Mutagenesis directed by phosphotriester analogs of oligonucleotides

20-mer oligodeoxyribonucleotides d-ACGACGG (R') CCAG (R') TGATCCGTA, where R' = R' = H (20), F' = Et, R' = H (20-Et), or R' = R' = Et (20-Et2) were synthesized by modified triester method. Ethylated dinucleotide blocks were prepared by transesterification method from chlorophenyl derivatives. Structures of oligonucleotides were confirmed by Maxam - Gilbert method. Mutagenesis induced by oligonucleotides was studied on DNA of M13mpB phage. Oligonucleotides were not totally complementary to this DNA in the region of 4-11 codons of Z'-gene. They all were shown to direct the formation of the designed deletion mutants, phosphotriester analogues (20-Et) and (20-Et2) being more effective mutagens. The specificity of oligonucleotides: DNA binding and mutant DNA structure were shown by Sanger method.     

Mutagenesis directed by phosphotriester analogs of oligonucleotides: a way to site-specific mutagenesis in vivo

A new approach is proposed to obtain the directed mutations in the gene under study. The technique is based on using alkylphosphotriester analogues of oligodeoxyribonucleotides as site-specific mutagens. The deletion C in lacZ' gene of bacteriophage M13mpB was obtained by cotransfection of Escherichia coli cells with a mix of DNA and phosphotriester analogues of oligonucleotides.     

Study of the mechanism of mutagenesis directed by phosphotriester analogs of oligonucleotides. The role of repair in mutagenesis

The mutation system has been suggested in an effort to test insertion and deletion mutants by changing the Lac-phenotype of bacterial colonies transformed by mutant DNA. This system also makes possible to determine heterozygotes and homozygotes among the mutants. The yield of mutants in shown to depend on the structure of the DNA heteroduplex region. The yield of deletion mutants is greater than that of insertion mutants. Heterozygotes prevail in mutant colonies (greater than 90%).     

Mutagenesis, induced by phosphotriester analogs of oligonucleotides and directed to the cleavage site of double-spiral DNA]

The mutagenic properties of phosphotriester analogues revealed in course of interaction with linearized plasmid DNA were studied. The plasmid-based model system permitting one to test reliably the induced mutations is proposed. The efficiency of mutagenesis was shown to depend on the length of the oligonucleotide-mutagen and the genotype of the transformed Escherichia coli strain. The possible mechanisms involved in mutagenesis are discussed.     

Rapid synthesis of oligonucleotides by the phosphotriester method

An efficient phosphotriester methodology based on the use of condensing agents in the presence of several O-nucleophilic catalysts has been developed.     

Polymer supported synthesis of oligonucleotides by a phosphotriester method

A new polymer supported synthesis of deoxyribooligonucleotides which can be adapted to automation is described. The method is based on the elongation of an oligomer chain in the 5′- to 3′ -end direction using the modified phosphotriester chemistry. The approach is exemplified by the synthesis of a nonanucleotide d(TTCGTCTTG).     

Synthesis of oligonucleotides on cellulose by a phosphotriester method.

The synthesis of oligothymidilic acids, (dT)m (where m = 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25), was carried out using a solid phase approach in combination with the modified phosphotriester methodology developed in solution. Cellulose was used as the solid support after its functionalization with a specially featured dinucleoside diphosphate, 5'-0-p-chlorophenylphospho-2'(3')-0-acetyluridilyl-[2'(3')-3']-5'-0-dimethoxytritylthymidine p-chlorophenylester. The fully protected trideoxynucleoside triphosphate containing only thymidine was repeatedly used to elongate the oligonucleotide chain in the 3'-5' direction. Individual coupling yields ranged from 45% to 75%. The total time needed to prepare (dT)25 was four days. Similarly, the tridecanucleotide d(AGAAGGTACTTTT) was synthesized in good yield. The results show that this approach can be used for a fast and economic way to synthesize oligodeoxynucleotides.     

