This paper describes the synthesis and properties of a novel molecular beacon (MB) containing a benzene-phosphate backbone at its stem moiety. The fluorescence intensity of MBs was found to stabilize by the introduction of the benzene-phosphate backbone at its stem moiety. Furthermore, an MB containing the benzene-phosphate backbone was more resistant to DNase I (endonuclease) than an MB comprising natural DNA and 2'-O-methyl-RNA. These results indicate that the MB with the benzene-phosphate backbone is superior as a molecular beacon as compared to the MB composed of natural DNA and 2'-O-methyl-RNA.

We describe the synthesis and properties of oligonucleotides (ONs) containing biaryl units, which are composed of a bis-(hydroxymethyl)benzene residue and a naphthalene or pyrene moiety. We found that by introducing the biaryl units into the ONs, the aromatic chromophores were suitably arrayed

We describe the synthesis and properties of oligonucleotides (ONs) containing biaryl units, which are composed of a bis(hydroxymethyl)benzene residue and a naphthalene or pyrene moiety. We found that by introducing the biaryl units into the ONs, the aromatic chromophores are suitably arrayed in the DNAs. Further, we succeeded in the detection of a single-base mismatch in RNA by using the ON containing the biaryl unit as a molecular beacon.

The cover picture shows a DNA duplex containing a biaryl unit, which is made up of benzene and pyrene moieties; an excimer is formed between the biaryl units, which results in the formation of a duplex. In the article by Y. Ueno et al. on p. 4763 ff the synthesis of the monomer units and oligonucleotides containing the biaryl units and the thermal stabilities of the duplexes, as well as their absorption and fluorescence properties, are discussed. The authors would like to thank Yoichiro Kato for his help in designing the cover picture.