5' end fluorescent labelling of oligonucleotides with riboflavin-derived phosphitylating reagent

Riboflavin was transformed within six steps into 3-isobutyryl-7,8-dimethyl-10-[2-O-(beta-cyanoethoxy-N,N- diisopropylaminophosphinyl)ethyl]isoalloxazine. This new fluorescent reagent was applied for direct phosphitylation of 5-OH function of protected oligonucleotide assembled on controlled-pore glass support by beta-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite chemistry. As the result of subsequent P(III)----P(V) oxidation and removal of protecting groups with concentrated ammonia, an oligonucleotide 5-labelled with fluorescent flavin moiety could be obtained. Using this procedure 15-mer oligonucleotide of a sequence corresponding to M13 hybridization primer was prepared.     

Synthesis and fluorescent properties of oligonucleotides, containing a new fluorescent marker--n-(2-benzoxazolyl)tolane]

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.     

Synthesis and properties of oligonucleotides containing 2'-pyrenylalkyluridine.

The synthesis, binding and fluorescence properties of oligonucleotides containing the uridine modified at the 2'-position by a pyrene group using different length of linker arm have been described. It is demonstrated that the oligonucleotides possessing a C3-amide group at the 2'-position display an enhanced signal of the pyrene monomer fluorescence upon binding to DNA segments.     

Synthesis and properties of oligonucleotides containing aminodeoxythymidine units.

Procedures are described for synthesis via solid support methodology of oligonucleotide analogues derived in part from 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine or 5'-amino-5'-deoxythymidine. Oligothymidylate decamers terminated with a 3'-amino group or containing a 3'-NHP(O)(O-)O-5' internucleoside link are found to form unusually stable complexes with poly(dA), poly(A), and oligo(dA). For related derivatives of 5'-amino-5'-deoxythymidine enhancement is less or absent, and in the case of multiple substitution destabilization of the heteroduplex may be observed. That the effect of the 3'-amino group is general for oligonucleotide derivatives is indicated by enhanced Tm values for heteroduplex complexes of the mixed-base oligomer, d(TATTCAGTCAT(NH2)), and the methyl phosphonate derivatives, TmTmTmTmTmTmTmTmTmT(NH2) and d(TmAmTmTmCmAmGmTmCmAmT(NH2)).     

Preparation and hybridization properties of oligonucleotides containing 1-alpha-D-arabinofuranosylthymine.

A pentadecanucleotide was prepared from 1-alpha-arabinofuranosylthymine. This novel oligonucleotide was found to hybridize to oligodeoxyadenylate, although not a s strongly as pentadecathymidylate. It formed duplex hybrids with both DNA and RNA complements, and triplex structures with a duplex containing a (dT)15-(dA)15 tract within a more complex strand. The Tm of the duplex with polyadenylate was almost the same as that of (dT)15 and polyadenylate, while its Tm with (dA)15 was substantially lower than that of the natural counterpart. A selective benzoylation of the 2'-O of a 5'-blocked alpha-ara-thymine was developed to greatly simplify the preparation of suitable blocked material for use in preparation of oligonucleotides on the automated DNA synthesizer.     

The synthesis of oligonucleotides containing a primary amino group at the 5''-terminus.

Oligonucleotides containing a primary amino group at their 5'-termini have been prepared and further derivatised with amino specific probes. The sequence required is prepared using standard solid phase phosphoramidite techniques and an extra round of synthesis is then performed with N-monomethoxytrityl-0-methoxydiisopropylaminophosphinyl 3-aminopropan(1)ol. After cleavage from the resin, removal of the phosphate and base protecting groups and purification gives a monomethoxytrityl-NH(CH2)3PO4-oligomer. The monomethoxytrityl group can be removed with acetic acid to give the desired amino containing oligomer. The amino group can be further derivatised with amino specific probes yielding fluorescent or biotinylated oligonucleotide products.     

