Molecular Beacon DNA Probes with Fluorescein Bifluorophore.

An azido-derivative of a fluorescein bifluorophore was obtained and used for the synthesis of "molecular beacon"-type oligonucleotide fluorogenic probes for RT-PCR. Eight probe variants were synthesized based on an optimized sequence: with one or two quencher residues at the 3'-end, with a single or bifluorophore fluorescein label attached to 5'-end using modifying phosphoramidites (short linker) or "click reaction" (long linker). Comparison of probes in RT-PCR showed that probes with a doubled quencher (single fluorescein on a short linker) and doubled dye on a short linker (single dye) are somewhat superior in sensitivity to a standard probe (single quencher, single dye on a short linker) by the value of ΔCt = 1-2. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1134/S1068162021030055.

Antibiotics from Extremophilic Micromycetes.

Extremophilic microorganisms, which are capable of functioning normally at extremely high or low temperatures, pressure, and in other environmental conditions, have been in the focus of microbiologists' attention for several decades due to the biotechnological potential of enzymes inherent in extremophiles. These enzymes (also called extremozymes) are used in the production of food and detergents and other industries. At the same time, the inhabitants of extreme econiches remained almost unexplored for a long time in terms of the chemistry of natural compounds. In recent years, the emergence of new antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogens, which affect humans and animals has become a global problem. The problem is compounded by a strong slowdown in the development of new antibiotics. In search of new active substances and scaffolds for medical chemistry, researchers turn to unexplored natural sources. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of studies on secondary metabolites produced by extremophiles. From the discovery of penicillin to the present day, micromycetes, along with actinobacteria, are one of the most productive sources of antibiotic compounds for medicine and agriculture. Many authors consider extremophilic micromycetes as a promising source of small molecules with an unusual mechanism of action or significant structural novelty. This review summarizes the latest (for 2018-2019) experimental data on antibiotic compounds, which are produced by extremophilic micromycetes with various types of adaptation. Active metabolites are classified by the type of structure and biosynthetic origin. The data on the biological activity of the isolated metabolites are summarized.

5-(Perylen-3-ylethynyl)uracil Derivatives Inhibit Reproduction of Respiratory Viruses.

In this work, we describe the synthesis of 5-(perylen-3-ylethynyl)uridine and its ability to effectively inhibit the replication of respiratory disease pathogens in cell culture, namely: influenza A virus (IVA); type 3 parainfluenza virus (PIV-3); and human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Related known compounds were also analyzed: 5-(perylen-3-ylethynyl)-2'-deoxy-uridine; 5-(perylen-3-ylethynyl)-arabino-uridine; and 1-carboxymethyl-3-pivaloyloxymethyl-5-(perylen-3-ylethynyl)uracil.

Antibiotic Activity of Probiotic Strain Bacillus subtilis 534 Against Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii.

Probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis 534 is the base of sporobacterin, a pharmaceutical. In submerged culture it showed antibiotic activity against many of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The spectrum of the antimicrobial activity of the culture fluid depended on the.cultivation time and aeration intensity. It was shown that component No. 1 of the antibiotic complex was effective against clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii: 20 out of 24 isolates were susceptible to component No. 1, including 15 strains out of 16 panresistant isolates.

[Antimicrobial Activity of Substances Produced by Trichoderma citrinoviride Strain VKPM F-1228: Optimization of Cultivation and Assessment of Spectrum of Individual Peptaibols].

The Trichoderma citrinoviride VKPM F-1228 strain produces a complex of peptide-based antibiotics with antibacterial and antimycotic action. Synthesis of peptaibols is closely related to the conidiogenesis in the culture. The optimal procedure of the strain cultivation for production of peptaibols is stationary growing for 14 days at a temperature of 28 degrees C and pH 7.5 followed by formation of a dense mycelium film on the modified Saburo medium containing 30 gr/l of glucose and 12.5 gr/l of peptone. Eight individual peptaibols were extracted. The spectrum of their activity was estimated with the use of opportunistic bacteria and micromycetes as well as pathogenic clinical aspergilli. Compounds 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16 were shown active against opportunistic fungi and bacteria including methicillin resistant S. aureus, whereas compounds 9, 13 and 14 in addition showed antimycotic activity against clinical aspergilli.

