Abstract: Immunomodulating polynucleotides are disclosed. The immunomodulating polynucleotides may contain 5-modified uridine, 5-modified cytidine, a total of from 6 to 16 nucleotides, and/or one or more abasic spacers and/or internucleoside phosphotriesters. Also disclosed are conjugates containing a targeting moiety and one or more immunomodulating polynucleotides. The immunomodulating polynucleotides and conjugates may further contain one or more auxiliary moieties. Also disclosed are compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates containing one or more stereochemically enriched internucleoside phosphorothioates. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates and methods of their use.

Abstract: Immunomodulating polynucleotides are disclosed. The immunomodulating polynucleotides may contain 5-modified uridine, 5-modified cytidine, a total of from 6 to 16 nucleotides, and/or one or more abasic spacers and/or internucleoside phosphotriesters. Also disclosed are conjugates containing a targeting moiety and one or more immunomodulating polynucleotides. The immunomodulating polynucleotides and conjugates may further contain one or more auxiliary moieties. Also disclosed are compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates containing one or more stereochemically enriched internucleoside phosphorothioates. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates and methods of their use.

Abstract: Disclosed are polynucleotide constructs having a strand linked to a moiety carrying one or more auxiliary moieties. Also disclosed are polynucleotide constructs interrupted with a sugar analogue, and polynucleotide constructs with stereochemical{circumflex over (?)}enriched phosphorothioates. The polynucleotide constructs may be provided as hybridized polynucleotide constructs. Also featured are methods of delivery a polynucleotide construct to a cell and methods of reducing the expression of a protein in a cell by contacting the cell with the disclosed polynucleotide construct or hybridized polynucleotide construct.

Abstract: The invention features a hybridized polynucleotide construct including a passenger strand, a guide strand loadable into a RISC complex, and one or more auxiliary moieties. At least one of the auxiliary moieties is non-bioreversibly linked to an internucleoside phosphate or phosphorothioate in the passenger strand. The invention further features methods of delivery a polynucleotide construct to a cell and methods of reducing the expression of a protein in a cell. The methods typically involve contacting the cell with the hybridized polynucleotide construct.

Abstract: Immunomodulating polynucleotides are disclosed. The immunomodulating polynucleotides may contain 5-modified uridine, 5-modified cytidine, a total of from 6 to 16 nucleotides, and/or one or more abasic spacers and/or internucleoside phosphotriesters. Also disclosed are conjugates containing a targeting moiety and one or more immunomodulating polynucleotides. The immunomodulating polynucleotides and conjugates may further contain one or more auxiliary moieties. Also disclosed are compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates containing one or more stereochemically enriched internucleoside phosphorothioates. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates and methods of their use.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for delivering polynucleotides into cells. The disclosure provides transiently protected polynucleotides comprising an anionic charge-neutralizing moiety/group, which may also confer additional functionality. These compounds can enter the cytosol of cells by endocytic or macropinocytic mechanisms. The transient protecting group is bioreversible, i.e., once inside a cell, it is designed to be removed by enzymatic activity or by passive intracellular methods (e.g., changes in pH or reductive environment).

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for delivering polynucleotides into cells. The disclosure provides transiently protected polynucleotides comprising an anionic charge-neutralizing moiety/group, which may also confer additional functionality. These compounds can enter the cytosol of cells by endocytic or macropinocytic mechanisms. The transient protecting group is bioreversible, i.e., once inside a cell, it is designed to be removed by enzymatic activity or by passive intracellular methods (e.g., changes in pH or reductive environment).

Abstract: The invention features polynucleotide constructs containing one or more components (i) containing a disulfide linkage, where each of the one or more components is attached to an internucleotide bridging group or a terminal group of the polynucleotide construct, and each of the one or more components (i) contains one or more bulky groups proximal to the disulfide group. The invention also features polynucleotide constructs containing one or more components (i) containing a disulfide linkage, where each of the one or more components (i) is attached to an internucleotide bridging group or a terminal group of the polynucleotide construct, and each of the one or more components (i) contains at least 4 atoms in a chain between the disulfide linkage and the phosphorus atom of the internucleotide bridging group or the terminal group; and where the chain does not contain a phosphate, an amide, an ester, or an alkenylene.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for delivering polynucleotides into cells. The disclosure provides transiently protected polynucleotides comprising an anionic charge-neutralizing moiety/group, which may also confer additional functionality. These compounds can enter the cytosol of cells by endocytic or macropinocytic mechanisms. The transient protecting group is bioreversible, i.e., once inside a cell, it is designed to be removed by enzymatic activity or by passive intracellular methods (e.g., changes in pH or reductive environment).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to nucleic acid constructs modified to have a reduced net anionic charge. The constructs comprise phosphotriester and/or phosphothioate protecting groups. The disclosure also provides methods of making and using such constructs.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to nucleic acid constructs modified to have a reduced net anionic charge. In some aspects the constructs comprise phosphodiester and/or phosphothioate protecting groups. The disclosure also provide methods of making and using such constructs.