4-(2-aminooxyethoxy)-2-(ethylureido)quinoline-oligonucleotide conjugates: synthesis, binding interactions, and derivatization with peptides

Study of 2-aminoquinolin-4(1H)-one under Mannich and retro-Mannich reaction

2-Aminoquinolin-4(1H)-one was reacted with various primary/secondary amines and paraformaldehyde under Mannich reaction conditions. In the case of secondary amines, the reaction in N,N-dimethylformamide yielded expected Mannich products accompanied with 3,3'-methylenebis(2-aminoquinolin-4(1H)-one). Except these main products, the pyrimido[4,5-b]quinolin-5-one derivative was also identified as co-product. The reaction with primary amines led to the formation of pyrimido[4,5-b]quinolin-5-ones. The Mannich reaction products were thermally unstable and afforded a mixture of bis-(2-aminoquinolin-4(1H)-one) and tris-(2-aminoquinolin-4(1H)-one) derivative, probably via reactive methylene species. This retro-Mannich reaction was tested in reaction with indole and thiophenole as nucleophilles, and appropriate conjugates were formed. The mechanism of above discussed reactions in which 2-aminoquinolinone displays the nucleophilicity on C3 carbon as well as N2 nitrogen is discussed.

A novel method for direct site-specific radiolabeling of peptides using [18F]FDG

We have used the well-accepted and easily available 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ([(18)F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) tracer as a prosthetic group for synthesis of (18)F-labeled peptides. We herein report the synthesis of [(18)F]FDG-RGD ((18)F labeled linear RGD) and [(18)F]FDG-cyclo(RGD(D)YK) ((18)F labeled cyclic RGD) as examples of the use of [(18)F]FDG. We have successfully prepared [(18)F]FDG-RGD and [(18)F]FDG-cyclo(RGD(D)YK) in 27.5% and 41% radiochemical yields (decay corrected) respectively. The receptor binding affinity study of FDG-cyclo(RGD(D)YK) for integrin alpha(v)beta(3), using alpha(v)beta(3) positive U87MG cells confirmed a competitive displacement with (125)I-echistatin as a radioligand. The IC(50) value for FDG-cyclo(RGD(D)YK) was determined to be 0.67 +/- 0.19 muM. High-contrast small animal PET images with relatively moderate tumor uptake were observed for [(18)F]FDG-RGD and [(18)F]FDG-cyclo(RGD(D)YK) as PET probes in xenograft models expressing alpha(v)beta(3) integrin. In conclusion, we have successfully used [(18)F]FDG as a prosthetic group to prepare (18)F]FDG-RGD and [(18)F]FDG-cyclic[RGD(D)YK] based on a simple one-step radiosynthesis. The one-step radiosynthesis methodology consists of chemoselective oxime formation between an aminooxy-functionalized peptide and [(18)F]FDG. The results have implications for radiolabeling of other macromolecules and would lead to a very simple strategy for routine preclinical and clinical use.

Chemical strategies for the synthesis of peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates

The use of synthetic oligonucleotides and their mimics to inhibit gene expression by hybridizing with their target sequences has been hindered by their poor cellular uptake and inability to reach the nucleus. Covalent postsynthesis or solid-phase conjugation of peptides to oligonucleotides offers a possible solution to these problems. As feasible chemistry is a prerequisite for biological studies, development of efficient and reproducible approaches for convenient preparation of peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates has become a subject of considerable importance. The present review gives an account of the main synthetic methods available to prepare covalent conjugation of peptides to oligonucleotides.

Chemoselective pre-conjugate radiohalogenation of unprotected mono- and multimeric peptides via oxime formation

As part of our ongoing efforts in the development of new 18F-labeled peptides for clinical PET imaging, a new two-step 18F-labeling methodology based on the chemoselective oxime formation between an unprotected aminooxy-functionalized peptide and a 18F-labeled aldehyde was investigated and optimized.

4-[18F]Fluorobenzaldehyde ([18F]FB-CHO) was prepared by direct n.c.a. fluorination of 4-formyl-N,N,N-trimethylanilinium triflate and purified by radio-HPLC or a strong-cation-exchange/reverse phase cartridge system. The aminooxyacetic acid (Aoa) modified model peptide LEF-NH2 (Leu-Glu-Phe-NH2) and monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric RGD-containing cyclopeptides were synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis. Radiochemical yields of N-(4-[18F]fluorobenzylidene)-oxime-formation ([18F]FBOA) with the Aoa-modified unprotected peptides were investigated. Optimized reaction conditions (60 °C, 0.5 mM peptide, 15 min, aqueous solution, pH 2.5) resulted in 70%-90% conjugation yields for all unprotected peptides studied. Chemoselectivity was demonstrated in competition experiments with amino acid mixtures. Biodistribution in M21 melanoma bearing mice showed improved tumor uptake and excretion behaviour in the series c(RGDfE)HEG-Dpr-[18F]FBOA < (c(RGDfE)HEG)2K-Dpr-[18F]FBOA < ((c(RGDfE)HEG)2K)2K-Dpr-[18F]FBOA. Two hours p.i. the fraction of intact c(RGDfE)HEG-K-Dpr-[18F]FBOA in blood, liver, kidney and tumor was >90%, indicating high in vivo stability of the oxime linkage. Initial PET studies with ((c(RGDfE)HEG)2-K)2-K-Dpr-[18F]FBOA showed excellent imaging of M21-melanomas in mice.

In conclusion, the new two-step chemoselective 18F-labeling fulfills all requirements for large scale syntheses of peptides in clinical routine. This methodology is also adaptable to other radioisotopes (e.g. radiohalogenation in general) and will thus offer a broad field of application.

3'-immobilized probes with 2'-caps: synthesis of oligonucleotides with 2'-N-methyl-2'-(anthraquinone carboxamido)uridine residues

[reaction: see text] A synthesis for oligodeoxynucleotides with a 3'-terminal 2'-N-methyl-2'-acylamido-2'-deoxyuridine residue was developed. Unlike their unmethylated counterparts, these oligodeoxynucleotides can be stably immobilized on aldehyde-displaying glass surfaces to provide DNA microarrays. An anthraquinone carboxamido group as a 2'-substituent doubled the capture efficiency of an immobilized tetradecamer.

Post-synthetic and site-specific modification of endocyclic nitrogen atoms of purines in DNA and its potential for biological and structural studies

Site-specific modification of the N1-position of purine was explored at the nucleoside and oligomer levels. 2'-deoxyinosine was converted into an N1-2,4-dinitrophenyl derivative 2 that was readily transformed to the desired N1-substituted 2'-deoxyinosine analogues. This approach was used to develop a post-synthetic method for the modification of the endocyclic N1-position of purine at the oligomer level. The phosphoramidite monomer of N1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-2'-deoxyinosine 9 was prepared from 2'-deoxyinosine in four steps and incorporated into oligomers using an automated DNA synthesizer. The modified base, N1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-hypoxanthine, in synthesized oligomers, upon treatment with respective agents, was converted into corresponding N1-substituted hypoxanthines, including N1-15N-hypoxanthine, N1-methylhypoxanthine and N1-(2-aminoethyl)-hypoxanthine. These modified oligomers can be easily separated and high purity oligomers obtained. Melting curve studies show the oligomer containing N1-methylhypoxanthine or N1-(2-aminoethyl)-hypoxanthine has a reduced thermostability with no particular pairing preference to either cytosine or thymine. The developed method could be adapted for the preparation of oligomers containing mutagenic N1-beta-hydroxyalkyl-hypoxanthines and the availability of the rare base-modified oligomers should offer novel tools for biological and structural studies.