A Convenient Oligonucleotide Conjugation via Tandem Staudinger Reaction and Amide Bond Formation at the Internucleotidic Phosphate Position.

Staudinger reaction on the solid phase between an electronodeficit organic azide, such as sulfonyl azide, and the phosphite triester formed upon phosphoramidite coupling is a convenient method for the chemical modification of oligonucleotides at the internucleotidic phosphate position. In this work, 4-carboxybenzenesulfonyl azide, either with a free carboxy group or in the form of an activated ester such as pentafluorophenyl, 4-nitrophenyl, or pentafluorobenzyl, was used to introduce a carboxylic acid function to the terminal or internal internucleotidic phosphate of an oligonucleotide via the Staudinger reaction. A subsequent treatment with excess primary alkyl amine followed by the usual work-up, after prior activation with a suitable peptide coupling agent such as a uronium salt/1-hydroxybenzotriazole in the case of a free carboxyl, afforded amide-linked oligonucleotide conjugates in good yields including multiple conjugations of up to the exhaustive modification at each phosphate position for a weakly activated pentafluorobenzyl ester, whereas more strongly activated and, thus, more reactive aryl esters provided only single conjugations at the 5'-end. The conjugates synthesized include those with di- and polyamines that introduce a positively charged side chain to potentially assist the intracellular delivery of the oligonucleotide.

Mesyl phosphoramidate backbone modified antisense oligonucleotides targeting miR-21 with enhanced in vivo therapeutic potency.

The design of modified oligonucleotides that combine in one molecule several therapeutically beneficial properties still poses a major challenge. Recently a new type of modified mesyl phosphoramidate (or µ-) oligonucleotide was described that demonstrates high affinity to RNA, exceptional nuclease resistance, efficient recruitment of RNase H, and potent inhibition of key carcinogenesis processes in vitro. Herein, using a xenograft mouse tumor model, it was demonstrated that microRNA miR-21-targeted µ-oligonucleotides administered in complex with folate-containing liposomes dramatically inhibit primary tumor growth via long-term down-regulation of miR-21 in tumors and increase in biosynthesis of miR-21-regulated tumor suppressor proteins. This antitumoral effect is superior to the effect of the corresponding phosphorothioate. Peritumoral administration of µ-oligonucleotide results in its rapid distribution and efficient accumulation in the tumor. Blood biochemistry and morphometric studies of internal organs revealed no pronounced toxicity of µ-oligonucleotides. This new oligonucleotide class provides a powerful tool for antisense technology.

New Hybrid Compounds Combining Fragments of Usnic Acid and Thioether Are Inhibitors of Human Enzymes TDP1, TDP2 and PARP1.

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) catalyzes the cleavage of the phosphodiester bond between the tyrosine residue of topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) and the 3' phosphate of DNA in the single-strand break generated by TOP1. TDP1 promotes the cleavage of the stable DNA-TOP1 complexes with the TOP1 inhibitor topotecan, which is a clinically used anticancer drug. This article reports the synthesis and study of usnic acid thioether and sulfoxide derivatives that efficiently suppress TDP1 activity, with IC50 values in the 1.4-25.2 µM range. The structure of the heterocyclic substituent introduced into the dibenzofuran core affects the TDP1 inhibitory efficiency of the compounds. A five-membered heterocyclic fragment was shown to be most pharmacophoric among the others. Sulfoxide derivatives were less cytotoxic than their thioester analogs. We observed an uncompetitive type of inhibition for the four most effective inhibitors of TDP1. The anticancer effect of TOP1 inhibitors can be enhanced by the simultaneous inhibition of PARP1, TDP1, and TDP2. Some of the compounds inhibited not only TDP1 but also TDP2 and/or PARP1, but at significantly higher concentration ranges than TDP1. Leader compound 10a showed promising synergy on HeLa cells in conjunction with the TOP1 inhibitor topotecan.

The Importance of Phosphates for DNA G-Quadruplex Formation: Evaluation of Zwitterionic G-Rich Oligodeoxynucleotides.

