Probing structure and function with alternative nucleic acids bearing 2 ',5 '-linked, zwitterionic, and isocytosine center dot isoguanine components

The incorporation of alternative functional components into nucleic acids c an provide insight into what molecular features are necessary for an inform ational macromolecule to be successful. It can also provide a means to impr ove particular physical characteristics of nucleic acids for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, or probe mechanisms. By testing the fitness of nucle ic acid-like molecules derived by structural permutations of RNA, it may al so prove possible to trace a path from simple prebiotic precursors to bioti c molecules. This article describes the applications of 2',5'-phosphodieste r linked, zwitterionic, and base-permuted nucleic acid derivatives. (C) 200 1 Academic Press.