US Patent Application 18221364. REGULATION OF POLYMERASE USING COFACTOR OXIDATION STATES simplified abstract

REGULATION OF POLYMERASE USING COFACTOR OXIDATION STATES

Organization Name

MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC

Inventor(s)

Bichlien Hoang Nguyen of Seattle WA (US)

REGULATION OF POLYMERASE USING COFACTOR OXIDATION STATES - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18221364 titled 'REGULATION OF POLYMERASE USING COFACTOR OXIDATION STATES

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a method for controlling polynucleotide synthesis using a substrate independent polymerase called terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT).

• Polynucleotide synthesis is regulated by controlling the oxidation state of a metal cofactor.
• The metal cofactor is changed to +2 oxidation state, activating the polymerase.
• This activation can be achieved by applying a voltage with electrodes or introducing a chemical redox reagent.
• Addressable polynucleotide synthesis allows for the creation of polynucleotides with different arbitrary sequences.
• Spatial control of cofactor oxidation states enables the addition of nucleotides only at selected locations on an array.
• Control of metal oxidation states can be achieved through selective activation of a microelectrode array, controlled addition of redox reagents, or controlled activation of photocatalysts.
• Scavengers in solution prevent cofactors distant from the selected locations from catalyzing polymerase activity, maintaining localized effect of polymerase activation.

Original Abstract Submitted

Polynucleotide synthesis performed with a substrate independent polymerase such as terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is regulated by controlling the oxidation state of a metal cofactor. The oxidation state of the metal cofactor is changed to +2, thus activating the polymerase, by applying a voltage with electrodes or by introducing a chemical redox reagent. Addressable polynucleotide synthesis creates polynucleotides with different arbitrary sequences through use of spatial control of cofactor oxidation states to add nucleotides only at selected locations on an array. Control of metal oxidation states is regulated by selective activation of a microelectrode array, controlled addition of redox reagents to specific locations on the array, or controlled activation of photocatalysts at specific locations on the array. Scavengers in solution prevent cofactors distant from the selected locations from catalyzing polymerase activity and thereby maintain the localized effect of polymerase activation.