Design, synthesis, and polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of click-modified boronic acid-TTP analogues

Superanionic DNA: enzymatic synthesis of hypermodified DNA bearing four different anionic substituents at all four nucleobases

We designed and synthesized a set of four 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-O-triphosphates (dNTPs) derived from 5-substituted pyrimidines and 7-substituted 7-deazapurines bearing anionic substituents (carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphonate, and phosphate). The anion-linked dNTPs were used for enzymatic synthesis of modified and hypermodified DNA using KOD XL DNA polymerase containing one, two, three, or four modified nucleotides. The polymerase was able to synthesize even long sequences of >100 modified nucleotides in a row by primer extension (PEX). We also successfully combined two anionic and two hydrophobic dNTPs bearing phenyl and indole moieties. In PCR, the combinations of one or two modified dNTPs gave exponential amplification, while most of the combinations of three or four modified dNTPs gave only linear amplification in asymmetric PCR. The hypermodified ONs were successfully re-PCRed and sequenced by Sanger sequencing. Biophysical studies including hybridization, denaturation, CD spectroscopy and molecular modelling and dynamics suggest that the presence of anionic modifications in one strand decreases the stability of duplexes while still preserving the B-DNA conformation, whilst the DNA hypermodified in both strands adopts a different secondary structure.

Copper-mediated arylsulfanylations and arylselanylations of pyrimidine or 7-deazapurine nucleosides and nucleotides

The syntheses of 5-arylsulfanyl- or 5-arylselanylpyrimidine and 7-arylsulfanyl- or 7-arylselanyl-7-deazapurine nucleosides and nucleotides were developed by the Cu-mediated sulfanylations or selanylations of the corresponding 5-iodopyrimidine or 7-iodo-7-deazapurine nucleosides or nucleotides with diaryldisulfides or -diselenides. The reactions were also applicable for direct modifications of 2'-deoxycytidine triphosphate and the resulting 5-arylsulfanyl or 5-arylselanyl-dCTP served as substrates for the polymerase synthesis of modified DNA bearing arylsulfanyl or arylselanyl groups in the major groove.

Enzymatic Synthesis of 7',5'-Bicyclo-DNA Oligonucleotides

The selection of artificial genetic polymers with tailor-made properties for their application in synthetic biology requires the exploration of new nucleosidic scaffolds that can be used in selection experiments. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a bicyclo-DNA triphosphate (i.e., 7',5'-bc-TTP) and show its potential to serve for the generation of new xenonucleic acids (XNAs) based on this scaffold. 7',5'-bc-TTP is a good substrate for Therminator DNA polymerase, and up to seven modified units can be incorporated into a growing DNA chain. In addition, this scaffold sustains XNA-dependent DNA synthesis and potentially also XNA-dependent XNA synthesis. However, DNA-dependent XNA synthesis on longer templates is hampered by competitive misincorporation of deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) caused by the slow rate of incorporation of 7',5'-bc-TTP.

New synthetic route to ethynyl-dUTP: A means to avoid formation of acetyl and chloro vinyl base-modified triphosphates that could poison SELEX experiments

5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine is a common base-modified nucleoside analogue that has served in various applications including selection experiments for potent aptamers and in biosensing. The synthesis of the corresponding triphosphates involves a mild acidic deprotection step. Herein, we show that this deprotection leads to the formation of other nucleoside analogs which are easily converted to triphosphates. The modified nucleoside triphosphates are excellent substrates for numerous DNA polymerases under both primer extension and PCR conditions and could thus poison selection experiments by blocking sites that need to be further modified. The formation of these nucleoside analogs can be circumvented by application of a new synthetic route that is described herein.

Generation of long, fully modified, and serum-resistant oligonucleotides by rolling circle amplification

Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) is an isothermal enzymatic method generating single-stranded DNA products consisting of concatemers containing multiple copies of the reverse complement of the circular template precursor. Little is known on the compatibility of modified nucleoside triphosphates (dN*TPs) with RCA, which would enable the synthesis of long, fully modified ssDNA sequences. Here, dNTPs modified at any position of the scaffold were shown to be compatible with rolling circle amplification, yielding long (>1 kb), and fully modified single-stranded DNA products. This methodology was applied for the generation of long, cytosine-rich synthetic mimics of telomeric DNA. The resulting modified oligonucleotides displayed an improved resistance to fetal bovine serum.

Post-synthesis DNA modifications using a trans-cyclooctene click handle

Post-synthesis DNA modification is a very useful method for DNA functionalization. This is achieved by using a modified NTP, which has a handle for further modifications, replacing the corresponding natural NTP in polymerase-catalyzed DNA synthesis. Subsequently, the handle can be used for further functionalization after PCR, preferably through a very fast reaction. Herein we describe polymerase-mediated incorporation of trans-cyclooctene modified thymidine triphosphate (TCO-TTP). Subsequently, the trans-cyclooctene group was reacted with a tetrazine tethered to other functional groups through a very fast click reaction. The utility of this DNA functionalization method was demonstrated with the incorporation of a boronic acid group and a fluorophore. The same approach was also successfully used in modifying a known aptamer for fluorescent labelling applications.

