| abstract |
Oligonucleotides containing 1-+E,uns N+EE -alkyl-6-thiopurine, 3-+E,uns N+EE -alkyl-4-thiopyrimidine and 5-+E,uns N+EE -alkyl-4-thiopyrazolopyrimidine bases and the corresponding 2'-O-alkylated or allylated nucleotides demonstrate potent antiviral activity in several assays, including the human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase enzyme assay. The oligonucleotides of the invention contain approximately 5 to 99 nucleotide units, and may include, in addition to the above-noted N-alkylated and thiolated heterocyclic bases, the naturally occurring pyrimidine and purine bases. |