[Modification of nucleic acids using [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition of azides and alkynes].

The use of the reaction of azide and alkyne cycloaddition for the synthesis of nucleic acid conjugates and DNA oligomer analogues is considered. The data on chemical and enzymatic techniques of azides and alkynes introduction into DNA are summarized.

[2- and 4-phenylethynylpyrenes--new fluorescent labels for DNA].

It was shown by the example of 1-, 2-, and 4-phenylethynylpyrene 2'-arabino-carbamate derivatives of uridine that the position of pyrene substitution substantially affects the spectral and photophysical properties of the fluorophore and its ability to interact with the nucleic base.

[Antiherpetic activity of 5-alkynyl derivatives of 2'-deoxyuridine].

A series of new 5-alkynyl-2'-deoxyuridines have been synthesized and their antiherpetic activity was tested in the cultured Vero cells on a model of herpes simplex virus type 1, including its acyclovir-resistant strains. Some test compounds were found to have a significant specific antiherpetic activity. Nucleoside XIV showed the greatest activity. Compounds IV and X also has displayed a significant activity against the herpes simplex virus type 1 strain that is highly resistant to acyclovir. Examining the combined action of substance II with acyclovir and ganciclovir has revealed a synergetic effect.

Derivatization of Aminoglycoside Antibiotics with Tris(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)carbenium Ion.

Detection of aminoglycoside antibiotics by MS or HPLC is complicated, because a) carbohydrate molecules have low ionization ability in comparison with other organic molecules (particularly in MALDI-MS), and b) the lack of aromatics and/or amide bonds in the molecules makes common HPLC UV-detectors useless. Here, we report on the application of a previously developed method for amine derivatization with tris(2,6- dimethoxyphenyl)carbenium ion to selective modification of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Only amino groups bound to primary carbons get modified. The attached aromatic residue carries a permanent positive charge. This makes it easy to detect aminoglycoside antibiotics by MS-methods and HPLC, both as individual compounds and in mixtures.

Conjugates of oligonucleotides with polyaromatic fluorophores as promising DNA probes.

Conjugates of pyrene and perylene with oligodeoxynucleotides were synthesized and tested as hybridisation probes. A 13-mer containing a 3-peryleneacetic acid residue attached to the 5' end through a hexamethylenediamine linker showed no response in the fluorescent spectrum upon hybridisation to the complementary sequence. At the same time, pyrene-labelled probes are sensitive to duplex formation. A pyrene pseudonucleotide unit based on 4-(1-pyrenyl)-1,3-butanediol can be introduced into any predetermined position(s) of the oligonucleotide chain. The probes polylabelled in this fashion displayed considerable changes in the excimer-to-monomer fluorescence intensity ratio after duplex formation. The internal location of two pyrene residues in the probe provides a drastic enhancement of excimer fluorescence (approximately 470 nm) upon hybridisation. When two pyrene units were brought into close proximity to two pyrenes in the complementary strand upon duplex formation, strong excimer emission at approximately 450 nm was detected. This effect provides a basis for a sensor construction designed to detect nucleic acid hybridisation.

Design of multidye systems for FRET-based applications.

A new solid phase approach, based on orthogonal protective group strategy utilizing Fmoc and DMTr groups, was used to assemble linear polymeric chains with pending groups at desired locations. A compound synthesized using four different fluorophores with consequently overlapping absorption and emission spectra (pyrene, perylene, fluorescein and TAMRA) was shown to fluoresce at 570 nm when excited at 330 nm, demonstrating sequential energy transfer across four chromophores.

[Synthesis and fluorescent properties of oligonucleotides, containing a new fluorescent marker--n-(2-benzoxazolyl)tolane]. / Sintez i fluorestsentnye svoistva oligonukleotidov, soderzhashchikh novuiu fluorestsentnuiu metku--n-(2-benzoksazolil)tolan.

