Previously an apparently novel triple hybrid structure was described:
Exceedingly Simple, Target Sequence-Stablized, Latent Primers

Similar triple hybrid structures have interesting utilities.

For example, consider Figure 1 wherein one target-hybridized probe has a 5' RNA extension. Subsequent to triple hybrid formation, the second target-hybridized probe is extended to form a DNA/RNA duplex. This hybrid can be further processed, such as being recognized by and optionally conjugated antibody. Alternatively, it could be hydrolyzed by an RNase H to produce a ssDNA extension, which optionally goes on to function as a primer.

Primer extension in Figure 1 can of course be done with dNTPs to produce a dsDNA, which may for example be recognized by a protein such a an RNA polymerase.

Various ligands can be conjugated to both the target-hybridizing probes so as to produce a ligand grouping as shown in Figure 2. If such ligands are reactive, the ligands can covalently bond. Such grouping have several utilities as described in the prior article.

Ligand-Conjugated Polynucleotides and Microarrays of Combinatorial Libraries Thereof

One ligand group not stressed in the above article would be a Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) dye grouping.

Finally, notice the potential utility of this invention in vivo, wherein the functioning of cellular nucleic acids could be modulated. For example a protein which only binds the ligand grouping could be directed to the nucleic acid.

This invention, as all the inventions described in this journal, is at the conceptual stage and it is hope that those with laboratories will investigate its full potential.

Claims: