Rapid desilylation of oligoribonucleotides at elevated temperatures: cleavage activity in ribozyme-substrate assays.

Abstract

Treatment of 2'-O-silyl-oligoribonucleotides with triethylamine trihydrofluoride in DMF at 55 degrees C for 1 h effected complete desilylation. The product was isolated by a single addition of 1-butanol to the reaction mixture. The resulting RNA was found to be identical with that obtained by traditional desilylation methods as analyzed by HPLC, enzyme digest and ribozyme-substrate assays.