Artificial nucleic acids
Artificial nucleosides including 2-methyl-nucleobase-substituted butane-1,3-diol nucleosides are disclosed. Four different stereoisomers of such nucleosides are possible. Oligonucleotides made up of the artificial nucleosides form homoduplexes of greater stability than DNA duplexes and have a reduced ability to hybridize to DNA or RNA.
1. Nucleoside analogues of Formula I:
wherein B is a natural or artificial nucleic acid base.
2. The nucleoside analogues of claim 1 , having the formula and stereochemistry:
3. An oligomer comprising one or more nucleoside analogues of claim 1 .
4. The oligomer of claim 3 comprising one or more phosphodiester bonds.
5. An oligomer conjugate comprising an oligomer of claim 3 and an oligomer comprising natural nucleosides.