A quaternary ammonium butylsulfonyl phosphoramidate group (N+) was designed to replace all the phosphates in a G-rich oligodeoxynucleotide d(TG4 T), resulting in a formally charge-neutral zwitterionic N+TG4 T sequence. We evaluated the effects of N+phosphate modifications on the structural, thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the parallel G-quadruplexes (G4) formed by TG4 T and compared them to the properties of the recently published phosphoryl guanidine d(TG4 T) (PG-TG4 T). Using size-exclusion chromatography, we established that, unlike PG-TG4 T, which exists as a mixture of complexes of different molecularity in solution, N+TG4 T forms an individual tetramolecular complex. In contrast to PG modifications that destabilized G4s, the presence of N+ modifications increased thermal stability relative to unmodified [d(TG4 T)]4 . The initial stage of assembly of N+TG4 T proceeded faster in the presence of Na+ than K+ ions and, similarly to PG-TG4 T, was independent of the salt concentration. However, after complex formation exceeded 75 %, N+TG4 T in solution with Na+ showed slower association than with K+ . N+TG4 T could also form G4s in solution with Li+ ions at a very low strand concentration (10 µM); something that has never been reported for the native d(TG4 T). Charge-neutral PG-G4s can invade preformed native G4s, whereas no invasion was observed between N+and native G4s, possibly due to the increased thermal stability of [N+TG4 T]4 . The N+ modification makes d(TG4 T) fully resistant to enzymatic digestion, which could be useful for intracellular application of N+-modified DNA or RNA.

Diastereomers of a mono-substituted phosphoryl guanidine trideoxyribonucleotide: Isolation and properties.

Recently, a new type of nucleic acid analogues with modified phosphate group, namely, phosphoryl guanidine oligonucleotides, has been described. In the present work, we assess the difference between diastereomers of a mono-substituted phosphoryl guanidine oligonucleotide and analyze their resistance to nuclease digestion. Individual diastereomers ('fast' and 'slow') of a trideoxynucleotide d (TpCp*A) were isolated by reverse-phase HPLC. Snake venom phosphodiesterase digestion showed that the native trideoxynucleotide was fully degraded after 30 min, whereas both 'fast' and 'slow' diastereomers of d (TpCp*A) were not completely digested even after 7 days. UV and CD spectra revealed similarities in the structure of the diastereomers. Structural analysis by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy also uncovered significant similarity in the properties of Rp and Sp diastereomers. Structural analysis of nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) data and restrained molecular dynamics methods showed very flexible single-stranded oligonucleotide structures. Detailed computational analysis of restraint penalty energies via restrained molecular dynamics simulations with the 2D NMR interproton distance data allowed us to conclude that most likely, the 'fast' isomer is the Sp diastereomer, and the 'slow' isomer is the Rp diastereomer.

2',3'-Dideoxyuridine triphosphate conjugated to SiO2 nanoparticles: Synthesis and evaluation of antiproliferative activity.

A conjugate of triphosphorylated 2',3'-dideoxyuridine (ddU) with SiO2 nanoparticles was obtained via the CuAAC click chemistry between a γ-alkynyl ddU triphosphate and azido-modified SiO2 nanoparticles. Assessment of cytotoxicity in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF7 cells demonstrated that ddU triphosphate conjugated to SiO2 nanoparticles exhibited a 50% decrease in cancer cell growth at a concentration of 183 ±â€¯57 µg/mL, which corresponds to 22 ±â€¯7 µM of the parent nucleotide, whereas the parent nucleoside, nucleotide and alkynyl triphosphate precursor do not show any cytotoxicity. The data provide an example of remarkable potential of novel conjugates of SiO2 nanoparticles with phosphorylated nucleoside analogues, even those, which have not been used previously as therapeutics, for application as new anticancer agents.

Conjugates of phosphorylated zalcitabine and lamivudine with SiO2 nanoparticles: Synthesis by CuAAC click chemistry and preliminary assessment of anti-HIV and antiproliferative activity.

Conjugates of phosphorylated dideoxynucleoside antiviral drugs dideoxycytidine (zalcitabine) and lamivudine with SiO2 nanoparticles were obtained via the copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click chemistry between a nucleoside triphosphate containing an alkynyl group at the γ-phosphate or azidothymidine triphosphate and SiO2 nanoparticles containing alkyl azide or alkynyl groups, respectively. 4-(Prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)butylamino group has been attached to the γ-phosphate group of dideoxycytidine (zalcitabine) and lamivudine 5'-triphosphates via the phosphoramidate linkage. New compounds were shown to be potent killers of human colon carcinoma cells. Anti-HIV activity of the conjugates was demonstrated as well. The conjugates of phosphorylated lamivudine and dideoxycytidine (zalcitabine) showed higher potency than the parent nucleosides. The conjugate of phosphorylated azidothymidine was less active against HIV-1 than the parent nucleoside probably because of the replacement of its 3'-azido group by 1,2,3-triazole ring. These results show an opportunity for using SiO2 nanoparticles as a transport for delivering phosphorylated nucleosides to cells in order to increase their efficiency as antiviral and anticancer drugs.

