This review outlines the design and synthesis of oligonucleotides bearing 2'-modified residues at predeter- mined positions within the strand. The relative merits of incorporation of reactive carboxyl, carbonyl, iodoacetamide and disulfide-containing groups into oligonucleotides were considered along with solid-phase synthesis of DNA 2'- conjugates. The specific cross-linking of 2'-substituted oligonucleotides to nucleic acid-binding proteins (transcription factor NF- B, restriction-modification enzymes) was shown to be helpful in scanning the protein-DNA interface and studying the conformational dynamics of biopolymer ensembles. The future perspectives of chemically reactive DNA constructs as specific protein decoys are discussed.
