Universal linker compositions for the release or transfer of chemical agents from a polynucleotide

A modified polynucleotide having the structure:

• wherein:
• Z is
• T is (CH2)n where n is from 2 to 20;
• R is OCH3;
• and A is any nucleotide or part of a polynucleotide.

A composition comprising a pair of polynucleotides, wherein said first polynucleotide is a modified polynucleotide having the structure:

• wherein T is a tether selected from the group consisting of:
• where n is from 2 to 20;
• and n1 and n2 are independently selected to be from 1 to 20;
• n1+n2 are usually not more than about 20;
• and y is from 1 to 7;
• and wherein T is optionally substituted with an alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl or cycloalkylalkenyl group;
• R3 is selected from an alkyl, usually branched or linear lower alkyl;
• hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro, mercapto, alkylthio, —S(O)pR6 (where p is 0 to 2), —S(O)pN(R6)2 (where p is 0 to 2);
• —OR6, —C(O)OR6, —C(O)N(R6)2, —N(R6)2, —N(R6)C(O)OR7, —N(R8)C(O)R8, and —R8—N═N—O—R7;
• where each R6, R7 or R8 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, awl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl and cycloalkylalkenyl;
• L is an activated leaving group selected from sulfonyl, carbonyl esters, para nitrophenyl esters, nitrophenyl esters, trifluoroacetyl esters, nosylate, brosylate, tosylate, perchlorate, triflate, and mesylate;
• Z is a fluorophore or quencher;
• A is a nucleotide of at least 6 bases in length and not more than about 100 bases in length;
• and
• R is OR1 or O−;
• wherein R1 is a linear or branched lower alkyl;
• and said second polynucleotide comprises at least one fluorophore or quencher, and comprises a 3′ nucleophilic group;
• wherein said first and said second polynucleotides hybridize to neighboring sites on a target sequence.