Mass Spectrometric Study of Modified Uridines and Their N3—Isomers

Abstract

The mass spectral fragmentations of modified uridines and their N³—isomers are discussed in context of the b+41 ion formation.     

Catalytic Osmylation and Antiviral Activity of Some Garbocyclic 5-Substituted Uridine and Cytidine Analogues

Abstract

Some carbocyclic uridines and cytidines have been dihydroxylated in an osmium catalyzed reaction. Besides the nucleoside analogues, the anti forms, the diastereomeric syn forms were formed. These could be separated and tested with regard to antiviral activity.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of Carbocyclic 5-Substituted Uridines and Cytidines

Abstract

Some carbocyclic uridines and cytidines have been prepared in a palladium-catalyzed reaction between 5-substituted uracils and cytosines and diacetoxymethylcyclopentene, prepared in a Prins reaction. The antiviral activity of the nucleoside analogues have been tested.     

Synthesis and Properties of Uniquely Modified Oligoribonucleotides: Yeast TrnaPhe Fragments with 6-Methyluridine and 5,6-Dimethyluridine at Site-Specific Positions

Abstract

The phosphoramidites of 6-methyluridine and 5,6-dimethyluridine were synthesized and the modified uridines site-selectively incorporated into heptadecamers corresponding in sequence to the yeast tRNA^Phe anticodon and TΦC domains. The oligoribonucleotides were characterized by NMR, MALDI-TOF MS and UV-monitored thermal denaturations. The 6-methylated uridines retained the syn conformation at the polymer level and in each sequence location destabilized the RNAs compared to that of the unmodified RNA. The decrease in RNA duplex stability is predictable. However, loss of stability when the modified uridine is in a loop is sequence context dependent, and can not, at this time, be predicted from the location in the loop.     

PREPARATION OF 1-(3-C-(PROPA-1,2-DIENYL)-D-RIBO-PENTOFURANOSYL)URACIL,AN ALLENIC NUCLEOSIDE

The Crabbé reaction was extended to the preparation of C-3′-allenyl-uridine. The effects of solvent and protecting group on the reaction were studied. The conversion in refluxing dioxan of disilyl either 3 proceeds to the corresponding allenic nucleoside 7; whereas, in refluxing THF the Mannich base 5 was obtained. Fully deprotected Mannich base and allenic uridines 6 and 9 were tested for their antitumor activity.     

Synthesis of 5′-C-Chain-Extended Uridines by Reaction of 5′-Halonucleosides with Malonic Acid Type Derivatives

Abstract

Reaction of 3-N-benzyl-5′-deoxy-5′-haloderivatives of uridine with the carbanions derived from diethyl malonate, ethyl acetoacetate, ethyl cyanoacetate and malondinitrile afforded the corresponding highly functionalized 5′-C-chain-extended uridines.     

Reaction of the 2′-Silyl and 2′-Stannyl Derivatives of 6-(Bromomethyl)Dimethylsilyl-1′,2′-Unsaturated Uridine Under Radical Conditions

The mode of cyclization (5-exo versus 6-endo) of 2-sila-5-hexen-1-yl radicals generated from 2′-tributylstannyl- and 2′-trimethylsilyl-6-(bromomethyl)dimethylsilyl-1′,2′-unsaturated uridines (8 and 9) was investigated. Although the actual structure of the reaction products differ from each other, reflecting the ease of elimination of the 2′-substituent, it was found that both substrates prefer the 5-exo-cyclization pathway.     

The tRNA “Wobble Position” Uridines. IV. The Synthesis of 2′-O-Methyl-5-methoxycarbonylmethyluridine and its Derivatives

Abstract

2′-O-Methyl-5-methoxycarbonylmethyluridine (1) was synthesized via N³, 5′, 3′-O-protected intermediate 6. Nucleoside 1 was transformed to the next “wobble uridines”, 2 and 3, by hydrolysis and ammonolysis, respectively.     

