Protection-free one-pot synthesis of 2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates and DNA polymerization

Biocatalytic synthesis of 2'-deoxynucleotide 5'-triphosphates from bacterial genomic DNA: Proof of principle

2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates (dNTPs) are the building blocks of DNA and are key reagents which are incorporated by polymerase enzymes during nucleic acid amplification techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These techniques are of high importance, not only in molecular biology research, but also in molecular diagnostics. dNTPs are generally produced by a bottom-up technique which relies on synthesis or isolation of purified small molecules like deoxynucleosides. However, the disproportionately high cost of dNTPs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the requirement for cold chain storage during international shipping makes an adequate supply of these molecules challenging. To reduce supply chain dependency and promote domestic manufacturing in LMICs, a unique top-down biocatalytic synthesis method is described to produce dNTPs. Readily available bacterial genomic DNA provides a crude source material to generate dNTPs and is extracted directly from Escherichia coli (step 1). Nuclease enzymes are then used to digest the genomic DNA creating monophosphorylated deoxynucleotides (dNMPs) (step 2). Design and recombinant production and characterization of E. coli nucleotide kinases is presented to further phosphorylate the monophosphorylated products to generate dNTPs (step 3). Direct use of the in-house produced dNTPs in nucleic acid amplification is shown (step 4) and their successful use as reagents in the application of PCR, thereby providing proof of principle for the future development of recombinant nucleases and design of a recombinant solid-state bioreactor for on-demand dNTP production.

Improved Synthesis of Deoxyadenosine Triphosphate by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using an Efficient ATP Regeneration System: Optimization of Response Surface Analysis

Deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) is an important biochemical molecule. In this paper, the synthesis of dATP from deoxyadenosine monophosphate (dAMP), catalyzed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was studied. By adding chemical effectors, an efficient ATP regeneration and coupling system was constructed to achieve efficient synthesis of dATP. Factorial and response surface designs were used to optimize process conditions. Optimal reaction conditions were as follows: dAMP 1.40 g/L, glucose 40.97 g/L, MgCl₂·6H₂O 4.00 g/L, KCl 2.00 g/L, NaH₂PO₄ 31.20 g/L, yeast 300.00 g/L, ammonium chloride 0.67 g/L, acetaldehyde 11.64 mL/L, pH 7.0, temperature 29.6 °C. Under these conditions, the substrate conversion was 93.80% and the concentration of dATP in the reaction system was 2.10 g/L, which was 63.10% higher than before optimization, and the concentration of product was 4 times higher than before optimization. The effects of glucose, acetaldehyde, and temperature on the accumulation of dATP were analyzed.

Tropolone-Conjugated DNA: A Fluorescent Thymidine Analogue Exhibits Solvatochromism, Enzymatic Incorporation into DNA and HeLa Cell Internalization

Tropolone is a non-benzenoid aromatic scaffold with unique photophysical and metal-chelating properties. Recently, it has been conjugated with DNA, and the photophysical properties of this conjugate have been explored. Tropolonyl-deoxyuridine (tr-dU) is a synthetic fluorescent DNA nucleoside analogue that exhibits pH-dependent emissions. However, its solvent-dependent fluorescence properties are unexplored owing to its poor solubility in most organic solvents. It would be interesting to incorporate it into DNA primer enzymatically. This report describes the solvent-dependent fluorescence properties of the silyl-derivative, and enzymatic incorporation of its triphosphate analogue. For practical use, its cell-internalization and cytotoxicity are also explored. tr-dU nucleoside was found to be a potential analogue to design DNA probes and can be explored for various therapeutic applications in the future.

