Open AccessSynthesis and properties of oligonucleotides containing 4-thiothyniidine, 5-methyl-2-pyrunidinone-1-β-D(2'-dexoyriboside) and 2-thiothvmidine
Author(s) -
Bernard A. Connolly,
Patrick C. Newman
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
nucleic acids research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 9.008
H-Index - 537
eISSN - 1362-4954
pISSN - 0305-1048
DOI - 10.1093/nar/17.13.4957
Subject(s) - biology , oligonucleotide , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , dna
Methods are given for the synthesis of derivatives of 4-thiothymidine (4ST), 5-methyl-2-pyrimidinone-1-beta-D(2'-deoxyriboside) (4HT) and 2-thiothymidine (2ST) suitable for incorporation into oligodeoxynucleotides by the cyanoethyl phosphoramidite method. 4HT and 2ST are incorporated with no base protection but the sulphur atom in 4ST is protected with an S-sulphenylmethyl (-SCH3) function. This can be removed with dithiothreitol after synthesis. These T analogues have been incorporated into GACGATATCGTC, a self-complementary dodecamer containing the Eco RV recognition site (underlined), in place of the two T residues within this site. Although pure dodecamers are obtained in each case the syntheses are not as efficient as those seen when normal unmodified bases are used mainly due to the chemical reactivity of 4ST, 4HT and 2ST. Some of the chemical properties of oligonucleotides containing these bases (reactivity towards NH3) as well as their physical properties (melting temperatures, U.V., fluorescence and circular dichroism spectra) have been determined and are discussed.