Design of a New Fluorescent Oligonucleotide-Based Assay for a Highly Specific Real-Time Detection of Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Site Cleavage by Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1.

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1) promotes catalytic scission of a phosphodiester bond between the 3'-end of DNA and the hydroxyl group of a tyrosine residue, as well as cleaving off a variety of other 3'-terminal phosphate-linked DNA substituents. We have shown recently that Tdp1 can initiate an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) site repair pathway that is independent from the one mediated by AP endonuclease 1 (APE1). Until recently, there was no method available of tracking the AP-site cleaving activity of Tdp1 by real-time fluorescence assay. In the present study we demonstrate a highly specific real-time detection of the AP-site cleaving activity of Tdp1 which allows one to distinguish it from the activity of APE1 by using a short hairpin oligonucleotide with a 1,12-dodecanediol loop, a 5'-fluorophore, and a 3'-quencher. Specific phosphodiesterase activity of Tdp1, which is usually able to remove quencher from the 3'-end of DNA, was suppressed in our approach by introducing a noncleavable phosphate group mimic between the 3'-end and the quencher. As a nondigestible 3'-phosphate analogue, we have used a new uncharged tetramethyl phosphoryl guanidine (Tmg) group, which is resistant to 3'-phosphodiesterase cleavage.

Nanorings from Concatemeric DNA: Chemical Modification Drives Nanostructure Formation.

Self-assembly of DNA concatemers from native duplexes and those containing non-nucleotidic bridges of varying polarity composed of repeating oligo(ethylene glycol) phosphates -O(CH2CH2O)(n)PO2- or α,Ω-alkanediol phosphates -O(CH2)10OPO2(-)- units was compared. The structures obtained were characterised by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, enzymatic digestion and AFM. Our results have revealed that chemically-modified duplexes favour self-termination of concatemer growth and yield up to 35% of nanosized DNA rings.

Antisense oligonucleotide gapmers containing phosphoryl guanidine groups reverse MDR1-mediated multiple drug resistance of tumor cells.

Antisense gapmer oligonucleotides containing phosphoryl guanidine (PG) groups, e.g., 1,3-dimethylimidazolidin-2-imine, at three to five internucleotidic positions adjacent to the 3' and 5' ends were prepared via the Staudinger chemistry, which is compatible with conditions of standard automated solid-phase phosphoramidite synthesis for phosphodiester and, notably, phosphorothioate linkages, and allows one to design a variety of gapmeric structures with alternating linkages, and deoxyribose or 2'-O-methylribose backbone. PG modifications increased nuclease resistance in serum-containing medium for more than 21 days. Replacing two internucleotidic phosphates by PG groups in phosphorothioate-modified oligonucleotides did not decrease their cellular uptake in the absence of lipid carriers. Increasing the number of PG groups from two to seven per oligonucleotide reduced their ability to enter the cells in the carrier-free mode. Cationic liposomes provided similar delivery efficiency of both partially PG-modified and unmodified oligonucleotides. PG-gapmers were designed containing three to four PG groups at both wings and a central "window" of seven deoxynucleotides with either phosphodiester or phosphorothioate linkages targeted to MDR1 mRNA providing multiple drug resistance of tumor cells. Gapmers efficiently silenced MDR1 mRNA and restored the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutics. Thus, PG-gapmers can be considered as novel, promising types of antisense oligonucleotides for targeting biologically relevant RNAs.

Antitumor efficacy of multi-target in situ vaccinations with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, anti-OX40, anti-PD1 antibodies, and aptamers.

