Five Essentials For Accurate Oligonucleotide Chemistry

The term "oligonucleotide" originates from the Greek "olígoi," meaning "few or small," combined with "nucleotide," which refers to the nucleic acid building blocks in both DNA and RNA. Synthetic oligonucleotides are polymer chains of DNA or RNA, connected through a repetitive four-step synthesis reaction, with each nucleotide base (i.e., phosphoramidite, also referred to as amidite) sequentially added to the growing chain. Despite the fact that oligonucleotide synthesis is a straightforward and cyclical chemical process, nuances can lead to low oligonucleotide yields and result in costly failed runs.

This white paper shares learnings from four decades of experience in the flow-through synthesis of oligo manufacturing and highlights where there is room for improvement in oligonucleotide chemistry. Explore five key areas where enhancements can significantly impact the quality outcome of your synthesis.