What is the base-pairing specificity of dI in an oligonucleotide?
RESPONSE:Deoxy-Inosine is often used as a degenerate base in an oligonucleotide probe or primer. This is possible since the structure allows it to base pair with all four bases in various wobble structures. However the base-pairing is not equivalent with each of the 4 naturally occuring bases. The overall preferential order of base-pairing is. dI-dC > dI-dA > dI-dG = dI-dT REFERENCE(S): Martin,F.H. et.al., (1985), Nucleic Acids Res., 13, 8927-8938. Case-Green,S. C., Southern, E.M., (1994), Nucleic Acids Res., 22, 131-136.