NEW SUBSTANCES WITH HIGH AND SPECIFIC AFFINITY TOWARD NUCLEIC-ACID SEQUENCES - INTERCALATING AGENTS COVALENTLY LINKED TO AN OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDE

Abstract

New molecules are described in which an intercalating agent is covalently linked through a polymethylene chain to an oligodeoxynucleotide. Using an oligo dT sequence covalently linked to an acridine dye showed that these molecules bind in a specific way to their complementary sequence (poly(A)) and that the stability is strongly enhanced by the intercalating agent as compared with the unmodified oligo dT. Substitution of a phosphate group by a positively charged group strengthens complex formation and protects the neighboring phosphodiester bond against nuclease cleavage.