Lithiation-Stannylation Chemistry of Nucleosides

Abstract

Two examples of anionic stannyl migration practically useful for nucleoside synthesis are presented. One involves the migration from the 8- to 2-position of 6-chloropurine derivatives, which provided a new entry to 2-substituted purine nucleosides. The other is that from the 6- to 2′-position of 1′,2′-unsaturated uridine. The latter enabled the preparation of a hitheroto unknown class of nucleoside analogues, 2′-substituted 1′,2′-unsaturated uridines.     

Regioselective 2′/3′-O-Allylation of Pyrimidine Ribonucleosides Using Phase Transfer Catalysis

Abstract

A short and convenient procedure for regiospecific O-allylation of uridine is reported by employing dibutyltin oxide as a mild base in conjunction with a phase transfer catalyst tetrabutylammonium bromide. The resulting isomeric 2′/3′-O-allyl uridines were separated after conversion into their corresponding 5′-O-DMT derivatives. The 2′-O-allyluridine 3 was then transformed into 2′-O-allylcytidine 7 and both were individually converted into the corresponding β-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite monomers (9 and 10) and a phosphodiester monomer 11, required for oligonucleotide assembly. The utility of 11 is demonstrated by synthesis and characterization of a 2′-O-allyl ribodinucleotide UpU.     

The Nucleic Acid-binding Domain and Translational Repression Activity of a Xenopus Terminal Uridylyl Transferase

Terminal uridylyl transferases (TUTs) catalyze the addition of uridines to the 3′ ends of RNAs and are implicated in the regulation of both messenger RNAs and microRNAs. To better understand how TUTs add uridines to RNAs, we focused on a putative TUT from Xenopus laevis, XTUT7. We determined that XTUT7 catalyzed the addition of uridines to RNAs. Mutational analysis revealed that a truncated XTUT7 enzyme, which contained solely the nucleotidyl transferase and poly(A) polymerase-associated domains, was sufficient for catalytic activity. XTUT7 activity decreased upon removal of the CCHC zinc finger domains and a short segment of basic amino acids (the basic region). This basic region bound nucleic acids in vitro. We also demonstrated that XTUT7 repressed translation of a polyadenylated RNA, to which it added a distinct number of uridines. We generated a predicted structure of the XTUT7 catalytic core that indicated histidine 1269 was likely important for uridine specificity. Indeed, mutation of histidine 1269 broadened the nucleotide specificity of XTUT7 and abolished XTUT7-dependent translational repression. Our data reveal key aspects of how XTUT7 adds uridines to RNAs, highlight the role of the basic region, illustrate that XTUT7 can repress translation, and identify an amino acid important for uridine specificity.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of 5′-O-Sulfamoyluridine Derivatives

Abstract

A series of 5′-O-[[[[(alkyl)oxy]carbonyl] amino] sulfonyl] uridines have been synthesized by reaction of cyclohexanol, palmityl alcohol, 1,2-di-O-benzoylpropanetriol and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-L-glucopyranose with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate and 2,3′-O-isopropylidene-uridine. Another series of 5′-O-(N-ethyl and N-isopropylsulfamoyl) uridines have been prepared by reaction of 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene and 2′,3′-di-O-acetyluridine with N-ethylsulfamoyl and N-isopropylsulfamoyl chlorides. All compounds were tested against HSV-2, VV, SV and ASFV viruses. 2′,3′-Di-O-acetyl-5′-O-(N-ethyl and N-isopropylsulfamoyl) uridine showed significant activities against HSV-2. 5′-O-[[[[(2,3,4,6-Tetra-O-benzoyl-β-L-glucopyranosyl)oxy]carbonyl]amino] sulfonyl]-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine was very active against ASFV.     

Triple resonance HNCCCH experiments for correlating exchangeable and nonexchangeable cytidine and uridine base protons in RNA

Summary A set of triple resonance experiments is presented, providing through-bond H₂N/HN to H6 connectivities in uridines and cytidines in ¹³C-/¹⁵N-labeled RNAs. These connectivities provide an important link between the sequential assignment pathways for the exchangeable and nonexchangeable proton resonances in nucleic acids. Both 2D and pseudo-3D HNCCCH experiments were applied to a 30-nucleotide lead-dependent ribozyme, known as the leadzyme. The HN to H6 connectivities for three uridines in the leadzyme were identified from one 2D H(NCCC)H experiment, and the H₂N to H6 connectivities were identified for seven of the eight cytidines from the combination of a 2D H(NCCC)H and a pseudo-3D H(NCC)CH experiment.     