Nucleoside triphosphates--from synthesis to biochemical characterization

The traditional strategy for the introduction of chemical functionalities is the use of solid-phase synthesis by appending suitably modified phosphoramidite precursors to the nascent chain. However, the conditions used during the synthesis and the restriction to rather short sequences hamper the applicability of this methodology. On the other hand, modified nucleoside triphosphates are activated building blocks that have been employed for the mild introduction of numerous functional groups into nucleic acids, a strategy that paves the way for the use of modified nucleic acids in a wide-ranging palette of practical applications such as functional tagging and generation of ribozymes and DNAzymes. One of the major challenges resides in the intricacy of the methodology leading to the isolation and characterization of these nucleoside analogues. In this video article, we present a detailed protocol for the synthesis of these modified analogues using phosphorous(III)-based reagents. In addition, the procedure for their biochemical characterization is divulged, with a special emphasis on primer extension reactions and TdT tailing polymerization. This detailed protocol will be of use for the crafting of modified dNTPs and their further use in chemical biology.

Deoxynucleoside triphosphates bearing histamine, carboxylic acid, and hydroxyl residues--synthesis and biochemical characterization

Modified nucleoside triphosphates (dA(Hs)TP, dU(POH)TP, and dC(Val)TP) bearing imidazole, hydroxyl, and carboxylic acid residues connected to the purine and pyrimidine bases through alkyne linkers were prepared. These modified dN*TPs were excellent substrates for various DNA polymerases in primer extension reactions. Moreover, the combined use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and the modified dNTPs led to efficient tailing reactions that rival those of natural counterparts. Finally, the triphosphates were tolerated by polymerases under PCR conditions, and the ensuing modified oligonucleotides served as templates for the regeneration of unmodified DNA. Thus, these modified dN*TPs are fully compatible with in vitro selection methods and can be used to develop artificial peptidases based on DNA.

Rapid and specific post-synthesis modification of DNA through a biocompatible condensation of 1,2-aminothiols with 2-cyanobenzothiazole

Post-synthesis modification of DNA is an important way of functionalizing DNA molecules. Herein, we describe a method that first enzymatically incorporates a cyanobenzothiazole (CBT)-modified thymidine. The side-chain handle CBT can undergo a rapid and site-specific cyclization reaction with 1,2-aminothiols to afford DNA functionalization in aqueous solution. Another key advantage of this method is the formation of a single stereo/regioisomer in the process, which allows for precise control of DNA modification to yield a single component for aptamer selection work and other applications.

Nucleoside triphosphates--building blocks for the modification of nucleic acids

Nucleoside triphosphates are moldable entities that can easily be functionalized at various locations. The enzymatic polymerization of these modified triphosphate analogues represents a versatile platform for the facile and mild generation of (highly) functionalized nucleic acids. Numerous modified triphosphates have been utilized in a broad palette of applications spanning from DNA-tagging and -labeling to the generation of catalytic nucleic acids. This review will focus on the recent progress made in the synthesis of modified nucleoside triphosphates as well as on the understanding of the mechanisms underlying their polymerase acceptance. In addition, the usefulness of chemically altered dNTPs in SELEX and related methods of in vitro selection will be highlighted, with a particular emphasis on the generation of modified DNA enzymes (DNAzymes) and DNA-based aptamers.

Carbohydrate biomarker recognition using synthetic lectin mimics

Carbohydrate biomarkers play very important roles in a wide range of biological and pathological processes. Compounds that can specifically recognize a carbohydrate biomarker are useful for targeted delivery of imaging agents and for development of new diagnostics. Furthermore, such compounds could also be candidates for the development of therapeutic agents. A tremendous amount of active work on synthetic lectin mimics has been reported in recent years. Amongst all the synthetic lectins, boronic-acid-based lectins (boronolectins) have shown great promise. Along this line, four classes of boronolectins including peptide-, nucleic-acid-, polymer-, and small-molecule-based ones are discussed with a focus on the design principles and recent advances. We hope that by presenting the potentials of this field, this review will stimulate more research in this area.

Synthesis of deoxynucleoside triphosphates that include proline, urea, or sulfonamide groups and their polymerase incorporation into DNA

To expand the chemical array available for DNA sequences in the context of in vitro selection, I present herein the synthesis of five nucleoside triphosphate analogues containing side chains capable of organocatalysis. The synthesis involved the coupling of L-proline-containing residues (dU(tP)TP and dU(cP)TP), a dipeptide (dU(FP)TP), a urea derivative (dU(Bpu)TP), and a sulfamide residue (dU(Bs)TP) to a suitably protected common intermediate, followed by triphosphorylation. These modified dNTPs were shown to be excellent substrates for the Vent (exo(-)) and Pwo DNA polymerases, as well as the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I, although they were only acceptable substrates for the 9°N(m) polymerase. All of the modified dNTPs, with the exception of dU(Bpu)TP, were readily incorporated into DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Modified oligonucleotides efficiently served as templates for PCR for the regeneration of unmodified DNA. Thermal denaturation experiments showed that these modifications are tolerated in the major groove. Overall, these heavily modified dNTPs are excellent candidates for SELEX.