Synthesis and properties of hammerhead ribozymes stabilized against nucleases by different 2′-modifications: methoxyethoxy-, fluoro- and amino groups

2′-modified ribonucleosides (2′-methoxyethoxy- O, 2′-fluoro-2′-deoxypyrimidines O and 2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridines □) were introduced into hammerhead ribozymes. Kinetics and stability assays were performed. The lipophilicity characteristics of these 2′-modifications were investigated measuring partition coefficients and HPLC retention times.