SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF α-LNA

Three different synthetic routes to the α-configured LNA thymine monomer starting from D-allose or D-arabinose were investigated. The introduction of one or four α-LNA monomers into α-DNA had a destabilizing effect on the duplexes. However, a fully modified α-LNA sequence displayed strong recognition of complementary RNA, but no transition with DNA.     

SYNTHESIS AND BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF NOVEL mRNA 5′ CAP ANALOGS RESISTANT TO ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS

A series of new dinucleotide cap analogs with methylene groups replacing oxygens within the pyrophosphate moieties have been synthesized. All the compounds were resistant to the human scavenger decapping hydrolase, DcpS. Binding constants of the modified caps to eIF4E are comparable to those obtained for m⁷GpppG. This suggests these methylene modifications in the pyrophosphate chain do not significantly affect cap-binding at least for eIF4E. These cap analogs are also good inhibitors of in vitro translation. mRNAs capped with novel analogs were translated similarly to the mRNA capped with the parent m⁷GpppG.     

SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF (Z) AND (E) α-ETHENYL ACYCLONUCLEOSIDES

Synthesis of Z and E ethenyl acyclonucleosides (6a-e and 7a-e) via Michael addition of nucleobases with the diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate is described. The structures of compounds have been confirmed by spectral data. New compounds were found to be inactive against DNA and RNA viruses.     

CHEMICAL AND ENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS OF 4′-THIO-β-D-ARABINOFURANOSYLCYTOSINE MONOPHOSPHATE AND TRIPHOSPHATE

N⁴-Acetyl-1-(2, 3-di-O-acetyl-4-thio-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine (2) was synthesized in three steps from 1-(4-thio-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine (1). The reaction of this partially blocked 4′-thio-ara-C derivative 2 with 2-chloro-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin-4-one gave the 5′-phosphitylate derivative 3, which on reaction with pyrophosphate gave the 5′-nucleosidylcyclotriphosphite 4. Product 4 was then oxidized with iodine/pyridine/water and deblocked with concentrated ammonium hydroxide to provide the desired 4′-thio-ara-C-5′-triphosphate 5. This triphosphate 5 was converted to 4′-thio-ara-C -5′-monophosphate 6 by treatment with snake venom phosphodiesterase I. The details of the synthesis, purification, and characterization of both nucleotides are described.     

SYNTHESIS OF 3′-DEOXY-3′-C-HYDROXYMETHYL ANALOGUES OF TIAZOFURIN AND RIBAVIRIN

On the basis of potent biological activity of 3′-branched-3′-deoxynucleoside analogues, novel ribavirin and tiazofurin derivatives with 3′-C-hydroxymethyl substituent were synthesized, starting from D-xylose.     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF A NOVEL BRIDGED NUCLEIC ACID ANALOGUE, 5′-AMINO-3′,5′-BNA

An oligonucleotide P3′?N5′ phosphoramidate (5′-amino-DNA) attracts much attention because of its potential for application to DNA sequencing; however, its ability to hybridize with complementary strands is low. To overcome this drawback of the 5′-amino-DNA, we have designed and successfully synthesized a novel nucleic acid analogue having a P3′?N5′ phosphoramidate linkage and a constrained sugar moiety, 5′-amino-3′-C,5′-N-methylene bridged nucleic acid (5′-amino-3′,5′-BNA). The binding affinity of the 5′-amino-3′,5′-BNA towards complementary DNA and RNA strands was investigated by UV melting experiments. The melting temperature (Tm) of the duplex comprising the 5′-amino-3′,5′-BNA and its complementary strand was much higher than that of the duplex containing the corresponding 5′-amino-DNA.     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF OLIGONUCLEOTIDES CONTAINING 8-BROMO-2′-DEOXYGUANOSINE

The preparation of oligonucleotides containing 8-bromo-2′-deoxyguanosine is described. Substitution of G by 8-bromoguanine on an alternating CG decamer stabilizes the Z-form in such a way that the B-form was not observed. Melting temperatures showed that duplexes in which 8-bromo-2′-deoxyguanosine paired with natural bases were much less stable.     

