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  Enzymatic template polymerizationUSPTO Application #: 20060041110Title: Enzymatic template polymerization Abstract: A conductive polymer is formed enzymatically in the presence of a polynucleotide template. The method includes combining at least one redox monomer with a polynucleotide template and a redox enzyme, such as horseradish peroxidase, to form a reaction mixture. The monomer aligns along the template before or during the polymerization. Therefore, the polynucleotide template thereby affects the molecular weight and conformation of the conductive polymer. When the conductive polymer is complexed to a polynucleotide duplex, the conformation of the polynucleotide duplex can be modulated by changing the oxidation state of the conductive polymer. (end of abstract)
Agent: U.s. Army Soldier Systems Center Attn: Vincent J. Ranucci, Patent Attorney - Natick, MA, US Inventors: Lynne A. Samuelson, Ferdinando Bruno, Sukant K. Tripathy, Susan Tripathy, Ramaswamy Nagarajan, Jayant Kumar, Wei Liu USPTO Applicaton #: 20060041110 - Class: 536023100 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Organic Compounds -- Part Of The Class 532-570 Series, Azo Compounds Containing Formaldehyde Reaction Product As The Coupling Component, Carbohydrates Or Derivatives, Nitrogen Containing, Dna Or Rna Fragments Or Modified Forms Thereof (e.g., Genes, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060041110. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/447,987, filed Nov. 23, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/999,542, filed Nov. 21, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,018), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/915,827, filed Aug. 21, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,498), the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Recently, there has been an increased interest in tailored development of certain classes of polymers, such as electrically conductive and optically active polymers (e.g. polythiophene, polypyrrole, polyphenols and polyaniline) for application to wider ranges of use. Examples of such uses include light-weight energy storage devices, electrolytic capacitors, anti-static and anti-corrosive coatings for smart windows, and biological sensors. However, the potential applications to which polymers can be put have been limited by their lack of solubility and processability. [0004] In particular, interest in developing biosensors has been stimulated by efforts to sequence the human genome. Analysis and manipulation of polynucleotides is expected to have genetic engineering applications and aid in the diagnosis of genetic disease and in the development and improvement of new drugs. For example, deoxyribonucleotides (DNA) exist in living organisms almost exclusively in a double helix conformation. However, many variations in this conformation has been shown to exist (e.g., A-, B-, C- and Z-type duplexes). The helical structure of a particular duplex is related to its sequence and its environment. These variations in conformation are thought to be responsible for the binding of molecular species, such as enzymes or regulatory proteins, to DNA. Therefore, methods of modulating the conformation of DNA are expected to have applications in the area of biosensors, molecular recognition and drug development. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention relates to a composition of matter in which a substituted or unsubstituted polyaniline is bound to a polynucleotide as a complex. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a polynucleotide/polyaniline complex, wherein the polynucleotide/polyanilin- e complex is formed by combining a substituted or unsubstituted aniline monomer, a polynucleotide template and a redox enzyme, whereby the aniline monomer aligns along the polynucleotide template to form a complex and polymerizes to form a polyaniline, thereby forming the polynucleotide/polyaniline complex. [0006] Another aspect of the invention is a method of modulating the conformation of a polynucleotide double helix which is bound to a conductive polymer as a complex by changing the oxidation state of the conductive polymer. In a specific embodiment, polyaniline is bound to a polynucleotide double helix as a complex. Oxidation of polyaniline (e.g., increasing the positive charge on the polyaniline) which is complexed to a polynucleotide double helix causes the double helix to become more tightly wound (i.e., the double helix will have more base pairs per turn after oxidation of the polyaniline). Conversely, reducing the polyaniline will cause a double helix associated with it to become more loosely wound. Therefore, complexation of polyaniline to a polynucleotide double helix provides a method of modulating the conformation of the double helix by changing the oxidation state of the polyaniline. [0007] The invention also relates to an electrical element that has a nanowire extending from