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Received April 17, 2002; Revision received June 7, 2002
The main structural features of an important group of natural compounds, disaccharide nucleosides, are reviewed. The synthesis and properties of modified oligonucleotides on their basis as well as the methods of introduction of reactive aldehyde groups are described. The last part is devoted to the application of these compounds for studies of enzymes of nucleic acid metabolism.
KEY WORDS: disaccharide nucleosides, oligonucleotides, structure, physicochemical and substrate properties, affinity modification, enzymes of nucleic acid metabolism