be non-detectable in the background due to the complex formation between avidin and unlabeled DNA. This disadvantage of the use of avidin in the practices of this invention is not possessed by streptavidin which does not form a complex with DNA at about neutral pH but is capable of forming a complex with the biotin portion of biotin-labeled DNA. The use of the antigen-antibody system for detecting either antigen or antibody is well known. A comparable system is a system baked on a glycosylated substrate or molecule and matching or appropriate lectin. In this system the lectin would carry a label, such as an appropriate enzyme. In this glycosyl-lectin system the labeled lectin forms a complex with the glycosyl moiety, comparable to the antigen-antibody complex, and this complex comprising the glycosylated molecule and appropriate labeled lectin having the necessary glycosyl or sugar moiety specificity would then present itself eliciting the expected response from the label portion of the labeled lectin making up the glycosyl-lectin complex. Another aspect of the practices of this invention which is particularly advantageous is to carry out the detection or hybridization in the liquid phase between the DNA sought to be detected and the DNA detecting probe. In this liquid phase system both the DNA molecule to be detected and the appropriate DNA detecting probe are not attached to any insoluble substrate or any insoluble chemical moiety. The advantages of the liquid phase detection system reside in the speed of hybridization or hybrid formation between the DNA to be detected and the appropriate DNA probe therefor. For example, in a solid-liquid system the time required to effect recognition and hybridization formation is about ten times greater than if it were carried out in a completely liquid system, i.e. both DNA to be detected and the detecting DNA are not attached to an insoluble moiety. The probes prepared in accordance with the practices of this invention are adaptable for use in the detection of viruses and bacteria in fluids as indicated hereinabove. Where the fluids to be examined do not contain large amounts of protein, the viruses therein can be concentrated by absorption on hydroxyapatite and eluted in a small amount of phosphate buffer. When the fluid to be examined contains large amounts of protein, the viruses can be concentrated by high speed centrifugation. If antibody were available, absorption on an affinity column and elution with acid would be preferable because it would be possible to process many probes in accordance with the practices of this invention at the same time. The bacteria to be examined is usually readily concentrated by centrifugation. In accordance with the practices of this invention, the identification or characerization of the isolated particles, viruses and bacteria, would be hybridization of the characterizing or identifying DNA thereof with a specific single stranded DNA probe prepared in accordance with the practices of this invention. After hybridization, excess non-hybridized probe DNA would be digested with S₁ nuclease and exonuclease I from E. coli at high salt content to suppress the nicking activity of the S₁ nuclease, see Vogt, Methods in Enzymology , Vol. 65, pages 248-255 (1980). This nuclease treatment would produce mononucleotides from the excess, non-hybridized single-stranded DNA probe but would leave the double-stranded, hybridized DNA intact. This would then be absorbed at high salt content on Dowex anion exchanger (the nucleotides and the small amount of oligonucleotides will not bind to the resin in high salt concentration). The resulting hybridized DNA would then be identified or characterized by various procedures applicable to the practices of this invention. The special nucleotides of this invention include a phosphoric acid P moiety, a sugar or monosaccharide S moiety, a base B moiety, a purine or a pyrimidine and a signalling chemical moiety Sig covalently attached to the B moiety. Following are structural formulas of various base B moieties and nucleotides which are modified in accordance with the practices of this invention. The special nucleotides in accordance with this invention, as indicated hereinabove, in addition to the P, S and B moieties, include a chemical moiety Sig coavalently attached to the B moieties. Of special interest in accordance with the practices of this invention would be those nucleotides having the general formula, P - S - B - Sig wherein P is the phosphoric acid moiety including mono-, di-, tri- or tetraphosphate, S the sugar monosaccharide moiety, B the base moiety, either a purine or a pyrimidine. The phosphoric acid moiety P is attached at the 3' and/or the 5' position of the S moiety when the nucleotide is a deoxyribonucleotide and at the 2', 3' and/or 5' position when the nucleotide is a ribonucleotide. The base B moiety is attached from the N1 position or the N9 position to the 1' position of the S moiety when the base moiety is a pyrimidine or a purine, respectively. The Sig moiety is covalently attached to the B moiety of the nucleotide and when so attached is capable of signalling itself or makes itself self-detecting or its presence known and desirably or preferably permits the incorporation of the resulting nucleotide P - S - B - Sig into or to form a double-stranded helical DNA or RNA or DNA-RNA hybrid and/or to be detectable thereon. It is pointed out that the special nucleotides in accordance with the practices