| abstract |
The present invention provides a novel class of oligonucleotides useful for antisense purposes. The oligonucleotides of the invention comprise both deoxyribonucleotides with "natural" 3'-5' internucleotide linkages and ribonucleotides with 2'-5' internucleotide linkages. Because of their conformation structure, oligonucleotides according to the invention possess uniform intra-phosphate distances throughout the oligonucleotide chain, allowing them to bind efficiently to complementary DNA and RNA with "natural" 3'-5' internucleotide linkages. The oligonucleotides according to the invention advantageously exhibit diminished immune stimulation and significantly reduced effect on both complement and coagulation as compared to 3'-5' oligonucleotides. |