a-tc-DNA was synthesized and found to bind preferentially to parallel nucleic acid complements via Watson-Crick duplex formation with a preference for RNA over DNA. Compared to natural DNA, a-tc-DNA shows equal to enhanced affinity to RNA. Antiparallel duplex formation of two a-tc-oligonucleotides was also observed. The thermal stability of this duplex was surprisingly low.

This work was carried out in the group of Prof. Christian Leumann.

References:

• S. P. Scheidegger, C. J. Leumann;
  "Synthesis and Pairing Properties of a-Tricyclo-DNA"
  Chem. Eur. J., 12, 8014-8023, (2006); doi:10.1002/chem.200600597.