of this invention described or defined hereinabove by the general formula P - S - B - Sig, also include nucleotides wherein the Sig chemical moiety is covalently attached to the B moiety at the N⁶ or 6- amino group position when the B moiety is adenine or the N² or 2-amino group position when the B moiety is guanine or the N⁴ or 4-amino group position when the B moiety is cytosine. The resulting nucleotides containing the Sig moiety attached thereto are capable of signalling themselves or making themselves self-detecting or their presence known and being detectable is a double-stranded DNA, RNA or DNA-RNA hybrid. By way of summary, as indicated hereinabove with respect to the make-up of the various special nucleotides in accordance with this invention, the special nucleotides can be described as comprising a phosphoric acid moiety P, a sugar moiety S and a base moiety B, a purine or pyrimidine, which combination of P-S-B is well known with respect to and defines nucleotides, both deoxyribonucleotides and ribonucleotides. The nucleotides are then modified in accordance with the practices of this invention by having covalently attached thereto, to the B moiety, a chemical moiety Sig. The chemical moiety Sig so attached to the nucleotide P-S-B is capable of rendering or making the resulting nucleotide, now comprising P-S-B with the Sig moiety being attached to one or more of the other moieties, self-detecting or signalling itself or capable of making its presence known per se, when incorporated into a polynucleotide, especially a double-stranded polynucleotide, such as a double-stranded DNA, a double-stranded RNA or a double-stranded DNA-RNA hybrid. The Sig moiety desirably should not interfere with the capability of the nucleotide to form a double-stranded polynucleotide containing the special Sig-containing nucleotide in accordance with this invention and, when so incorporated therein, the Sig-containing nucleotide is capable of detection, localization or observation. The Sig moiety employed in the make-up of the special nucleotides of this invention could comprise an enzyme or enzymic material, such as alkaline phosphatase, glucose oxidase, horseradish peroxidase, acid phosphatase or β-galactosidase. The Sig moiety could also include a radioactive isotope component, such as radioactive cobalt, making the resulting nucleotide observable by radiation detecting means. Most usefully, the Sig moiety is a polysaccharide or oligosaccharide or monosaccharide, which is capable of complexing with or being attached to a sugar or polysaccharide binding protein, such as a lectin, e.g. Concanavalin A. As indicated in accordance with the practices of this invention, the Sig component could comprise any of the above chemical moieties which is attachable either directly or through a chemical linkage or linker arm to the base B component of the nucleotide. The Sig component of the nucleotides in accordance with this invention and the nucleotides and polynucleotides incorporating the nucleotides of this invention containing the Sig component are equivalent to and useful for the same purposes as the nucleotides described in EP-A2-0 063 879. More specifically, the chemical moiety A described in EP-A2-0 063 879 is functionally the equivalent of the Sig component or chemical moiety of the special nucleotides of this invention. Accordingly, the Sig component or chemical moiety of nucleotides of this invention can be directly covalently attached to the B moieties or attached thereto via a chemical linkage or linkage arm as described in EP-A2-0 063 879 as indicated by the dotted line connecting B and A of the nucleotides of EP-A2-0 063 879 The various linker arms or linkages identified in EP-A2-0 063 879 are applicable to and useful in the preparation of the special nucleotides of this invention. A particularly important and useful aspect of the special nucleotides of this invention is the use of such nucleotides in the preparation of DNA or RNA probes. Such probes would contain a nucleotide sequence substantially matching the DNA or RNA sequence of genetic material to be located and/or identified. The probe would contain one or more of the special nucleotides of this invention. A probe having a desired nucleotide sequence, such as a single- stranded polynucleotide, either DNA or RNA probe, would then be brought into contact with DNA or RNA genetic material to be identified. Upon the localization of the probe and the formation of a double-stranded polynucleotide containing the probe and the matching DNA or RNA material to be identified, the resulting formed double-stranded DNA or RNA-containing material would then be observable and identified. A probe in accordance with this invention may contain substantially any number of nucleotide units, from about 5 nucleotides up to about 500 or more, as may be required. It would appear that 12 matching, preferably consecutive, nucleotide units would be sufficient to effect an identification of most of the DNA or RNA material to be investigated or identified, if the 12 nucleotide sequence of the probe matches a corresponding cooperative sequence in the DNA or RNA material being investigated or to be identified. As indicated, such probes may contain one or more of the special Sig-containing nucleotides in accordance with this invention, preferably at least about one special nucleotide per 5-10 of the nucleotides in the probe. As indicated hereinabove, various techniques may be employed in the practices