it. The nanowire includes a polynucleotide template and a conductive polymer bound together as a complex. [0008] Another aspect of the invention is a method of forming an electrically conductive connection between electrical elements. The method includes connecting at least two electrical elements with a polynucleotide and contacting the polynucleotide with an a redox monomer and a redox enzyme. The monomer aligns along the template to form a complex and polymerizes to form a conductive polymer that is complexed to the polynucleotide that connects the electrical elements. The polynucleotide/conductive polymer complex is electrically conductive and, therefore, forms an electrically conductive connection between the electrical elements. [0009] Another embodiment of the invention is a method of identifying a target polynucleotide by contacting the target polynucleotide with a probe that includes a polynucleotide template complexed with a conductive polymer. The probe hybridizes with the target polynucleotide which causes at least one electromagnetic property of the conductive polymer to be modified. The target polynucleotide is identified by detecting the modified electromagnetic property. [0010] In this invention, the polynucleotide can serve at least three critical functions. First, the polynucleotide can serve as a template upon which the monomers preferentially align themselves to form a complex, such as a charge-transfer complex, thereby limiting parasitic branching and controlling the shape of the polymer. In the case of polyaniline, the mechanism of polymerization is primarily para-directed and results in formation of the electrically active form of polyaniline. This preferential alignment provides improved electrical and optical properties of the final polymer complex. Second, the polynucleotide can serve as a large molecular dopant species which is complexed and essentially locked to the polyaniline chains. Current limitations to the actual use of polyaniline in electronic and optical applications largely has been due to poor dopant stability. Small ionic dopants or chromophores that are currently used are known to diffuse away with time and/or conditions. Locking of a large polyelectrolyte dopant (e.g., a polynucleotide) to the polymer is significant in that it ensures that the electronic nature of the conjugated backbone structure of the polymer is maintained, and hence the desired electronic and optical properties are stabilized. Third, the polynucleotide template can improve water solubility of the final polynucleotide/polyaniline complex for environmentally friendly, facile, and inexpensive processing. [0011] In addition to the above advantages, complexation of a polynucleotide duplex, such as DNA, to an electrically conductive polymer provides a method by which the conformation of the duplex can be modulated, thereby providing possible application in the area of biosensors and drug development. For example, changing the oxidation state of polyaniline bound to a DNA duplex changes the linear length of a helical turn and, therefore, could be used to study the binding properties of DNA regulatory proteins. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 shows the general mechanism of enzymatic polymerization of aniline in the absence of the polynucleotide, promoting ortho- and para-directed reactions. [0013] FIG. 2 shows the chemical structure of oxidized (conducting) and reduced (insulating) forms of the polyaniline which is formed during enzymatic template guided polymerization. [0014] FIG. 3 shows the visible absorption spectra of the polyaniline template complex (0.05M aniline to 0.1M sulfonated polystyrene (SPS)) formed at various pH's. [0015] FIG. 4 shows a plot of absorbance versus (SPS)/aniline ratio to find the optimum dopant-to-monomer ratio. [0016] FIG. 5A shows the visible absorption and redox behavior of polyaniline/SPS prepared at pH 4.0 with increasing pH. [0017] FIG. 5B shows the visible absorbance and redox behavior of polyanilines/SPS prepared at pH 4.0 with decreasing pH. [0018] FIG. 6A shows the visible absorbance and redox behavior of a 50 bilayer film of poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDAC) alternating with SPS/polyaniline (prepared at pH 4.0) with increasing pH. [0019] FIG. 6B shows the visible absorbance and redox behavior of a 50 bilayer film of SPS/polyaniline (prepared at pH 4.0) with decreasing pH. [0020] FIG. 7A shows the visible absorbance of polyphenol without SPS versus phenol monomer. Polyphenol precipitated out of solution as a result of polymerization. [0021] FIG. 7B shows the visible absorbance of polyphenol/SPS template versus phenol monomer. The polyphenol did not precipitate out of solution. Continue reading... Full patent description for Enzymatic template polymerization Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Enzymatic template polymerization patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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