Physical properties of oligonucleotides containing phosphoramidate-modified internucleoside linkages.

Because of their nuclease resistance and ability to form substrates for RNase H, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) possessing several methoxyethylphosphoramidate linkages at both termini have proven effective at targeting the degradation of specific mRNAs in Xenopus embryos. The efficacy of these compounds subsequently observed in tissue culture focused our attention on the issue of cellular uptake. To investigate the extent to which phosphate backbone modifications may increase the lipophilicity of ODNs, and thereby increase passive uptake by cells, the partitioning of a series of phosphoramidate-modified compounds between aqueous and organic phases was examined. The octanol:water partition coefficient of an unmodified, mixed-sequence 16-mer was 1.75 x 10(-5). The log of the partition coefficient increased in a sigmoidal manner with the number of methoxyethylphosphoramidate internucleoside linkages, indicating a nonlinear free energy relationship. The highest level of partitioning demonstrated was approximately 4 x 10(-3) (a 230-fold increase), attained when 11 of the 15 phosphodiesters were modified. An increase in hydrophobicity was also attained with C8 and C10 alkylamines acting as phase-transfer agents. The melting temperatures of heteroduplexes formed between a phosphoramidate-modified ODN and a complementary unmodified DNA strand decreased by approximately 1.5 degrees C for every phosphate group modification. ODNs can thus be extensively derivatized without substantially compromising duplex formation under physiological conditions.     

Mixed backbone antisense oligonucleotides: design, biochemical and biological properties of oligonucleotides containing 2'-5'-ribo- and 3'-5'-deoxyribonucleotide segments.

We have designed and synthesized mixed backbone oligonucleotides (MBOs) containing 2'-5'-ribo- and 3'-5'-deoxyribonucleotide segments. Thermal melting studies of the phosphodiester MBOs (three 2'-5'linkages at each end) with the complementary 3'-5'-DNA and -RNA target strands suggest that 2'-5'-ribonucleoside incorporation into 3'-5'-oligodeoxyribonucleotides reduces binding to the target strands compared with an all 3'-5'-oligodeoxyribonucleotide of the same sequence and length. Increasing the number of 2'-5'linkages (from six to nine) further reduces binding to the DNA target strand more than the RNA target strand [Kandimalla,E.R. and Agrawal,S. (1996)Nucleic Acids Symp. Ser., 35, 125-126]. Phosphorothioate (PS) analogs of MBOs destabilize the duplex with the DNA target strand more than the duplex with the RNA target strand. Circular dichroism studies indicate that the duplexes of MBOs with the DNA and RNA target strands have spectral characteristics of both A- and B-type conformations. Compared with the control oligonucleotide, MBOs exhibit moderately higher stability against snake venom phosphodiesterase, S1 nuclease and in fetal calf serum. Although 2'-5'modification does not evoke RNase H activity, this modification does not effect the RNase H activation property of the 3'-5'-deoxyribonucleotide segment adjacent to the modification. In vitro studies with MBOs suggest that they have lesser effects on cell proliferation, clotting prolongation and hemolytic complement lysis than do control PS oligodeoxyribonucleotides. PS analogs of MBOs show HIV-1 inhibition comparable with that of a control PS oligodeoxyribonucleotide with all 3'-5'linkages. The current results suggest that a limited number of 2'-5'linkages could be used in conjunction with PS oligonucleotides to further modulate the properties of antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic agents.     

