Conjugation of 5'-functionalized oligodeoxyribonucleotides with properly functionalized ligands.

This unit reports the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides covalently linked via their 5' termini to various ligands such as intercalating agents, reactive groups, or labels. Methods for incorporation of halogenoalkyl, isothiocyanate, and 2-pyridyldisulfide linkers onto ligands, and addition of amino, carboxyl, thiophosphate, phosphate, and masked thiol groups at the 5 terminus of an oligodeoxyribonucleotide are described elsewhere in the series. This unit reports procedures for coupling the ligands and oligonucleotides, as well as details for purification and characterization of the final products.