A universal solid-phase synthesis of branched oligoribonucleotides

Abstract

A novel branch-point adenosine monomer is synthesized which enables the routine solid-phase synthesis of branched oligoribonucleotides in the 5′ to 3′ direction, such that the sequences at the 2′ and 3′ positions of the branch-point adenosine can be of different lengths and base composition; the method can be easily scaled up to produce milligram amounts of branched oligoribonucleotides, which are readily purified by reversed-phase HPLC whilst partially protected.