To overcome immune tolerance to cancer, the immune system needs to be exposed to a multi-target action intervention. Here, we investigated the activating effect of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), mesyl phosphoramidate CpG ODNs, anti-OX40 antibodies, and OX40 RNA aptamers on major populations of immunocompetent cells ex vivo. Comparative analysis of the antitumor effects of in situ vaccination with CpG ODNs and anti-OX40 antibodies, as well as several other combinations, such as mesyl phosphoramidate CpG ODNs and OX40 RNA aptamers, was conducted. Antibodies against programmed death 1 (PD1) checkpoint inhibitors or their corresponding PD1 DNA aptamers were also added to vaccination regimens for analytical purposes. Four scenarios were considered: a weakly immunogenic Krebs-2 carcinoma grafted in CBA mice; a moderately immunogenic Lewis carcinoma grafted in C57Black/6 mice; and an immunogenic A20 B cell lymphoma or an Ehrlich carcinoma grafted in BALB/c mice. Adding anti-PD1 antibodies (CpG+αOX40+αPD1) to in situ vaccinations boosts the antitumor effect. When to be used instead of antibodies, aptamers also possess antitumor activity, although this effect was less pronounced. The strongest effect across all the tumors was observed in highly immunogenic A20 B cell lymphoma and Ehrlich carcinoma.

Mesyl Phosphoramidate Oligonucleotides as Potential Splice-Switching Agents: Impact of Backbone Structure on Activity and Intracellular Localization.

A series of 2'-deoxy and novel 2'-O-methyl and 2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl) (2'-MOE) oligonucleotides with internucleotide methanesulfonyl (mesyl, µ) or 1-butanesulfonyl (busyl, ß) phosphoramidate groups has been synthesized for evaluation as potential splice-switching oligonucleotides. Evaluation of their splice-switching activity in spinal muscular atrophy patient-derived fibroblasts revealed no significant difference in splice-switching efficacy between 2'-MOE mesyl oligonucleotide and the corresponding phosphorothioate (nusinersen). Yet, a survival study with model neonatal mice has shown the antisense 2'-MOE mesyl oligonucleotide to be inferior to nusinersen at the highest dose of 40 mg/kg. A reason for their lower activity in vivo as ascertained by cellular uptake study by fluorescent confocal microscopy in HEK293 cell line could possibly be ascribed to compromised endosomal release and/or nuclear uptake of the 2'-OMe or 2'-MOE µ- and ß-oligonucleotides compared to their phosphorothioate analog.

Experimental Comparison of the In Vivo Efficacy of Two Novel Anticancer Therapies.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We compared the therapeutic efficacy of two recently developed experimental anticancer technologies: 1) in situ vaccination based on local immunotherapy with CpG oligonucleotides and anti-OX40 antibodies to activate antitumor immune response and 2) "Karanahan" technology [from the Sanskrit karana ('source') + han ('to kill')] based on the combined injection of cyclophosphamide and double-stranded DNA to eradicate cancer stem cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anticancer approaches were compared on three types of mouse malignant tumors with different grades of immunogenicity: weakly immunogenic carcinoma Krebs-2, moderately immunogenic Lewis carcinoma, and highly immunogenic A20 В-cellular lymphoma. RESULTS: Our results indicated that in situ vaccination was the most effective against the highly immunogenic tumor А20. In addition, "Karanahan" demonstrated high efficiency in all types of tumors, regardless of their immunogenicity or size. CONCLUSION: "Karanahan" therapy showed higher efficacy relative to in situ vaccination with CpG oligonucleotides and anti-OX40 antibodies.

Neutral and Negatively Charged Phosphate Modifications Altering Thermal Stability, Kinetics of Formation and Monovalent Ion Dependence of DNA G-Quadruplexes.

The effect of phosphate group modifications on formation and properties of G-quadruplexes (G4s) has not been investigated in detail. Here, we evaluated the structural, thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the parallel G-quadruplexes formed by oligodeoxynucleotides d(G4 T), d(TG4 T) and d(TG5 T), in which all phosphates were replaced with N-methanesulfonyl (mesyl) phosphoramidate or phosphoryl guanidine groups resulting in either negatively charged or neutral DNA sequences, respectively. We established that all modified sequences were able to form G-quadruplexes of parallel topology; however, the presence of modifications led to a decrease in thermal stability relative to unmodified G4s. In contrast to negatively charged G4s, assembly of neutral G4 DNA species was faster in the presence of sodium ions than potassium ions, and was independent of the salt concentration used. Formation of mixed G4s composed of both native and neutral G-rich strands has been detected using native gel electrophoresis, size-exclusion chromatography and ESI-MS. In summary, our results indicate that the phosphate modifications studied are compatible with G-quadruplex formation, which could be used for the design of biologically active compounds.

A New Antisense Phosphoryl Guanidine Oligo-2'-O-Methylribonucleotide Penetrates Into Intracellular Mycobacteria and Suppresses Target Gene Expression.