of this invention for the incorporation of the special nucleotides of this invention into DNA and related structures. The technique of employing terminal transferase for the addition of the special nucleotides in accordance with this invention is widely applicable and the resulting modified nucleotides containing the special nucleotides in accordance with this invention including the special biotinated nucleotides or the special glycosylated nucleotides could be selectively recovered via complexing with avidin upon a Sepharose-avidin column or complexing with a lectin, such as Concanavalin A or a Sepharose-Concanavalin A column. One further example of small molecule interaction with naturally occurring proteins involves the specific binding of coenzyme or other prosthetic molecules to enzymes. Examples of such coenzymes include thiamin pyrophosphate, flavine mononucleotide, flavine adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, coenzyme A, pyridoxyl phosphate, biotin, tetrahydrofolic acid, coenzyme B₁₂, lipoic and ascorbic acid. Many of these molecules form covalent linkages with their apoenzymes. However, some, for example, coenzyme A, coenzyme B₁₂ and tetrahydrofolic acid, associate in a non-covalent but specific manner with their cognate apoenzymes. A specific coenzyme-apoenzyme system for use in this system is flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavine adenine dinucleotide reductase isolated from Escherichia coli. With this system the binding of FAD is sufficiently strong to permit detection. The special nucleotides of this invention and polynucleotides including such nucleotides, either single-stranded or double-stranded polynucleotides, DNA and/or RNA, comprising the components, phosphoric acid moiety P, the sugar or monosaccharide moiety S, the base moiety B, a purine or a pyrimidine, and the signalling or self-detecting moiety, Sig, covalently attached to the B moieties, as indicated hereinabove, have many uses and utilities. For example, the nucleotides of this invention and polynucleotides containing the nucleotides of this invention are useful as immune-stimulating agents, as adjuvants in vaccines, as agents for the stimulation or induction from competent cells, such as lymphocytes, for the production of lmphokines, cytokines or cytokinins, interferon or other cellular products. It is well known that double-stranded poly A:U is a stimulator or inducer for the production of interferon, although weakly so. Similarly, poly I:C is also known as a stimulator or inducing agent for the production of interferon. The advantage of polynucleotides, such as double-stranded polynucleotides incorporating one or more nucleotides in accordance with this invention is that, in effect, such polynucleotides would be more effective and more powerful inducing or stimulating agents for the production of interferon and related materials from cells. For example, nucleotides in accordance with this invention containing the above-described components P, S, B and Sig, are suitably prepared so that the nucleotides and polynucleotides prepared therefrom are more resistant to nucleases. Similarly, such nucleotides and polynucleotides containing the same and suitably prepared which are more capable of contacting, stimulating and penetrating cellular surfaces or membranes, such as the cellular surfaces or membranes of lymphocytes and other cells so as to stimulate the same for the production of a desired cellular product, such as interferon. Particularly useful among those special nucleotides in accordance with this invention having the formula P-S-B-Sig and especially useful are those wherein the Sig component is at the 5 position of the pyrimidine or the 7 position of the purine or a deazapurine or the N² position of guanine or the N⁶ position of adenine. Such nucleotides and polynucleotides incorporating the same, both single-stranded and double-stranded nucleotides, DNA and/or RNA are prepared in accordance with this invention to provide increased stability with respect to the double-stranded helix of DNA or RNA or DNA-RNA hybrid containing the same. Increased resistance to nucleases is also achievable as well as alterations or favorable changes in the hydrophobic properties or electrical or charge properties of the nucleotides and polynucleotides containing the same. Also, nucleotides and polynucleotides in accordance with this invention are prepared which, when administered to humans, have reduced pyrogenicity or exhibit less other whole body toxic responses. Additionally, the nucleotides and polynucleotides are prepared in accordance with this invention to provide a ligand, such as the component Sig, to which specific polypeptides can combine to create or bring about the formation of RNA complexes. It is seen therefore that the nucleotides of this invention include the P, S, B and Sig components wherein the Sig is covalently attached to the B moieties open up or provide a whole array of chemical agents having special biological effects including therapeutic effects and cytotoxic effects. The special nucleotides of this invention, including polynucleotides containing these nucleotides, in addition to being stimulating or inducing agents for the production of cellular materials or products, such as interferons, lymphokines and/or cytokines, are also useful for their chemotherapeutic effect and for the preparation of chemotherapeutic agents based thereon but also for their cytotoxic effects and the