Simple statistical models predict C-to-U edited sites in plant mitochondrial RNA

Background  

RNA editing is the process whereby an RNA sequence is modified from the sequence of the corresponding DNA template. In the mitochondria of land plants, some cytidines are converted to uridines before translation. Despite substantial study, the molecular biological mechanism by which C-to-U RNA editing proceeds remains relatively obscure, although several experimental studies have implicated a role for cis-recognition. A highly non-random distribution of nucleotides is observed in the immediate vicinity of edited sites (within 20 nucleotides 5' and 3'), but no precise consensus motif has been identified.     

Elongator—a tRNA modifying complex that promotes efficient translational decoding

Naturally occurring modifications of the nucleosides in the anticodon region of tRNAs influence their translational decoding properties. Uridines present at the wobble position in eukaryotic cytoplasmic tRNAs often contain a 5-carbamoylmethyl (ncm⁵) or 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl (mcm⁵) side-chain and sometimes also a 2-thio or 2′-O-methyl group. The first step in the formation of the ncm⁵ and mcm⁵ side-chains requires the conserved six-subunit Elongator complex. Although Elongator has been implicated in several different cellular processes, accumulating evidence suggests that its primary, and possibly only, cellular function is to promote modification of tRNAs. In this review, we discuss the biosynthesis and function of modified wobble uridines in eukaryotic cytoplasmic tRNAs, focusing on the in vivo role of Elongator-dependent modifications in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: SI: Regulation of tRNA synthesis and modification in physiological conditions and disease edited by Dr. Boguta Magdalena.     

Carbon-13 NMR relaxation studies of pre-melt structural dynamics in [4-13C-uracil] labeled E. coli transfer RNAIVal.

We report 67.8 MHz carbon-13 spin-lattice relaxation studies on [4-13C-uracil] labeled tRNAIVal purified from E. coli SO-187. Following 13C-enriched C4 carbonyl resonances from modified and unsubstituted uridines scattered throughout the polymer backbone enables us to determine dynamical features in both loop and helical stem regions. The experimental results have been analyzed in terms of a model of isotropic overall molecular reorientation. "Anomalous" residues for which the experimental data cannot be accounted for in terms of the model provide an assessment of local and regional properties. Thus, "native" tRNAIVal under physiological conditions of magnesium (10 mM) and temperature (20 degrees - 40 degrees C), exhibits the following characteristics: 1) uridines held rigidly in helical stems and tertiary interactions display correlation times for rotational reorientation of 15-20 nsecs, typical for overall tRNA motion; 2) uridines in loops such as the wobble residue uridine-5-oxyacetic acid (V34) are quite accessible to solvent; moreover V34 and another loop residue, D17, exhibit local mobility; 3) the tertiary interactions involving 4-thio uridine (s4U8) and A14 and ribothymidine (rT54) and A58 are weakened as temperature increases.     

Pyrimidine nucleoside analogues as inducers of pyrimidine nucleoside catabolizing enzymes in salmonella typhimurium

Various structural analogues of cytosine and uracil nucleosides were tested as potential inducers of the nucleoside catabolizing (cyt) enzymes in Salmonella typhimurium. Some analogues, e.g. 5′-O-alkyl cytidines and uridines, resistant to catabolic enzymes, were as effective as the natural inducers cytidine and uridine; but etherification of one of the cis 2′ or 3′hydroxyls fully abolished activity, pointing to a requirement of an intact ribose cis-glycol system for activity. A uridine analogue in the syn conformation, 6-methyluridine, a good substrate for uridine phosphorylase, was inactive as an inducer. The behaviour of various other analogues, in relation to their structure, conformation and substrate properties, indicated the absence of any correlation between inducing activity and substrate susceptibility. The overall findings are consistent with conclusions derived from genetic experiments. The active analogues apparently act via similar pathways, and probably affect the same regulatory mechanism(s) as the natural inducers.