Abstract: Disulfide cross-linked derivatives of the “Dickerson/Drew dodecamer” 5'-d (CGCGAATTCGCG)-3'and the related decamer 5'-d (GCGAATTCGC)-3'have been synthesized, each bearing a dithiobis (ethane)(Cz) or dithiobis-(propane)(C3) cross-link at the central adenine (A). NMR and CD spectroscopy indicate that these duplexes are essentially undistorted relative to native B-DNA. However, cross-linking does confer a ...