High-density DNA functionalization by a combination of Cu-catalyzed and cu-free click chemistry.

We report the regioselective Cu-free click modification of styrene functionalized DNA with nitrile oxides. A series of modified oligodeoxynucleotides (nine base pairs) was prepared with increasing styrene density. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition with nitrile oxides allows the high density functionalization of the styrene modified DNA directly on the DNA solid support and in solution. This click reaction proceeds smoothly even directly in the DNA synthesizer and gives exclusively 3,5-disubstituted isoxazolines. Additionally, PCR products (300 and 900 base pairs) were synthesized with a styrene triphosphate and KOD XL polymerase. The click reaction on the highly modified PCR fragments allows functionalization of hundreds of styrene units on these large DNA fragments simultaneously. Even sequential Cu-free and Cu-catalyzed click reaction of PCR amplicons containing styrene and alkyne carrying nucleobases was achieved. This new approach towards high-density functionalization of DNA is simple, modular, and efficient.

Copper-free "click" modification of DNA via nitrile oxide-norbornene 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.

Nitrile oxides react smoothly and rapidly with norbornene-modified DNA in a copper-free click reaction. The reaction allows high density functionalization of oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) with a large variety of molecules directly on solid supports and even in synthesizers without the need for an additional catalyst.

A short and efficient synthesis of the tRNA nucleosides PreQ0 and archaeosine.

Modified nucleosides in tRNAs play an important role in the translational process. They fine tune the codon-anticodon interactions and they influence the folding and stabilisation of the tRNA structure. Herein, we present a novel synthetic route to the highly modified nucleosides PreQ(0) and archaeosine. The synthesis involves coupling of a protected 7-cyano-7-deazaguanosine nucleobase with a TBDMS and isopropylidene protected chloro-ribose unit yielding the PreQ(0) nucleoside after deprotection. This PreQ(0) nucleoside is then used as the starting material for the synthesis of archaeosine providing the first total synthetic access to this hypermodified RNA nucleoside.

Synthesis of highly modified DNA by a combination of PCR with alkyne-bearing triphosphates and click chemistry.

We report the combination of "click chemistry" with PCR by using alkyne-modified triphosphates for efficient and homogeneous labeling of DNA. A series of modified PCR products of different lengths (300, 900, and 2000 base pairs) were prepared by using a variety of alkyne- and azide-containing triphosphates and different polymerases. After intensive screening of real-time PCR methods, protocols were developed that allow the amplification of genes by using these modified triphosphates with similar efficiency to that of standard PCR. The click reaction on the highly modified PCR fragments provided conversion rates above 90 % and resulted in the functionalization of hundreds of alkynes on large DNA fragments with superb selectivity and efficiency.

Transfer printing of DNA by "click" chemistry.

This paper describes a straightforward procedure to immobilize oligonucleotides on glass substrates in well-defined micropatterns by microcontact printing with a dendrimer-modified stamp. The oligonucleotides are efficiently immobilized by "click" chemistry induced by microcontact printing. Acetylene-modified oligonucleotides were treated with an azide-terminated glass slide under the confinement of the dendrimer-modified stamp, without the use of a Cu(I) catalyst. The immobilization is an irreversible, covalent, and one-step reaction that results in stable attachment of the oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides with the acetylene-modification at the 5' terminus hybridize selectively with full-length, complementary targets. Strands with more than one acetylene linker do not hybridize with complementary strands.