A modification that facilitates oligonucleotide uptake into cells

Quick facts:

Availability: DNA and RNA
Location: 3' Scales: 100 nmol to 10 𝝁mol
Purification: HPLC required IDT
Ordering Symbol: /3CholTEG/

Figure 1. Cholesterol-TEG. Cholesterol-TEG can be used to modify both DNA and RNA oligos on scales from 100 nmol to 10 μmol. Because cholesterol is difficult to manufacture, it requires HPLC purification. To order, use the symbol /3CholTEG/.

Transfection aid

Oligonucleotides are hydrophilic and often have difficulty permeating cell membranes. Cholesterol is hydrophobic, and when conjugated to oligonucleotides, can facilitate uptake into cells. It has been used as a transfection aid for antisense oligos and siRNAs, both in vitro and in vivo. The TEG (15 atom triethylene glycol) spacer further increases cellular uptake.

Modifications to facilitate your research

See what other modifications are available from IDT. You can find a list of standard modifications we make to oligonucleotides on the Modifications page of our online catalog. And if you don’t find what you are looking for, just send us a request. We often synthesize special, non-catalog requests. Contact us at noncat@idtdna.com.