SYNTHESIS, PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 2 PEPTIDE-OLIGONUCLEOTIDE CONJUGATES AS POTENTIAL ARTIFICIAL NUCLEASES

Two peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates 10a and 10b, containing as thei r peptide moiety the active site mimic of ribonuclease A (HGH motif) a nd the Cu (ID complexing metallopeptide (GGH motif) respectively, have been synthesized by original on-line solid phase synthesis using pent afluorophenyl active esters and Boc-His(Tos)-OH. Mild basic conditions for the final deprotection and reversed-phase purification afforded t he pure hybrid molecules in good yields. The conjugates have been char acterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-fligh t mass spectrometry.