Decapitation of a 5ʹ capped RNA by an antisense copper complex conjugate

This report presents the synthesis and 5ʹ cap reactivity of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide equipped with two equivalents of an analog of N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine (MPG). MPG is a peptide derivative which coordinates to copper(II) in solution as a monomeric species via the thiol, amide, and carboxylate groups. Decapitation of a complementary 5ʹ capped RNA was observed for the oligonucleotide-ligand conjugate coordinated to copper