A highly fluorescent DNA toolkit: synthesis and properties of oligonucleotides containing new Cy3, Cy5 and Cy3B monomers

Cy3B is an extremely bright and stable fluorescent dye, which is only available for coupling to nucleic acids post-synthetically. This severely limits its use in the fields of genomics, biology and nanotechnology. We have optimized the synthesis of Cy3B, and for the first time produced a diverse range of Cy3B monomers for use in solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. This molecular toolkit includes phosphoramidite monomers with Cy3B linked to deoxyribose, to the 5-position of thymine, and to a hexynyl linker, in addition to an oligonucleotide synthesis resin in which Cy3B is linked to deoxyribose. These monomers have been used to incorporate single and multiple Cy3B units into oligonucleotides internally and at both termini. Cy3B Taqman probes, Scorpions and HyBeacons have been synthesized and used successfully in mutation detection, and a dual Cy3B Molecular Beacon was synthesized and found to be superior to the corresponding Cy3B/DABCYL Beacon. Attachment of Cy3, Cy3B and Cy5 to the 5-position of thymidine by an ethynyl linker enabled the synthesis of an oligonucleotide FRET system. The rigid linker between the dye and nucleobase minimizes dye-dye and dye-DNA interactions and reduces fluorescence quenching. These reagents open up new future applications of Cy3B, including more sensitive single-molecule and cell-imaging studies.     

Synthesis and hybridization properties of oligonucleotides containing 2'-O-modified ribonucleotides.

A versatile, general way is described for the introduction of different functional groups into oligonucleotides by means of a simple linker at the 2'-position of the sugar. Nucleotide building blocks carrying lipophilic, intercalating or tertiary amino groups can be placed deliberately at any desired position of oligonucleotides by standard automated oligonucleotide synthesis. Thermal denaturation studies with these oligonucleotides reveal the following general trends: i) Modification with lipophilic n-octyl groups has little if any effect on duplex stability; a destabilizing (lipophilic) substituent is better tolerated at or near the ends than in the middle of the oligo. ii) An intercalating substituent (2-aminoanthraquinone) substantially increases duplex stability. iii) N,N-Dimethyl amino residues also increase duplex stability though to a smaller extent than intercalating residues. iv) Modifications at the 5'-end have a more pronounced influence on the TM than the corresponding 3'-modifications. v) Oligonucleotides modified in such a way show little or no loss in sequence specificity.     

Synthesis and properties of oligonucleotides containing 2'-O-methyl-2-thiouridine.

New methods to synthesize 2'-O-methyl-2-thiouridine and its phosphoramidite building block for incorporation into oligonucleotides were developed. Oligonucleotides containing 2'-O-methyl-2-thiouridine were expected to be favorable as antisense agents in several respects, i.e., nuclease resistance, stable RNA duplex formation, and exact base recognition. Therefore, to make them clear, we synthesized oligonucleotides having 2'-O-methyl-2-thiouridine and analyzed their properties in detail.     

Synthesis and properties of 5'-triphosphoryl 2'-5' oligoadenylates (2-5A), and a general method for synthesis of 3', 5'-bisphosphorylated oligonucleotides.

2'-5'-Linked oligoadenylic acid 5'-triphosphates (2-5A) having chain lengths of 2-4 have been synthesized by polymerization of 3'-O-(o-nitrobenzyl)-N-benzoyladenosine 5'-phosphate followed by 5'-triphosphorylation via the imidazolidates. A large scale preparation of 5'-O-phosphoryladenylyl-(2'-5')-adenylyl-(2'-5')-adenosine was performed by the phosphotriester method using 5'-O-monomethoxytrityl-3'-O-(o-nitrobenzyl)-N-benzoyladenosine 2'-O-p-chlorophenylphosphate and 5'-O-phosphorodianilido-3'-O-(o-nitrobenzyl)-N-benzoyladenosine 2'-O-p-chlorophenylphosphate as intermediates. The trimer was also triphosphorylated by the imidazolide method. CD spectra for 5'-mono and triphosphorylated 2'-5' adenylates were measured as well as their UV hypochromicities. This triester method was also applied to the synthesis of 3',5'-bisphosphorylated protected oligoadenylic acids with natural 3'-5' linkages which could be used for further condensations to yield 5'-phosphorylated polynucleotides.     

Synthesis and properties of oligonucleotides containing 2''-deoxynebularine and 2''-deoxyxanthosine.

