New WIPO Tool: WIPO Sequence

Today, in the midst of the upheaval caused by the pandemic, who else has heard about DNA and RNA. But what exactly do these acronyms refer to?

The genetic information that living organisms contain is generally found in a molecule called DNA, an acronym for its chemical name, deoxyribonucleic acid.

This molecule is made up of a succession of four molecules in different orders, called nucleotides. Therefore, DNA is said to be a nucleic acid. Each of these nucleotides contains, among other elements, a chemical compound called nitrogenous base. There are four different types of such nitrogenous bases that are components of DNA: adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T), and cytosine (C).

Since the rest of the structures of a DNA molecule are repetitive and indistinguishable from each other, it is common for the genetic information contained in a DNA molecule to be represented as the succession in a certain order of these nitrogenous bases, that is, as a succession of letters glued to each other without spaces between them. An example of such a succession of letters can be the following: AATGCTGCTATGCAAAAAATGCC.

This sequence of components of a molecule is also often referred to by the term primary structure. In the field of Biology, the succession of letters that represent the primary structure of a molecule is called biological sequence.

The information in DNA is "translated" to form other molecules called proteins. To achieve such translation, the intervention of other nucleic acid molecules that act as "interpreters" is necessary. Such intermediate nucleic acid molecules are known as RNA, an acronym for ribonucleic acid.

RNA, similar to what happens with DNA, is made up of a series of nucleotides that contain nitrogenous bases but in which thymine (T) does not exist and is replaced by a different one called uracil (U). Therefore, it is also possible to represent its primary structure as a succession of letters in a certain order, for example, AAUGCUGCUAUGCAAAAAAUGCC.

Likewise, proteins are made up of a succession of elements like the beads on a necklace. Such constituent elements are called amino acids. However, there is a higher complexity in the representation of proteins because, unlike nucleic acids where there is only the possibility of combining four different letters, now there are twenty different elements (amino acids) that can be arranged in different orders to form the primary structure of a protein. However, it is also possible to represent this sequence by a succession of letters each of which represents a different amino acid. An example of such a representation could be the following: MSSPSLKWCFTLNYSSAAERENFLSLLKEEDVHYAVVGDE VAPATGQKHL (there is an alternative code where groups of three letters each represent a different amino acid).

In patent applications whose object of the invention is a nucleic acid molecule (of 10 or more nucleotides) or a protein (of four or more amino acids), or these are necessary to carry out the invention that is to be patented, it is precise presentation of its corresponding sequence list.

Furthermore, such nucleic acid or protein sequences, or simply biological sequences, have to be presented both in paper format (or a similar electronic format, for example PDF) and in a computer-readable format in order for the latter to be used for the search in the prior art of the relevant antecedents to evaluate the patentability requirements.

For these sequence lists contained in a patent application to be presented correctly, it is necessary to do so in accordance with the provisions of a standard of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Since the presentation of the sequence lists contained in a patent application correctly according to these WIPO standards would be a cumbersome, difficult job, and with a high probability of making mistakes, over the years the Patent Offices have developed computer tools to assist patent applicants in submitting information related to biological sequences in accordance with the provisions of these WIPO standards.

On the SPTO page, at the address: http://www.oepm.es/es/propiedad_industrial/enlaces_de_interes/ informacion_de_patentes_en_internet/patentes_de_biotecnologia/ index.html computer programs designed to aid in the preparation of patent applications containing nucleic acid and amino acid sequences can be accessed in accordance with current WIPO standard ST.25. Such programs are: BiSSAP (Biological Sequence Submission Application for Patents), developed by the European Patent Office (EPO) and Patentln, developed by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Similarly, the WIPO International Bureau is working on the development of a new software tool, called WIPO Sequence, which allows patent applicants and Industrial Property offices to prepare and verify lists of nucleotide and amino acid sequences as part of national or international patent applications in accordance with the new WIPO Standard ST.26.

This WIPO Sequence tool includes two components:

1) The WIPO Sequence app, for applicants

2) The WIPO Sequence Validator application, for Industrial Property offices.

Both components of the tool can be downloaded free of charge from the WIPO website:
https://www.wipo.int/standards/es/sequence

As a complement to this work, WIPO has just announced the holding of a series of online training seminars (webinars) to support Offices and patent applicants in the transition to the use of WIPO Standard ST.26. . These webinars are intended for any interested party, both national offices and patent applicants.

A set of four modules has been planned during the first half of the current year 2021 according to the following calendar:

Details on how to register for these webinars are available on the WIPO website: https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/topic.jsp?group_id=330

After conducting these training sessions, all the training material presented during them will be published. In addition, all webinars will be recorded and, subsequently, they will be available to anyone interested in the WIPO website itself.

There is the intention of carrying out new refresher training sessions that will take place in the second half of this year 2021. WIPO will inform through its website of the dates and times of these new training sessions.