Enhanced triple-helix and double-helix formation with oligomers containing modified pyrimidines

The invention relates generally to novel nucleomonomer and oligomer analogs, and to oligonucleotide-based therapy and diagnosis by binding of the oligonucleotide analogs to single or double-stranded nucleic acid target sequences. More specifically, the invention concerns oligomers containing certain 5-substituted pyrimidine base residues and intermediates in their synthesis. Novel oligomers are disclosed which have enhanced ability with respect to forming duplexes or triplexes compared with oligomers containing only conventional bases. The oligomers contain the bases 5-(1-propynyl)uracil, 5-(1-propynyl)cytosine or related analogs. The oligomers of the invention are capable of (i) forming triplexes with various target sequences such as virus or oncogene sequences by coupling into the major groove of a target DNA duplex at physiological pH or (ii) forming duplexes by binding to single-stranded DNA or to RNA encoded by target genes. The oligomers of the invention can be incorporated into pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and can be constructed to have any desired sequence, provided the sequence normally includes one or more bases that is replaced with the analogs of the invention. Compositions of the invention can be used as pharmaceutical agents to treat various diseases such as those caused by viruses and can be used for diagnostic purposes in order to detect viruses or disease conditions.