MPEP § 2423.02 — Depiction of Coding Regions (Annotated Rules)

§2423.02 Depiction of Coding Regions

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2423.02, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Depiction of Coding Regions

This section addresses Depiction of Coding Regions. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3), 37 CFR 1.822(d), and 37 CFR 1.821(a). Contains: 3 requirements, 1 guidance statement, and 3 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Sequence Listing Content

7 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2423-02-222245d6c1bf480fa4c3397a]
Requirement for Sequence Listing Content Not Applicable After July 1, 2022
Note:
This rule does not apply to applications disclosing nucleotide or amino acid sequences after July 1, 2022, directing applicants to MPEP sections for guidance on WIPO ST.26 requirements.

[Editor Note: This section is not applicable to applications filed on or after July 1, 2022, having disclosures of nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences as defined in 37 CFR 1.831(b). See MPEP §§ 2412 – 2419 for guidance on WIPO ST.26 requirements for applications filed on or after July 1, 2022.]

37 CFR 1.77 · 37 CFR 1.831(b)Sequence Listing ContentSequence Listing Requirements
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2423-02-035f6fa64acd81762aff1592]
Amino Acids Must Be Listed Below Coding Codons
Note:
When depicting coding regions, the amino acids corresponding to codons must be listed immediately below them.

If applicant chooses to depict coding regions, 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3) requires the amino acids corresponding to the codons in the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence to be listed immediately below the corresponding codons. Further, in 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3), the situation in which a codon spans an intron has been addressed. In those situations, the “amino acid symbol shall be listed below the portion of the codon containing two nucleotides.” This requirement clarifies the representation of an amino acid that corresponds to a codon that spans an intron.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3)Sequence Listing ContentSequence Listing FormatSequence Listing Requirements
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2423-02-4cc5a457a9b7c93f03e89432]
Amino Acid Symbol for Intron-Crossing Codons Required
Note:
The rule requires listing the amino acid symbol below the portion of a codon containing two nucleotides when it spans an intron in coding regions.

If applicant chooses to depict coding regions, 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3) requires the amino acids corresponding to the codons in the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence to be listed immediately below the corresponding codons. Further, in 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3), the situation in which a codon spans an intron has been addressed. In those situations, the “amino acid symbol shall be listed below the portion of the codon containing two nucleotides.” This requirement clarifies the representation of an amino acid that corresponds to a codon that spans an intron.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3)Sequence Listing ContentSequence Listing FormatSequence Listing Requirements
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2423-02-11ab10361d9b30d58cd0dc98]
Amino Acids Must Be Listed Below Codon Portions
Note:
The amino acid corresponding to a codon spanning an intron must be listed below the two-nucleotide portion of the codon.

If applicant chooses to depict coding regions, 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3) requires the amino acids corresponding to the codons in the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence to be listed immediately below the corresponding codons. Further, in 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3), the situation in which a codon spans an intron has been addressed. In those situations, the “amino acid symbol shall be listed below the portion of the codon containing two nucleotides.” This requirement clarifies the representation of an amino acid that corresponds to a codon that spans an intron.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3)Sequence Listing ContentSequence Listing RequirementsSequence Listing Format
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2423-02-bb6edc3ed0019cc1402ec290]
Amino Acid Must Be Listed for Codon Spanning Intron
Note:
The requirement mandates that the amino acid corresponding to a codon spanning an intron be listed below the portion of the codon containing two nucleotides.

If applicant chooses to depict coding regions, 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3) requires the amino acids corresponding to the codons in the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence to be listed immediately below the corresponding codons. Further, in 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3), the situation in which a codon spans an intron has been addressed. In those situations, the “amino acid symbol shall be listed below the portion of the codon containing two nucleotides.” This requirement clarifies the representation of an amino acid that corresponds to a codon that spans an intron.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.822(c)(3)Sequence Listing ContentSequence Listing RequirementsSequence Listing Format
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2423-02-bae181332b809fc577118cf3]
Amino Acids Must Be Depicted Below Corresponding Codons
Note:
When amino acids corresponding to codons in coding parts of a nucleotide sequence are depicted, they must be shown below the respective codons.

It should be noted that the sequence rules do not, in any way, require the depiction of coding regions or the amino acids corresponding to the codons in those coding regions. 37 CFR 1.822(d) only requires that where amino acids corresponding to the codons in the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence are depicted, they must be depicted below the corresponding codons. There is absolutely no requirement in the rules to depict coding regions. However, when the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence and their corresponding amino acids have been enumerated by their residues, those amino acids must also be set forth as a separate sequence if the amino acid sequence meets the length thresholds in 37 CFR 1.821(a).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.822(d)Sequence Listing ContentSequence Listing FormatSequence Listing Requirements
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2423-02-9ed813d1a230f52cc9999442]
Amino Acid Sequence Must Be Set Forth Separately
Note:
When coding parts of a nucleotide sequence and their corresponding amino acids are enumerated by residues, the amino acid sequence must be set forth separately if it meets length thresholds.

It should be noted that the sequence rules do not, in any way, require the depiction of coding regions or the amino acids corresponding to the codons in those coding regions. 37 CFR 1.822(d) only requires that where amino acids corresponding to the codons in the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence are depicted, they must be depicted below the corresponding codons. There is absolutely no requirement in the rules to depict coding regions. However, when the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence and their corresponding amino acids have been enumerated by their residues, those amino acids must also be set forth as a separate sequence if the amino acid sequence meets the length thresholds in 37 CFR 1.821(a).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.822(d)Sequence Listing ContentSequence Listing FormatSequence Listing Requirements
Topic

Sequence Listing Format

1 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2423-02-29049cd83b6b1f287e34fd29]
Coding Regions Not Required
Note:
The sequence rules do not require the depiction of coding regions or their corresponding amino acids, but amino acids must be depicted below codons if they are shown.

It should be noted that the sequence rules do not, in any way, require the depiction of coding regions or the amino acids corresponding to the codons in those coding regions. 37 CFR 1.822(d) only requires that where amino acids corresponding to the codons in the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence are depicted, they must be depicted below the corresponding codons. There is absolutely no requirement in the rules to depict coding regions. However, when the coding parts of a nucleotide sequence and their corresponding amino acids have been enumerated by their residues, those amino acids must also be set forth as a separate sequence if the amino acid sequence meets the length thresholds in 37 CFR 1.821(a).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.822(d)Sequence Listing FormatSequence Listing RequirementsSequence Listing Content

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Sequence Listing Content
Sequence Listing Format
37 CFR § 1.821(a)
Sequence Listing Content37 CFR § 1.822(c)(3)
Sequence Listing Content
Sequence Listing Format
37 CFR § 1.822(d)
Sequence Listing Content37 CFR § 1.831(b)
Sequence Listing ContentMPEP § 2412

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31