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New Approach to the Synthesis of Polyribonucleotides of Defined Sequence

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Abstract

SOME of the problems associated with the chemical synthesis of polynucleotides are the lower yields obtained in the synthesis of larger oligonucleotides and the considerable labour involved in their preparation and purification because of the necessity for chemical protection of the bases and the occurrence of side reactions during synthesis1. We have developed a new method of synthesis of polynucleotides containing well defined sequences which promises to avoid some of these difficulties. The basis of the method lies in the use of a nucleotide polymerizing enzyme with substrates containing chemical modifications such that only one nucleotide at a time would be permitted to add to a growing polynucleotide strand.

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MACKEY, J., GILHAM, P. New Approach to the Synthesis of Polyribonucleotides of Defined Sequence. Nature 233, 551–553 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/233551a0

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