production of cytotoxic agents based thereon. The moiety Sig attached to the special nucleotides of this invention containing the other moieties or components P, S, B provides a site per se for the attachment thereto, the Sig component, of special agents of known chemotherapeutic or cytotoxic effect. Such nucleotides could be introduced or administered to the subject being treated, e.g. human body or animal, so as to be incorporated into the DNA and/or RNA components of the body or cell so as to either interfere with the synthesis of the body or cellular DNA and/or RNA or to attack tumors or to, in effect, kill or otherwise interfere with the growth of undesired cells. The administration of the nucleotides and/or polynucleotides containing the nucleotides to the body, human body or animal, can be effected by a number of suitable means. Particularly effective would be the intravenous introduction to the body of preparations containing the nucleotides of this invention and a suitable physiologically acceptable carrier or the nucleotides could be administered subcutaneously, transdermally, or intramuscularly or by direct introduction into the site where the chemotherapeutic or cytotoxic effect of the nucleotides is sought or desired to be effective. Not only could desired chemotherapeutic or cytotoxic effects be achieved systemically or locally but also, as indicated hereinabove, the special P, S, B and Sig-containing nucleotides of this invention, including polynucleotides containing such nucleotides, are useful as immune-stimulating agents and adjuvants therefor. Accordingly, vaccines containing the special nucleotides and polynucleotides in accordance with this invention can be prepared having improved effectiveness and versatility. Of special interest in the practices of this invention improved polynucleotides incorporating the special nucleotides of this invention are provided as inducers or stimulating agents for the production of interferon. Such polynucletoides would be single-stranded or double-stranded ribonucleotides, dsRNA, having the structures, where A and B are complementary base pairs, such as a purine, a 7-deazapurine or pyrimidine modified by the addition of an organic moiety Sig in accordance with the disclosures of this invention on the 5 position of the pyrimidine ring or the 7 position of the purine ring or the N² of guanine, or the N⁶ of adenine or the N⁴ of cytosine as described herein. The modifications of the polynucleotides at these positions lead to relatively undisruptive or non-disruptive double-stranded nucleic acid molecules as measured by rates of association and melting points. In the special polynucleotides of this invention employed as inducers of interferon and other cellular or humoral factors or components, such as lymphokines or cytokines, the following groups would be attached thereto as indicated by the formulas, In the utilization of the special polynucleotides of this invention, such as the special dsRNA of this invention in the induction process for the production of interferon it has been demonstrated that DEAE-dextran facilitates this operation. It appears that since DEAE-dextran complexes with dsRNA and protects it from nuclease degradation, thereby enhancing interferon induction. It has also been noted that poly rC : rI is taken into cells more efficiently when complexed with DEAE-dextran. Accordingly, in the practices of this invention the hydrophobic properties and the ionic or electron charge properties of the special dsRNA of this invention are important factors and capable of manipulation in the applicability of these materials to induce interferon production. It has been observed that such conditions or factors which promote the induction of interferon also lead to and promote the induction of other cellular or humoral components, such as lymphokines and cytokines. It is apparent, therefore, that the special nucleotides and polynucleotides containing the special nucleotides of this invention act as immune modulators and stimulators of the immune response other than simply being effective as inducers of interferon production. Superior agents for the above in accordance with the practices of this invention would include nucleotides wherein the Sig moiety incorporates biotin or streptavidin or avidin. Poly rI:poly rC complexed poly L-lysine exhibits adjuvant properties and such properties are enhanced and improved in accordance with the practices of this invention when the poly rI and poly rC components are modified to include one or more of the special nucleotides in accordance with this invention. In the description of the special nucleotides and modified DNA employed or developed in the practices of this invention, mention has been made of mono, oligo and polysaccharides. It is pointed out that derivatives of mono, oligo and polysaccharides are also useful in the preparation of the special nucleotides of this invention. For example, it is possible to modify individual sugar moieities employed in the make-up of the special nucleotides and employ the resulting modified sugar moieties to effect or carry out additional chemical reactions. Such modified mono, oligo and polysaccharide moieties, when employed as the Sig moiety in the preparation of the special nucleotides of this invention, provide an added versatility with respect to the detection of the nucleotides or other compounds containing such modified saccharides either as the sugar S or as the Sig moiety thereof.

