Solid‐Phase Synthesis of Branched Oligonucleotides

Branched nucleic acids (bNAs) have been of particular interest since the discovery of RNA forks and lariats as intermediates of nuclear mRNA splicing, as well as multicopy, single‐stranded DNA (msDNA). Such molecules contain the inherent trait of vicinal 2′,5′‐ and 3′,5′‐phosphodiester linkages. bNAs have many potential applications in nucleic acid biochemistry, particularly as tools for studying the substrate specificity of lariat debranching enzymes, and as biological probes for the investigation of branch recognition during pre‐mRNA splicing. The protocols described herein allow for the facile solid‐phase synthesis of branched DNA and/or RNA oligonucleotides of varying chain length, containing symmetrical or asymmetrical sequences immediate to an RNA branch point. The synthetic methodology utilizes widely adopted phosphoramidite chemistry. Methods for efficient purification of bNAs via anion‐exchange HPLC and PAGE are also illustrated.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143634/1/cpnc0414.pd

The solution structure of double helical arabino nucleic acids (ANA and 2′F-ANA): Effect of arabinoses in duplex-hairpin interconversion

We report here the first structure of double helical arabino nucleic acid (ANA), the C2'-stereoisomer of RNA, and the 2'-fluoro-ANA analogue (2'F-ANA). A chimeric dodecamer based on the Dickerson sequence, containing a contiguous central segment of arabino nucleotides, flanked by two 2'-deoxy- 2'F-ANA wings was studied. Our data show that this chimeric oligonucleotide can adopt two different structures of comparable thermal stabilities. One structure is a monomeric hairpin in which the stem is formed by base paired 2'F-ANA nucleotides and the loop by unpaired ANA nucleotides. The second structure is a bimolecular duplex, with all the nucleotides (2'F-ANA and ANA) forming Watson-Crick base pairs. The duplex structure is canonical B-form, with all arabinoses adopting a pure C2'-endo conformation. In the ANA:ANA segment, steric interactions involving the 2'-OH substituent provoke slight changes in the glycosidic angles and, therefore, in the ANA:ANA base pair geometry. These distortions are not present in the 2'F-ANA:2'F-ANA regions of the duplex, where the -OH substituent is replaced by a smaller fluorine atom. 2'F-ANA nucleotides adopt the C2'-endo sugar pucker and fit very well into the geometry of B-form duplex, allowing for favourable 2'F⋯⋯⋯H8 interactions. This interaction shares many features of pseudo-hydrogen bonds previously observed in 2'F-ANA:RNA hybrids and in single 2'F-ANA nucleotides.Peer Reviewe

A multidimensional approach to combat ALS

Valencia, 13th and 14th of June, 201

Dramatic effect of furanose C2′ substitution on structure and stability: Directing the folding of the human telomeric quadruplex with a single fluorine atom

Human telomeric DNA quadruplexes can adopt different conformations in solution. We have found that arabinose, 2′F-arabinose, and ribose substitutions stabilize the propeller parallel G-quadruplex form over competing conformers, allowing NMR structural determination of this particularly significant nucleic acid structure. 2′F-arabinose substitution provides the greatest stabilization as a result of electrostatic (F-CH - -O4′) and pseudo-hydrogen-bond (F - -H8) stabilizing interactions. In contrast, 2′F-rG substitution provokes a dramatic destabilization of the quadruplex structure due to unfavorable electrostatic repulsion between the phosphate and the 2′-F. © 2013 American Chemical Society.Peer Reviewe

Backbone FC-H⋯O hydrogen bonds in 2′F-substituted nucleic acids

Polarizing C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds: The structure of oligonucleotides containing alternating and contiguous tracts of 2′F-RNA and 2′F-ANA nucleotides reveals that nonconventional FC-H⋯O hydrogen bonds have a strong stabilizing effect on 2′-fluorinated duplexes. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.Peer Reviewe

Rigid 2′,4′-difluororibonucleosides: Synthesis, conformational analysis, and incorporation into nascent RNA by HCV polymerase

We report on the synthesis and conformational properties of 2′-deoxy-2′,4′-difluorouridine (2′,4′-diF-rU) and cytidine (2′,4′-diF-rC) nucleosides. NMR analysis and quantum mechanical calculations show that the strong stereoelectronic effects induced by the two fluorines essentially ́locḱ the conformation of the sugar in the North region of the pseudorotational cycle. Our studies also demonstrate that NS5B HCV RNA polymerase was able to accommodate 2′,4′-diF-rU 5′-triphosphate (2′,4′-diF-rUTP) and to link the monophosphate to the RNA primer strand. 2′,4′-diF-rUTP inhibited RNA synthesis in dinucleotide-primed reactions, although with relatively high half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50 > 50 μM). 2′,4′- diF-rU/C represents rare examples of ́locked́ ribonucleoside mimics that lack a bicyclic ring structure. © 2014 American Chemical Society.Peer Reviewe

Structural properties and gene-silencing activity of chemically modified DNA-RNA hybrids with parallel orientation

We report, herein, a new class of RNAi trigger molecules based on the unconventional parallel hybridization of two oligonucleotide chains. We have prepared and studied several parallel stranded (ps) duplexes, in which the parallel orientation is achieved through incorporation of isoguanine and isocytosine to form reverse Watson-Crick base pairs in ps-DNA:DNA, ps-DNA:RNA, ps-(DNA-2FANA): RNA, and ps-DNA:2F-RNA duplexes. The formation of these duplexes was confirmed by UV melting experiments, FRET and CD studies. In addition, NMR structural studies were conducted on a ps-DNA:RNA hybrid for the first time. Finally, we provide evidence for the unprecedented finding that ps-DNA:RNA and ps-DNA:2F-RNA hybrids can engage the RNAi pathway to silence gene expression in vitro.Peer Reviewe