Reaction of Internucleotidic Phosphorothioate Diesters with Fluorescent Reporter groups

Abstract

The substitution of a non-bridging oxygen by sulfur in a DNA intemucleotidic phosphorus residue creates a nucleophilic site which is amenable to labeling by reporter groups such as fluorophores or spin labels. Placement of a single phosphorothioate diester at a selected position allows site-specific attachment of the reporter group. Incorporating a phosphorothioate at each and every intemucleotidic phosphorous linkage allows the incorporation of multiple reporter groups, ideally one for each nucleoside residue.