Claims: A nucleotide having the general formula P-S-B, wherein P is the phosphoric acid moiety, S the sugar or monosaccharide moiety and B is the base moiety, said nucleotide having covalently attached to the B moiety a chemical moiety Sig, wherein said Sig moiety comprises (1) a saccharide component, or (2) a saccharide component and a protein component capable of binding to a moiety comprising a saccharide component, or (3) a saccharide component and a protein component and a glycosylated enzyme component capable of binding to said protein component. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 1 wherein said saccharide is a monosaccharide. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 1 wherein said saccharide is an oligosaccharide. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 1 wherein said saccharide is a polysaccharide. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 1 wherein said protein component is a lectin. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 5 wherein said lectin is a plant lectin selected from the group consisting of concanavalin A, LCH lentil lectin, PSA pea lectin and BFA faba lectin. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 1 wherein said enzyme component is an enzyme selected from the group consisting of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and horseradish peroxidase. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 1 wherein said nucleotide is capable of being incorporated into or attached to a double stranded ribonucleic acid, a double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid or a double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid-ribonucleic acid hybrid said chemical moiety Sig being capable of detection. A single-stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with claim 1. A double-stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with claim 1. A single-stranded polydeoxyribonucleotide containing at least 12 nucleotides and comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with claim 1. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 1 wherein said Sig moiety is attached to the B base moiety through a mono- or polysaccharide linkage. A polynucleotide comprising at least one nucleotide in accordance with claim 1. A polynucleotide comprising at least one nucleotide in accordance with claim 12. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 1, wherein a coenzyme is attached to said Sig chemical moiety. A method of detecting a first compound comprising at least one nucleotide in accordance with claim 15 which comprises contacting said first compound with an apoenzyme corresponding to said coenzyme. A nucleotide in accordance with claim 1, wherein a radioactive label is attached to said Sig moiety. A polynucleotide comprising at least two nucleotides in accordance with claim 1, wherein said Sig moiety has attached to it a radioactive label, whereby the additional component binds to any of the Sig components. A single stranded polynucleotide comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with claim 1, wherein said Sig component has attached to it a radioactive label. A single stranded polydeoxyribonucleotide containing at least 12 nucleotides in accordance with claim 1, wherein said Sig component has attached to it a radioactive label, whereby the additional Component binds to any of the Sig components. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with claim 1, wherein biotin attached to radioactively labeled avidin is attached to said Sig chemical moiety, whereby the additional component binds to any of the Sig components. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with claim 1, wherein biotin and radioactively labeled avidin or streptavidin attached to said biotin are attached to said Sig moiety. A method of determining the presence of a polynucleotide, comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with claim 1, wherein said Sig component of said nucleotides comprises biotin which comprises bringing said polynucleotide into contact with radioactive labeled avidin and determining the presence of the biotin bound to said radioactive labeled avidin by detecting the radioactivity of the biotin-bound radioactive avidin. A method of determining the presence of a polynucleotide, comprising one or more nucleotides in accordance with claim 1, wherein said Sig component of said nucleotides comprises biotin which comprises bringing said polynucleotide into contact with radioactive labeled streptavidin and determining the presence of the biotin bound to said radioactive labeled avidin by detecting the radioactivity of the biotin-bound radioactive streptavidin. A polynucleotide containing one or more nucleotides in accordance with claim 1, wherein an antibody is attached to said Sig moiety.

Inventors: ENGELHARDT, DEAN, KIRTIKAR, DOLLIE, KLINE, STANLEY, RABBANI, ELAZAR, STAVRIANOPOULOS, JANNIS G.
Applicants: ENZO BIOCHEM, INC.
Application year: 1983
Main classification: C07H19
IPC codes: C12Q1, C12N15, C07H19, G01N33, C07B59, C12N9, A61K47, C07H21, C07K17, C08B37