Synthesis and reactivity of intermediates formed in the T4 RNA ligase reaction

The intermediate adenylated donor derivatives A(5')pp(5')dTp and A(5')pp(5')GpGpGp have been prepared from suitable phosphorylating reagents activated by 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. Phosphodiester bond formation between donor and acceptor oligonucleotides as catalyzed by T4 RNA ligase is shown to be more efficient when the adenylated form of the donor molecule is used.