Synthesis, oligonucleotide incorporation and fluorescence properties in DNA of a bicyclic thymine analogue.

Fluorescent base analogues (FBAs) have emerged as a powerful class of molecular reporters of location and environment for nucleic acids. In our overall mission to develop bright and useful FBAs for all natural nucleobases, herein we describe the synthesis and thorough characterization of bicyclic thymidine (bT), both as a monomer and when incorporated into DNA. We have developed a robust synthetic route for the preparation of the bT DNA monomer and the corresponding protected phosphoramidite for solid-phase DNA synthesis. The bT deoxyribonucleoside has a brightness value of 790 M-1cm-1 in water, which is comparable or higher than most fluorescent thymine analogues reported. When incorporated into DNA, bT pairs selectively with adenine without perturbing the B-form structure, keeping the melting thermodynamics of the B-form duplex DNA virtually unchanged. As for most fluorescent base analogues, the emission of bT is reduced inside DNA (4.5- and 13-fold in single- and double-stranded DNA, respectively). Overall, these properties make bT an interesting thymine analogue for studying DNA and an excellent starting point for the development of brighter bT derivatives.

Next-generation bis-locked nucleic acids with stacking linker and 2'-glycylamino-LNA show enhanced DNA invasion into supercoiled duplexes.

Targeting and invading double-stranded DNA with synthetic oligonucleotides under physiological conditions remain a challenge. Bis-locked nucleic acids (bisLNAs) are clamp-forming oligonucleotides able to invade into supercoiled DNA via combined Hoogsteen and Watson-Crick binding. To improve the bisLNA design, we investigated its mechanism of binding. Our results suggest that bisLNAs bind via Hoogsteen-arm first, followed by Watson-Crick arm invasion, initiated at the tail. Based on this proposed hybridization mechanism, we designed next-generation bisLNAs with a novel linker able to stack to adjacent nucleobases, a new strategy previously not applied for any type of clamp-constructs. Although the Hoogsteen-arm limits the invasion, upon incorporation of the stacking linker, bisLNA invasion is significantly more efficient than for non-clamp, or nucleotide-linker containing LNA-constructs. Further improvements were obtained by substituting LNA with 2'-glycylamino-LNA, contributing a positive charge. For regular bisLNAs a 14-nt tail significantly enhances invasion. However, when two stacking linkers were incorporated, tail-less bisLNAs were able to efficiently invade. Finally, successful targeting of plasmids inside bacteria clearly demonstrates that strand invasion can take place in a biologically relevant context.

Double-headed nucleotides introducing thymine nucleobases in the major groove of nucleic acid duplexes.

Four different double-headed nucleosides each combining two thymine nucleobases with different linkers were synthesised. The 5-position of 2'-deoxyuridine was connected to the N1-position of a thymine through either m- or p-disubstituted phenyl or phenylacetylene linkers by the use of Suzuki or Sonogashira couplings. When introduced into oligonucleotides, the thermal stability of dsDNA and DNA : RNA duplexes were determined and structural information was obtained from CD- and fluorescence spectroscopy. Also the recognition of abasic sites was studied. In general, the more stable duplexes were obtained with m- rather than p-substitution and with phenylacetylene rather than phenyl linkers.

Synthesis and characterization of oligodeoxyribonucleotides modified with 2'-amino-α-L-LNA adenine monomers: high-affinity targeting of single-stranded DNA.

The development of conformationally restricted nucleotide building blocks continues to attract considerable interest because of their successful use within antisense, antigene, and other gene-targeting strategies. Locked nucleic acid (LNA) and its diastereomer α-L-LNA are two interesting examples thereof. Oligonucleotides modified with these units display greatly increased affinity toward nucleic acid targets, improved binding specificity, and enhanced enzymatic stability relative to unmodified strands. Here we present the synthesis and biophysical characterization of oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ONs) modified with 2'-amino-α-L-LNA adenine monomers W-Z. The synthesis of the target phosphoramidites 1-4 is initiated from pentafuranose 5, which upon Vorbrüggen glycosylation, O2'-deacylation, O2'-activation and C2'-azide introduction yields nucleoside 8. A one-pot tandem Staudinger/intramolecular nucleophilic substitution converts 8 into 2'-amino-α-L-LNA adenine intermediate 9, which after a series of nontrivial protecting-group manipulations affords key intermediate 15. Subsequent chemoselective N2'-functionalization and O3'-phosphitylation give targets 1-4 in ~1-3% overall yield over 11 steps from 5. ONs modified with pyrene-functionalized 2'-amino-α-L-LNA adenine monomers X-Z display greatly increased affinity toward DNA targets (ΔTm/modification up to +14 °C). Results from absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy suggest that the duplex stabilization is a result of pyrene intercalation. These characteristics render N2'-pyrene-functionalized 2'-amino-α-L-LNAs of considerable interest for DNA-targeting applications.