6-AZAPYRIMIDINE AND 7-DEAZAPURINE 2′-DEOXY-2′-FLUOROARABINONUCLEOSIDES: SYNTHESIS,CONFORMATION AND PROPERTIES OF OLIGONUCLEOTIDES

The synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-β-d-arabinofuranosyl nucleosides (1b, 2b, and 3b) were described and their conformation in solution as well as in the solid state was determined. In addition to this, building blocks 10a,b and 13a,b were prepared and employed in solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. For compounds 1a and 1b the lactime proton is protected to avoid unresolved degradation of its phosphoramidites 10a,b. UV-melting studies have been carried out to assess the thermal stability of oligonucleotides containing compounds 1a,b, and 3a,b.     

2′-MODIFIED OLIGONUCLEOTIDES FROM METHOXYOXALAMIDO AND SUCCINIMIDO PRECURSORS: SYNTHESIS,PROPERTIES, AND APPLICATIONS

Synthesis of 2′-modified oligonucleotides from 2′-methoxyoxalamido (MOX) and 2′-succinimido (SUC) precursors is described. Their physical and biochemical properties were assessed. Synthesized oligonucleotides were used as primers in advanced DNA sequencing protocols. An example of sequencing directly off genomic DNA template without prior cloning or PCR amplification is presented.     

SYNTHESIS AND ANTI-HIV ACTIVITY OF THYMIDINE ANALOGUES BEARING A 4′-CYANOVINYL GROUP AND SOME DERIVATIVES THEREOF

Treatment of 3′-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′,5′-dideoxy-5′-oxothymidine (4) with potassium or magnesium nitromethanide afforded in good yield the resolvable epimeric mixture of the expected blocked nitronucleosides 5 which upon dehydration led to the corresponding E-nitroenofuranosylthymidine 6. Nucleophilic attack of cyanide onto the nitrovinyl group led to a nucleoside analogue bearing a terminal 1-cyanovinyl group (7), a soft electrophilic group which, upon reaction with benzeneselenol, underwent a conjugate addition to the phenylselenonucleoside derivative 9. All these compounds, eventually de-O-silylated, were subject of in vitro biological testing, some exhibiting interesting cytotoxic or antiviral properties.     

AFFINITY OF (α-P-BORANO)-NTP ANALOGS TO RABBIT MUSCLE PYRUVATE KINASE

The binding affinity of (α-P-borano) and other NTP analogs to rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase (PK) was investigated using a fluorescence quenching approach to obtain structure-activity relationships for substrate specificity of nucleotide analogs.     

RING-EXPANDED ANALOGUES OF NATURAL OXETANOCIN: (+) AND (−) HYDROXYMETHYL ISODIDEOXYADENOSINE

New enantiomeric isonucleoside analogues related to natural oxetanocin have been synthesized from D-glucosamine and D-glucose. The structures of the target compounds were confirmed by NMR, HRMS, UV, single crystal X-ray, and optical rotation data. Stability studies with respect to purine nucleoside phosphorylase and adenosine deaminase show that these compounds are not substrates. Antiviral results are discussed.     

STRUCTURAL,DYNAMIC, AND ENZYMATIC PROPERTIES OF MIXED α/β-OLIGONUCLEOTIDES CONTAINING POLARITY REVERSALS

We employ NMR structure determination, thermodynamics, and enzymatics to uncover the structural, thermodynamic and enzymatic properties of α/β-ODNs containing 3′-3′ and 5′-5′ linkages. RNase H studies show that α/β-gapmers that are designed to target erbB-2 efficiently elicit RNase H activity. NMR structures of DNA · DNA and DNA · RNA duplexes reveal that single α-anomeric residues fit well into either duplex, but alter the dynamic properties of the backbone and deoxyriboses as well as the topology of the minor groove in the DNA · RNA hybrid.     