Synthesis of cyclic oligonucleotides by a modified phosphotriester approach.

Evidence will be presented to show that the allyl group is suitable for the protection of a 3'-terminal phosphodiester function. The latter will be demonstrated by the synthesis, via a phosphotriester approach, of two cyclic tetraribonucleotides [r(AAAA) and r(UAMe2UAMe2)], two cyclic hexadeoxyribonucleotides [d(CGCGCG) and d(TAAAAA)] and a cyclic octadeoxyribonucleotide [d(CGTGCGTG)].     

Mutagenic properties of phosphotriester analogs of oligodeoxyribonucleotides

The high effectivity of using phosphotriester analogs of oligonucleotides for aimed mutagenesis in vitro and in vivo was shown. A general scheme, describing the mutagenic effects of phosphotriester analogs of oligonucleotides and their natural homologs, was derived by analysis of data on the structures of the obtained mutants. This scheme can serve as a foundation for selecting the structure of effective agents for aimed mutagenesis.     

N-azidomethylbenzoyl blocking group in the phosphotriester synthesis of oligonucleotides

An effective modification of phosphotriester method for automatic synthesis of DNA and RNA fragments using O-nucleophilic intramolecular catalysis and 2-(azidometil)benzoyl group to protect amino groups of heterocyclic bases of nucleotides is described.     

Chloroplast lysates support directed mutagenesis via modified DNA and chimeric RNA/DNA oligonucleotides

Chimeric RNA/DNA and modified DNA oligonucleotides have been shown to direct gene-conversion events in vitro through a process involving proteins from several DNA-repair pathways. Recent experiments have extended the utility of these molecules to plants, and we previously demonstrated that plant cell-free extracts are competent to support oligonucleotide-directed genetic repair. Using this system, we are studying Arabidopsis DNA-repair mutants and the role of plant proteins in the DNA-repair process. Here we describe a method for investigating mechanisms of plastid DNA-repair pathways. Using a genetic readout system in bacteria and chimeric or modified DNA oligonucleotides designed to direct the conversion of mutations in antibiotic resistance genes, we have developed an assay for genetic repair of mutations in a spinach chloroplast lysate system. We report genetic repair of point and frameshift mutations directed by both types of modified oligonucleotides. This system enables the mechanistic study of plastid gene repair and facilitates the direct comparison between plant nuclear and organelle DNA-repair pathways.     

Further improvements on the phosphotriester synthesis of deoxyribooligonucleotides and the oligonucleotide directed site-specific mutagenesis of E. coli lipoprotein gene.

Two improvements that greatly enhance the rate of phosphotriester oligonucleotide synthesis are described: 1) use of hindered primary amines, e.g. t-butyl amine for decyanoethylation of oligonucleotide triester intermediates, and 2) a simplified isolation procedure that eliminates the tedious bicarbonate extraction after each condensing reaction. Using the improved procedures, oligonucleotide fragments can be synthesized as rapidly as using solid phase chemistry. The final products are purer than those obtained by solid phase chemistry since each intermediate block is purified by chromatography. The technique has been used to synthesize five oligonucleotide fragments (size 15 to 20) for the purpose of performing guided site-specific mutagenesis on a cloned E. coli lipoprotein gene.     

Synthesis of chimeric oligonucleotides containing internucleosidic phosphodiester and S-pivaloylthioethyl phosphotriester residues

Novel oligonucleotide analogs that bear phosphodiester and bioreversible S-pivaloyl 2-mercaptoethyl (SPME) phosphate triester internucleosidic linkages are described. Their synthesis employs a novel methodology of oligonucleotide deprotection under mild, non-aqueous conditions.     

New effective method for the synthesis of oligonucleotides via phosphotriester intermediates.

A rapid and convenient method for the synthesis of deoxyribooligonucleotides has been developed using the phosphotriester approach. The advantage of this methodology for work in solution was successfully demonstrated in synthesis of a number of DNA fragments up to 32-long. Adaptation of the presented method to solid-phase synthesis allows a pentadecamer to be assembled in 4-5 hours using dinucleotides as coupling units.     