Synthesis and Effect of Conformationally Locked Carbocyclic Guanine Nucleotides on Dynamin

Guanine nucleotides can flip between a North and South conformation in the ribose moiety. To test the enzymatic activity of GTPases bound to nucleotides in the two conformations, we generated methanocarba guanine nucleotides in the North or South envelope conformations, i.e., (N)-GTP and (S)-GTP, respectively. With dynamin as a model system, we examined the effects of (N)-GTP and (S)-GTP on dynamin-mediated membrane constriction, an activity essential for endocytosis. Dynamin membrane constriction and fission activity are dependent on GTP binding and hydrolysis, but the effect of the conformational state of the GTP nucleotide on dynamin activity is not known. After reconstituting dynamin-mediated lipid tubulation and membrane constriction in vitro, we observed via cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) that (N)-GTP, but not (S)-GTP, enables the constriction of dynamin-decorated lipid tubules. These findings suggest that the activity of dynamin is dependent on the conformational state of the GTP nucleotide. However, a survey of nucleotide ribose conformations associated with dynamin structures in nature shows almost exclusively the (S)-conformation. The explanation for this mismatch of (N) vs. (S) required for GTP analogues in a dynamin-mediated process will be addressed in future studies.

Nucleotide Analogues Bearing a C2' or C3'-Stereogenic All-Carbon Quaternary Center as SARS-CoV-2 RdRp Inhibitors

The design of novel nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) analogues bearing an all-carbon quaternary center at C2′ or C3′ is described. The construction of this all-carbon stereogenic center involves the use of an intramoleculer photoredox-catalyzed reaction. The nucleoside analogues (NA) hydroxyl functional group at C2′ was generated by diastereoselective epoxidation. In addition, highly enantioselective and diastereoselective Mukaiyama aldol reactions, diastereoselective N-glycosylations and regioselective triphosphorylation reactions were employed to synthesize the novel NTPs. Two of these compounds are inhibitors of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of SARS-CoV-2, the causal virus of COVID-19.

Selenium-atom-modified thymidine enhances the specificity and sensitivity of DNA polymerization and detection

Nucleobase mismatches can jeopardize DNA polymerization specificity, causing mutations and errors in DNA replication and detection. Herein we report the first synthesis of novel 2-Se-thymidine triphosphate (SeTTP), describe the single-selenium atom-specific modification strategy (SAM) against T/G mismatches, and demonstrate SAM-assisted polymerization and detection with much higher specificity and sensitivity. SAM can effectively suppress the formation of non-specific products in DNA polymerization and detection. Thus, SAM enhances the specificity of DNA synthesis by approximately 10 000 fold, and in turn, it allows the detection of clinical COVID-19 viral RNA in low copy numbers (single-digit copies), while the conventional RT-qPCR does not.

Rapid Synthesis of Nucleoside Triphosphates and Analogues

Nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) are essential biomolecules involved in almost all biological processes, and their study is therefore critical to understanding cellular biology. Here, we describe a chemical synthesis suitable for obtaining both natural and highly modified NTPs, which can, for example, be used as surrogates to probe biological processes. The approach includes the preparation of a reagent that enables the facile introduction and modification of three phosphate units: cyclic pyrophosphoryl P-amidite (c-PyPA), derived from pyrophosphate (P^V ) and a reactive phosphoramidite (P^III ). By using non-hydrolyzable analogues of pyrophosphate, the reagent can be readily modified to obtain a family of non-hydrolyzable analogues containing CH₂ , CF₂ , CCl₂ , and NH that are stable in solution for several weeks if stored appropriately. They enable the synthesis of NTPs by reaction with nucleosides to give deoxycyclotriphosphate esters that are then oxidized to cyclotriphosphate (cyclo-TP) esters. The use of different oxidizing agents provides an opportunity for modification at P-α. Furthermore, terminal modifications at P-γ can be introduced by linearization of the cyclo-TP ester with various nucleophiles. © 2020 The Authors. Basic Protocol 1: Synthesis of cyclic pyrophosphoryl P-amidite (c-PyPA) and derivatives (c-Py_NH PA, c-Py_CH2 PA, c-Py_CCl2 PA, c-Py_CF2 PA) Basic Protocol 2: Synthesis of 3'-azidothymidine 5'-γ-P-propargylamido triphosphates and analogues Basic Protocol 3: Synthesis of 2'-deoxythymidine 5'-γ-P-propargylamido triphosphate (15) Basic Protocol 4: Synthesis of adenosine 5'-γ-P-amido triphosphate (19) and adenosine 5'-γ-P-propargylamido triphosphate (20) Basic Protocol 5: Synthesis of d4T 5'-γ-propargylamido β,γ-(difluoromethylene)triphosphate Support Protocol: Synthesis of diisopropylphosphoramidous dichloride.