NOVEL DINUCLEOSIDE 5′,5′-TRIPHOSPHATE CAP ANALOGUES. SYNTHESIS AND AFFINITY FOR MURINE TRANSLATION FACTOR eIF4E

Chemical synthesis of a series of novel dinucleoside cap analogues, m⁷GpppN, where N is formycin A, 3′-O-methylguanosine, 9-β-D-arabinofuranosyladenine, and isoguanosine, has been performed using our new methodology. The key reactions of pyrophosphate bonds formation were achieved in anhydrous dimethylformamide solutions employing the catalytic properties of zinc salts. Structures of the new cap analogues were confirmed by ¹H NMR and ³¹P NMR spectra. The binding affinity of the new cap analogues for murine eIF4E(28–217) were determined spectroscopically showing the highest association constant for the analogue that contains formycin A.     

2′-C-ALKOXY AND 2′-C-ARYLOXY DERIVATIVES OF N-(2-PHOSPHONOMETHOXYETHYL)-PURINES AND -PYRIMIDINES: SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

A series of novel, unusual type of acyclic phosphonate-based nucleotide analogues related to well-known antivirals (PMEA and HPMPA) was synthesized using easily available synthon. These compounds, which are distinguished for the presence of phosphonomethyl acetal linkage, form a group of derivatives that contribute to the understanding of structure-activity relationship within the area of acyclic nucleotide analogues.     

THE SYNTHESIS OF,AND STUDIES ON, 2′-C-MODIFIED NUCLEOTIDES

The synthesis of uridine monomers containing either a 2′-deoxy-2′-C-methy- lcyano or ethylcyano group is described. These monomers are intended for incorporation into oligonucleotides to investigate a proposed duplex-stabilising effect exerted by 2′-tethered amide groups.     

SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF CONFORMATIONALLY RESTRICTED AND NUCLEOBASE-MODIFIED ANALOGS OF THE ANTICANCER COMPOUND 3′-C-ETHYNYLCYTIDINE (ECYD)

A series of conformationally restricted and nucleobase-modified analogs of the anticancer compound 3′-C-ethynylcytidine (ECyd) and its uracil analog (EUrd) have been synthesized. While none of, the conformationally restricted analogs displayed anticancer activity, 5-iodo-EUrd and 5-bromo-EUrd displayed potent anticancer activity with IC50 values of 35 nM and 0.73 μM.     

Characterization of Semisynthetic and Naturally Nα-Acetylated α-Synuclein in Vitro and in Intact Cells: IMPLICATIONS FOR AGGREGATION AND CELLULAR PROPERTIES OF α-SYNUCLEIN

N-terminal acetylation is a very common post-translational modification, although its role in regulating protein physical properties and function remains poorly understood. α-Synuclein (α-syn), a protein that has been linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease, is constitutively N(α)-acetylated in vivo. Nevertheless, most of the biochemical and biophysical studies on the structure, aggregation, and function of α-syn in vitro utilize recombinant α-syn from Escherichia coli, which is not N-terminally acetylated. To elucidate the effect of N(α)-acetylation on the biophysical and biological properties of α-syn, we produced N(α)-acetylated α-syn first using a semisynthetic methodology based on expressed protein ligation (Berrade, L., and Camarero, J. A. (2009) Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 66, 3909-3922) and then a recombinant expression strategy, to compare its properties to unacetylated α-syn. We demonstrate that both WT and N(α)-acetylated α-syn share a similar secondary structure and oligomeric state using both purified protein preparations and in-cell NMR on E. coli overexpressing N(α)-acetylated α-syn. The two proteins have very close aggregation propensities as shown by thioflavin T binding and sedimentation assays. Furthermore, both N(α)-acetylated and WT α-syn exhibited similar ability to bind synaptosomal membranes in vitro and in HeLa cells, where both internalized proteins exhibited prominent cytosolic subcellular distribution. We then determined the effect of attenuating N(α)-acetylation in living cells, first by using a nonacetylable mutant and then by silencing the enzyme responsible for α-syn N(α)-acetylation. Both approaches revealed similar subcellular distribution and membrane binding for both the nonacetylable mutant and WT α-syn, suggesting that N-terminal acetylation does not significantly affect its structure in vitro and in intact cells.