The worldwide spread of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains prompted the development of new strategies to combat tuberculosis, one of which is antisense therapy based on targeting bacterial mRNA by oligonucleotide derivatives. However, the main limitation of antisense antibacterials is poor cellular uptake because of electrostatic charge. Phosphoryl guanidine oligo-2'-O-methylribonucleotides (2'-OMe PGOs) are a novel type of uncharged RNA analogues with high RNA affinity, which penetrate through the bacterial cell wall more efficiently. In this study, we investigated the uptake and biological effects of 2'-OMe PGO in mycobacteria. The results indicated that 2'-OMe PGO specific for the alanine dehydrogenase-encoding ald gene inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis and downregulated ald expression at both the transcriptional and translational levels through an RNase H-independent mechanism, showing higher biological activity than its phosphorothioate oligonucleotide counterpart. Confocal microscopy revealed that the anti-ald 2'-OMe PGO was taken up by intracellular mycobacteria residing in RAW 264.7 macrophages without exerting toxic effects on eukaryotic cells, indicating that 2'-OMe PGO was able to efficiently cross two cellular membranes. In addition, 2'-OMe PGO inhibited the transcription of the target ald gene in M. smegmatis-infected macrophages. Thus, we demonstrated, for the first time, a possibility of targeting gene expression and inhibiting growth of intracellular mycobacteria by antisense oligonucleotide derivatives. Strong antisense activity and efficient uptake of the new RNA analogue, 2'-OMe PGO, by intracellular microorganisms revealed here may promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat TB and prevent the emergence of drug-resistant mycobacterial strains.

Data for isolation and properties analysis of diastereomers of a mono-substituted phosphoryl guanidine trideoxyribonucleotide.

This article presents new data on the properties of the diastereomers of a mono-substituted phosphoryl guanidine trideoxyribonucleotides d(TpCp*A) [1,2]. The data include information on isolation, identification, treatment with snake venom phosphodiesterase and structural analysis by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and restrained molecular dynamics analysis. The data can be used for preparation, analysis, application of phosphoryl guanidine oligonucleotide and for development of new nucleic acids derivatives. This data article is associated with the manuscript titled "Diastereomers of a mono-substituted phosphoryl guanidine trideoxyribonucleotide: isolation and properties" [1].

Data set on the synthesis and properties of 2',3'-dideoxyuridine triphosphate conjugated to SiO2 nanoparticles.

SiO2 nanoparticles were used as a transport system for cellular delivery of phosphorylated 2',3'-dideoxyuridine to increase its anticancer potency. This data set is related to the research article entitled "2',3'-Dideoxyuridine triphosphate conjugated to SiO2 nanoparticles: synthesis and evaluation of antiproliferative activity" (Vasilyeva et al., 2018) [1]. It includes a protocol for the synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxyuridine-5'-{N-[4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)butyl]-γ-amino}-triphosphate, its identification by NMR, IR and ESI-MS, experimental procedure of covalent attachment to SiO2 nanoparticles with via Cu-catalyzed click-chemistry, experimental data on chemical stability of the conjugate at different pH values and cytotoxicity assessment of antiproliferative effect of the conjugate.

Preparation of 2'-hydrazino oligonucleotides and their reaction with aldehydes and 1,3-diketones.

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides that contain a hydrazino nucleoside, 2'-O-(2-hydrazinoethyl)uridine were prepared and shown to react with aldehydes or 1,3-diketones with the formation of hydrazones or pyrazoles, respectively. The method may be applicable for the preparation of oligonucleotide-peptide conjugates.

Novel method for the synthesis of 2' -phosphorylated oligonucleotides.

We have developed a new method for the preparation of oligodeoxyribonucleotides and oligo(2'-O-methylribonucleotides) that contain a 2'-phosphorylated ribonucleoside residue, and optimized it to avoid 2' -3' -isomerization and chain cleavage. Structures of the 2' -phosphorylated oligonucleotides were confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS and enzymatic digestion, and the stability of their duplexes with DNA and RNA was investigated. 2'-Phosphorylated oligonucleotides may be useful intermediates for the introduction of various chemical groups for a wide range of applications.

A convenient solid-phase method for the synthesis of novel oligonucleotide-folate conjugates.

We describe the preparation of two batches of a polymer support for the incorporation of folic acid into oligonucleotides. The method permits the regioselective attachment of a target nucleic acid sequence through its 3'-end to either the alpha-or gamma-carboxyl group of L-glutamic acid, respectively. The supports have been tested in solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotide-folate conjugates for cell delivery studies.