Synthesis of Modified Oligonucleotides and Production of Duplexes With Covalently Linked Chains

Abstract A method has been devised to synthesize a DNA-duplex with covalently connected strands. Primary amino group located on one strand is linked to a carboxyl group of the other strand through the agency of a water soluble carbodiimide condensing agent. Conditions for the reaction between chains of a duplex composed of the modified oligonucleotides [1] were optimized. The thermal and hydrolytic stability of the cross linked duplex was examined.