Disclosed is a group of azo quencher compositions useful as fluorescence quenchers having the general structure of formula 1, methods of making or using the compositions, and kits comprising the composition. ##STR00001##

The invention features protected linker compounds which comprise at one terminus a protected amino group and at another other terminus a phosphorous activating group, such as a phosphoramidite group. These protected linker compounds are introduced chemically at the 5-end of oligonucleotides for the purpose of preparing 5-amino modified oligonucleotides. After deprotection, the thereby introduced amino group then allows further modification (e.g. attachment of dyes) or immobilization (on surfaces or beads) of the oligonucleotide. Specifically, the presented amino protecting group is designed to provide such protected linker compounds in a solid form, which facilitates efficient purification by precipitation or crystallization and aliquoting for distribution and storage.

A versatile reagent with a non-nucleotide monomeric unit comprising an enantiomeric center and having a ligand, and first and second coupling groups that are linked to the non-nucleotide monomeric unit. Such a reagent permits preparation of versatile nucleotide/non-nucleotide polymers, having any desired sequence of nucleotide and non-nucleotide monomeric units, each of the latter of which bear a desired ligand. These polymers can, for example, be used as probes which can exhibit enhanced sensitivity and/or which are capable of detecting a genus of nucleotides each species of which has a common target nucleotide sequence of interest bridged by different sequences not of interest.

Disclosed herein are compounds comprising lipid PK/PD modulators for delivery of oligonucleotide-based agents, e.g., double-stranded RNAi agents, to certain cell types, such for example, CNS cells, in vivo. The PK/PD modulators disclosed herein, when conjugated to an oligonucleotide-based therapeutic or diagnostic agent, such as an RNAi agent, can enhance the delivery of the composition to the specified cells being targeted to facilitate the inhibition of gene expression in those cells.

The present disclosure relates to a process for the regiochemically and enantiomerically controlled synthesis of phosphoramidite-containing monomers, and to intermediate products of this process. In some embodiments, the phosphoramidite-containing monomers or their precursors are regioisomerically and/or enantiomerically pure and may be polymerized into polymers or copolymers.

Compounds useful as fluorescent or colored dyes are disclosed. The compounds have the following structure (II): ##STR00001##
or a stereoisomer, tautomer or salt thereof, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3, L.sup.4, M, m and n are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds are also provided.