The preparation of synthetic oligonucleotides containing 2'-deoxynebularine (dN) and 2'-deoxyxanthosine (dX) is described. The thermal stabilities of duplexes containing dX, dN, and 2'-deoxyinosine (dI) base-paired with the four natural bases have been measured. Xanthine base pairs have stabilities at pH 5.5 that are similar to those of dI-containing duplexes at neutral pH. When xanthine is paired with adenine or cytosine an unusual stabilization of the duplex structure is observed at acid pH. Incorporation of base mispairs opposite template xanthine sites were measured using Drosophila DNA polymerase alpha. The relative nucleoside incorporation rates are in the order: T greater than C much greater than A approximately equal to G. These rates do not correlate with relative thermodynamic stabilities of base mispairs with xanthine obtained from Tm measurements: T greater than G greater than A approximately equal to C. We suggest that DNA polymerase misinsertion rates are greatest when the base mispair can be formed in accordance with Watson-Crick as opposed to other base pairing geometries even though other geometries, e.g. wobble, may result in a more stable final DNA product.     

Electrophoretic behavior of oligonucleotides containing 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine

³²P-labeled oligonucleotides from a pancreatic DNase digest of non-glucosylated T2 gt^? DNA have been analyzed by high voltage electrophoresis (both before and after dephosphorylation of the 5′ terminus). T2 gt^? oligonucleotides, which contain 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine (hm⁵C) in place of cytosine (C), have altered electrophoretic mobilities compared to fd DNA oligonucleotides (which contain C). In addition, we have observed that pancreatic DNase exhibits a marked cleavage specificity; i.e., hm⁵C is the predominant 5′ terminal residue in the hm⁵C-containing oligonucleotides we have characterized.     

Fluorescence spectral properties of labeled thiolated oligonucleotides bound to silver particles

We examined the fluorescent spectral properties of fluorescein-labeled DNA oligomers when directly bound to metallic silver particles via a terminal sulfhydryl group. We found a 12-fold increase in fluorescence intensity and 25-fold decrease in lifetime for a fluorescein residue positioned 23 nucleotides from the silver surface compared to labeled oligomers in free solution. Similar results were found for a 23-mer labeled with five fluorescein residues. The absence of long lifetime components in the intensity decays suggests that all labeled oligomers are bound to silver and affected similarly by the metallic surfaces. These results provide the basic knowledge needed to begin use of metal-enhanced fluorescence for the detection of target sequences in simple formats potentially without a washing separation step. The use of metal-enhanced fluorescence provides a generic approach to obtaining a hybridization-dependent increase in fluorescence with most, if not all, commonly used fluorophores.     

The synthesis of oligonucleotides containing an aliphatic amino group at the 5'' terminus: synthesis of fluorescent DNA primers for use in DNA sequence analysis.

A rapid and versatile method has been developed for the synthesis of oligonucleotides which contain an aliphatic amino group at their 5' terminus. This amino group reacts specifically with a variety of electrophiles, thereby allowing other chemical species to be attached to the oligonucleotide. This chemistry has been utilized to synthesize several fluorescent derivatives of an oligonucleotide primer used in DNA sequence analysis by the dideoxy (enzymatic) method. The modified primers are highly fluorescent and retain their ability to specifically prime DNA synthesis. The use of these fluorescent primers in DNA sequence analysis will enable DNA sequence analysis to be automated.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis and biological activity of oligonucleotides containing 5-substituted pyrimidine bases.

Two series of alternating ODNs containing 5-n.alkyl-, alkenyl- and alkynyl-dU and -dC units have been prepared in order to study the kinetics of their hydrolysis by SV PDE and human serum, respectively. Both in (r5dUpdA)10 and (r5dCpdG)6 series the rate of hydrolysis decreased with increasing length of side-chain. Replacement of thymidines by 5-hexynyl-dU in different antisense oligomers resulted in considerably higher biological activity relative to that of the thymidine-containing counterparts.