In vivo site-directed mutagenesis using oligonucleotides

Functional characterization of the genes of higher eukaryotes has been aided by their expression in model organisms and by analyzing site-specific changes in homologous genes in model systems such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Modifying sequences in yeast or other organisms such that no heterologous material is retained requires in vitro mutagenesis together with subcloning. PCR-based procedures that do not involve cloning are inefficient or require multistep reactions that increase the risk of additional mutations. An alternative approach, demonstrated in yeast, relies on transformation with an oligonucleotide, but the method is restricted to the generation of mutants with a selectable phenotype. Oligonucleotides, when combined with gap repair, have also been used to modify plasmids in yeast; however, this approach is limited by restriction-site availability. We have developed a mutagenesis approach in yeast based on transformation by unpurified oligonucleotides that allows the rapid creation of site-specific DNA mutations in vivo. A two-step, cloning-free process, referred to as delitto perfetto, generates products having only the desired mutation, such as a single or multiple base change, an insertion, a small or a large deletion, or even random mutations. The system provides for multiple rounds of mutation in a window up to 200 base pairs. The process is RAD52 dependent, is not constrained by the distribution of naturally occurring restriction sites, and requires minimal DNA sequencing. Because yeast is commonly used for random and selective cloning of genomic DNA from higher eukaryotes such as yeast artificial chromosomes, the delitto perfetto strategy also provides an efficient way to create precise changes in mammalian or other DNA sequences.     

Modern phosphotriester synthesis of long oligonucleotides and their use in genetic engineering

Long oligodeoxyribonucleotides synthesized by the modern phosphotriester method, which is based on the use of O-nucleophilic intramolecular catalysis, were applied for the construction of artificial DNAs and directed mutagenesis of some genes.     

Studies on mutagenesis and repair induced by platinum analogs

Mutagenesis and cytotoxicity were studied in Escherichia coli by iproplatin and carboplatin, two analogs of cisplatin (CDDP) currently undergoing clinical trial. As with CDDP, mutagenesis by these agents was mediated by the umuDC gene product. In contrast to CDDP, however, mismatch repair did not substantially contribute to survival of cells after exposure to these agents since dam-3 E. coli were not more sensitive than wild type E. coli. UvrA- E. coli, however were more sensitive to these analogs demonstrating that as with CDDP, uvr endonuclease-mediated excision contributes to the repair of DNA damage induced by platinum compounds.     

Approach to the synthesis of natural and modified oligonucleotides by the phosphotriester method using O-nucleophilic intramolecular catalysis

An approach to the solid phase synthesis of natural and modified oligonucleotides using phosphotriester technique has been developed. Particularly, this method allows the synthesis of ribo- and deoxyribo-oligonucleotides containing various 2'-modified mononucleotides as well as stereodefined nucleotide phosphorothioate analogues.     

Site-specific mutagenesis by triple helix-forming oligonucleotides containing a reactive nucleoside analog

The specific recognition of homopurine–homo pyrimidine regions in duplex DNA by triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) provides an attractive strategy for genetic manipulation. Alkylation of nucleobases with functionalized TFOs would have the potential for site-directed mutagenesis. Recently, we demonstrated that a TFO bearing 2-amino-6-vinylpurine derivative, 1, achieves triplex-mediated reaction with high selectivity toward the cytosine of the G-C target site. In this report, we have investigated the use of this reagent to target mutations to a specific site in a shuttle vector plasmid, which replicates in mammalian cells. TFOs bearing 1 produced adducts at the complementary position of 1 and thereby introduced mutations at that site during replication/repair of the plasmid in mammalian cells. Reagents that produce covalent cytosine modifications are relatively rare. These TFOs enable the preparation of templates carrying targeted cytosine adducts for in vitro and in vivo studies. The ability to target mutations may prove useful as a tool for studying DNA repair, and as a technique for gene therapy and genetic engineering.