DNA conjugates as novel functional oligonucleotides.
Oligodeoxynucleotides with RNA cleavage activity 1) were conjugated with amines and peptides by solid phase fragment condensation (SPFC). It was found that 29 mer DNA enzyme conjugated with spermine at its 5'-end showed higher affinity to the target RNA sequence and 40 times higher activity of cleavage than native DNA enzyme. It is also to be noted that conjugate DNA enzymes showed increased resistance against nuclease digestion.