Modified dimers having a ribose sugar moiety in the 5′ nucleoside and a 2′ modified sugar in the 3′ nucleoside are provided. The modified dimers are useful in the preparation of oligonucleotide analogs having enhanced properties compared to native oligonucleotides, including increased nuclease resistance, enhanced binding affinity and improved protein binding.
The invention relates to compositions comprising acyl derivatives of cytidine and uridine. The invention also relates to methods of treating hepatopathies, diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disorders, Parkinson's disease, infant respiratory distress syndrome and for enhancement of phospholipid biosynthesis comprising administering the acyl derivatives of the invention to an animal.