Abstract
The effect of pyrimidine base substitution on the sensitivity of oligonucleotides to nucleases has been studied with two series of self complementary deoxyoligonucleotides containing n-alkyl, n-(1-alkenyl) or n-(1-alkynyl) groups at C5 of pyrimidines, (dA-r5dU)10 and (dG-rsdC)6. The rate of hydrolysis by snake venom phosphodiesterase and in human serum decreased with increasing length and unsaturation of the substituent.