Identification and characterization of second-generation invader locked nucleic acids (LNAs) for mixed-sequence recognition of double-stranded DNA.

The development of synthetic agents that recognize double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) is a long-standing goal that is inspired by the promise for tools that detect, regulate, and modify genes. Progress has been made with triplex-forming oligonucleotides, peptide nucleic acids, and polyamides, but substantial efforts are currently devoted to the development of alternative strategies that overcome the limitations observed with the classic approaches. In 2005, we introduced Invader locked nucleic acids (LNAs), i.e., double-stranded probes that are activated for mixed-sequence recognition of dsDNA through modification with "+1 interstrand zippers" of 2'-N-(pyren-1-yl)methyl-2'-amino-α-l-LNA monomers. Despite promising preliminary results, progress has been slow because of the synthetic complexity of the building blocks. Here we describe a study that led to the identification of two simpler classes of Invader monomers. We compare the thermal denaturation characteristics of double-stranded probes featuring different interstrand zippers of pyrene-functionalized monomers based on 2'-amino-α-l-LNA, 2'-N-methyl-2'-amino-DNA, and RNA scaffolds. Insights from fluorescence spectroscopy, molecular modeling, and NMR spectroscopy are used to elucidate the structural factors that govern probe activation. We demonstrate that probes with +1 zippers of 2'-O-(pyren-1-yl)methyl-RNA or 2'-N-methyl-2'-N-(pyren-1-yl)methyl-2'-amino-DNA monomers recognize DNA hairpins with similar efficiency as original Invader LNAs. Access to synthetically simple monomers will accelerate the use of Invader-mediated dsDNA recognition for applications in molecular biology and nucleic acid diagnostics.

Nucleic acid duplexes with zippers of additional nucleobases and aromatics in minor or major groove.

Two series of thymidine derivatives with additional nucleobases/aromatics attached to either the 5'(S)-C- or the 5-position were prepared by epoxide opening and/or "click chemistry" cycloaddition protocols and introduced into DNA duplexes. Interstrand base-base communication in the minor groove and intrastrand stacking interactions in the major groove were detected.

A click chemistry approach towards nucleic acid major groove functionalization.

A synthetic strategy towards new aromatic nucleoside derivatives introducing additional aromatic functionality placed in the major groove of a modified DNA duplex is presented. The functionalities are introduced using Click Chemistry conditions and found to increase the overall duplex stability.

N2'-functionalized 2'-amino-alpha-L-LNA adenine derivatives--efficient targeting of single stranded DNA.

The synthesis of two pyrene-functionalized 2'-amino-alpha-L-LNA adenine building blocks is outlined and initial results from thermal denaturation studies are presented.

Synthesis of 5-(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-2'-deoxyuridines by a click chemistry approach: stacking of triazoles in the major groove gives increased nucleic acid duplex stability.

A general protocol for converting alkyl and aryl halides into azides and for converting these in situ into 1,4-disubstituted triazoles was applied with 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine. This afforded three modified 2'-deoxyuridine analogues with either unsubstituted or 1-phenyl-/1-benzyl-substituted triazoles in their 5-positions. Modelling demonstrates coplanarity of the two heteroaromatic rings, and UV spectroscopy showed the uracil pK(a) values to be almost unchanged. The three nucleosides were introduced into nonamer oligonucleotides by phosphoramidite chemistry. The heteroaromatic triazoles became positioned in the major grooves of the short dsDNA and DNA-RNA duplexes. While single modifications led to decreased duplex stability, the stacking of four consecutive modifications led to enhanced duplex stability, especially for DNA-RNA duplexes. The duplex structures were studied by CD spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, which supported the conjecture that the duplex stabilizing effect is due to efficient stacking of the heteroaromatic triazoles.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of branched and conformationally restricted analogs of the anticancer compounds 3'-C-ethynyluridine (EUrd) and 3'-C-ethynylcytidine (ECyd).

The synthesis of branched and conformationally restricted analogs of the anticancer nucleosides 3'-C-ethynyluridine (EUrd) and 3'-C-ethynylcytidine (ECyd) is presented. Molecular modeling and (1)H NMR coupling constant analysis revealed that the furanose rings of all analogs except the LNA analog are conformationally biased towards South conformation, and are thus mimicking the structure of ECyd. All target nucleosides were devoid of anti-HIV or anticancer activity.