A mildly inducible and selective cross-link methodology for RNA duplexes

We here report on the furan oxidation methodology for interstrand cross-linking of RNA duplexes, which have a different structure and are more stiff, reactive and labile than their DNA counterparts. Through this mildly inducible approach, natural unmodified RNA can be selectively cross-linked in high yield. The method therefore has direct applications in the increasing number of RNA based technologies.