Sequence-independent and linear variation of oligonucleotide DNA binding stabilities.

The ability to equalize the DNA binding stability of comprehensive sets of oligonucleotides is imperative for the application of sequencing by hybridization technology. By substitution of ribonucleotides into an oligonucleotide composed of deoxyribonucleotides, and vice versa, the duplex stability of the oligonucleotide is changed linearly with the number of serial alternations of sugar configurations within the molecule. Since this effort occurs independently of the actual base sequence, any set of oligonucleotides could be adjusted to a defined level of binding stability.