SBIR Phase I: Novel Chemical Synthesis of Ribo Nucleic Acid (RNA) Oligonucleotides

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This project will evaluate the quality and utility of RNA oligonucleotides synthesized using a novel chemical synthesis scheme. The growing interest in RNA structural components, ribazymes and other RNA functions has generated a need for reliable methods of synthesizing small RNA oligonucleotides (50 nucleotides). Although RNA synthesis can be accomplished for some applications via either biochemical methods, em. transcription, or chemically, e.g. 5'-dimethoxytrityl-2'-silyl chemistry, there is a definite need for improved RNA synthesis methods. Final processing of synthesized RNA must be done under mild, sterile conditions with minimal handling. Our final processing is accomplished under mild aqueous conditions, pH 3, 55 ÝC for 10 minutes. The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) establish the general utility of this chemistry by synthesizing a variety of RNA oligonucleotides to be evaluated by several collaborators, (2) confirm the RNA quality by using a broad spectrum of chemical and biochemical assays. The market for oligonucleotides should grow significantly to a multi-million dollar level if this cost effective route to these materials can be developed.