Covalent modification and surface immobilization of nucleic acids via the Diels-Alder bioconjugation method

The importance of chemically modified and surface immobilized nucleic acids has inspired the development of a wide variety of complementary techniques for covalent oligonucleotide preparation and immobilization. We are develo ping technology based on the use of a Diels-Alder reaction for accomplishin g the covalent modification of oligonucleotides. Reported herein is prelimi nary progress toward the establishment of robust reagents for introducing t he reactive functionality, as well as studies employing the BIACORE system to demonstrate surface immobilization by the method.