A functional (dihydroxybutyl) derivative of p-(2-benzoxazolyl)tolane, a fluorescent label novel for biopolymers, was synthesized. The functionalized solid support obtained on its basis was employed in the synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides 3-terminally labeled with benzoxazolyltolane (these oligonucleotides also contained 1-phenylethynylpyrene residues). This fluorophore within its dihydroxybutyl derivative and the oligonucleotides modified with it displays an intensive fluorescence characterized by a high Stokes shift. The oligonucleotides labeled with this fluorophore are potential probes sensitive to the biopolymer microenvironment.

[Fluorescence resonance energy transfer in the study of nucleic acids]. / Rezonansnyi perenos énergii fluorestsentsii vissledovanii nukelinovykh kislog.

Recent data are reviewed on the employment of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in studying hybridization and higher structures of nucleic acids as well as their enzyme- and ribozyme-catalyzed reactions.

[Novel reagent for labeling of biomolecules--activated derivative of pyrene dichromophore with excimeric fluorescence]. / Novyi reagent dlia mecheniia biomolekul--aktivirovannoe proizvodnoe pirenovogo bikhromofora s éksimernoi fluorestsentsiei.

N-[2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyl]-1-pyrenylacetamide, bis[2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyl]amine, and N,N-bis[2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyl]succinamide were synthesized from 1-pyrenylacetic acid. These compounds contain adjacent pyrene residues and display excimer fluorescence. The latter compound, as a pentafluorophenyl ester, was used to prepare fluorescently labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotide (5)CAGGAAACAGCTATGAC. For N,N-bis[2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyl]succinamide, the excimer-to-monomer fluorescence ratio and intensity of fluorescence in water-methanol solutions changed in the presence of single-stranded and double-stranded oligonucleotides, upon attachment to an oligonucleotide, and upon hybridization of the resulting conjugate with the complementary nucleotide sequence.

[Synthesis and fluorescent properties of 5-(1-pyrenylethynyl)-2'- deoxyuridine-containing oligodeoxynucleotides]. / Sintez i fluorestsentnye svoistva 5-(1-pirenilétinil)-2'-dezoksiuridinsoderzhashchikh oligodezoksinukleotidov.

Novel reagents for the fluorescent labeling of oligo- and polynucleotides have been prepared: 5-(1-pyrenylethynyl)-2'-deoxyuridine 3'-phosphoramidite and a solid support carrying this nucleoside. Oligonucleotides containing one or several modified units have been synthesized, and the fluorescence of these probes has been shown to change upon hybridization with the complementary sequence.

[Antiviral activity of some 5-arylethynyl 2'-deoxyuridine derivatives]. / Protivovirusnaia aktivnost' nekotorykh 5-arilétinil'nykh proizvodnykh 2'-dezoksiuridina.

5-(3-Perylenylethynyl)-2'-deoxyuridine was prepared by cross-linking 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine derivatives with 3-ethynylperylene followed by deprotection. 5-(1-Perylenylethynyl)-, 5-(3-perylenylethynyl)-, and 5-[4-(2-benzoxazolyl)phenylethynyl]-2'-deoxyuridine were found to inhibit in Vero cells the replication of type 1 herpes simplex virus and its drug-resistant strains.

Recent applications of bifunctional trityl groups.

Triphenylmethyl derivatives represent an important class of dyestuffs as well as a useful family of protecting groups widely used in organic synthesis to transiently block various functional moieties. These applications are well documented and have been a subject of a number of reviews. Here we focus instead on some novel applications of a trityl which make good use of its ability to easily form a stabilised cation in combination with additional peripheral functionalities. Topics covered include applications in bioconjugation, cross-linking, mass-spectrometry, fluorescence and optics.

Reagent for introducing pyrene residues in oligonucleotides.

A novel pyrenyl-containing phosphoramidite reagent, N-[4-(1-pyrenyl)butyryl]-O1-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl)-O2- [(diisopropylamino)(2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino]-3-amino-1 ,2-propanediol (5), has been synthesized from 4-(1-pyrenyl)butanoic acid in four steps with the 52% overall yield and used to incorporate pyrene residue(s) into oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides 6 and 7, bearing one or two pyrenes at the 5'-terminus, have been prepared by means of that reagent, characterized with fluorescence spectra, and successfully used as primers in a polymerase chain reaction.