A method for introduction of dimethylamionapthamide and fluorescein labels as a fluorescence energy donor and acceptor pair into 2'-positions of DNA duplexes has been described. It has been shown that the attachment of these bulky fluorophores to the sugar 2'-position at the terminal fraying end of each oligonucleotide strand does not alter the normal thermal stability and global conformation of the DNA duplexes. A clear dependence of fluorescence energy transfer efficiency on the number of nucleotides in DNA has been observed, suggesting that the present donor-acceptor pair may be useful for FRET indicator of DNA. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.