New Mechanism of Gemcitabine and Its Phosphates: DNA Polymerization Disruption via 3'-5' Exonuclease Inhibition

Gemcitabine (dFdC), a modified deoxycytidine (dC) widely used in tumor treatment, is a prodrug that is phosphorylated to generate mono-, di-, and triphosphates. The triphosphate (dFdCTP) is incorporated into DNA to terminate DNA synthesis in cancer. Some incorporated dFdC nucleotides can be partially removed by the 3'-5' exonuclease activity, namely its editing function, and the others escape the editing. However, whether there is an active mechanism for dFdC to escape the editing remains unclear. We have first discovered that unlike dFdC, its mono-, di-, and triphosphates can inhibit the 3'-5' exonuclease of DNA polymerase I, suppress editing, and allow the active escaping mechanism, whereas its polymerase activity is not remarkably affected. As such, these phosphates can prevent the removal of the incorporated dFdC residue, thereby actively blocking DNA extension and synthesis. The inhibition efficiency of these phosphates follows the increased order of the mono-, di-, and triphosphates of gemcitabine (dFdC < dFdCMP < dFdCDP < dFdCTP). In addition, after the deletion of the 3'-5' exonuclease of cellular DNA polymerase I, the Escherichia coli mutant is more sensitive to dFdCTP than is wild-type E. coli. Our new discovery of the ability of these dFdC phosphates to inhibit exonuclease activity suggests a novel anticancer mechanism of gemcitabine and its phosphate derivatives.

Chemical methods for the modification of RNA

RNA is often considered as being the vector for the transmission of genetic information from DNA to the protein synthesis machinery. However, besides translation RNA participates in a broad variety of fundamental biological roles such as gene expression and regulation, protein synthesis, and even catalysis of chemical reactions. This variety of function combined with intricate three-dimensional structures and the discovery of over 100 chemical modifications in natural RNAs require chemical methods for the modification of RNAs in order to investigate their mechanism, location, and exact biological roles. In addition, numerous RNA-based tools such as ribozymes, aptamers, or therapeutic oligonucleotides require the presence of additional chemical functionalities to strengthen the nucleosidic backbone against degradation or enhance the desired catalytic or binding properties. Herein, the two main methods for the chemical modification of RNA are presented: solid-phase synthesis using phosphoramidite precursors and the enzymatic polymerization of nucleoside triphosphates. The different synthetic and biochemical steps required for each method are carefully described and recent examples of practical applications based on these two methods are discussed.

2'-Deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates bearing 4-phenyl and 4-pyrimidinyl imidazoles as DNA polymerase substrates

We developed a versatile access to a series of 4-substituted imidazole 2'-deoxynucleoside triphosphate bearing functionalized phenyl or pyrimidinyl rings. 4-Iodo-1H-imidazole was enzymatically converted into the corresponding 2'-deoxynucleoside, which was then chemically derived into its 5'-triphosphate, followed by 4-arylation via Suzuki-Miyaura coupling using (hetero)arylboronic acids. Both KF (exo-) and Deep Vent (exo-) DNA polymerases incorporated these modified nucleotides in primer-extension assays, adenine being the preferred pairing partner in the template. The 4-(3-aminophenyl)imidazole derivative (3APh) was the most efficiently inserted opposite A by KF (exo-) with only a 37-fold lower efficiency (Vmax/KM) than that of the correct dTTP. No further extension occurred after the incorporation of a single aryl-imidazole nucleotide. Interestingly, the aryl-imidazole dNTPs were found to undergo successive incorporation by calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase with different tailing efficiencies among this series and with a marked preference for 2APyr polymerization.

2'-(R)-Fluorinated mC, hmC, fC and caC triphosphates are substrates for DNA polymerases and TET-enzymes

A deeper investigation of the chemistry that occurs on the newly discovered epigenetic DNA bases 5-hydroxymethyl-(hmdC), 5-formyl-(fdC), and 5-carboxy-deoxycytidine (cadC) requires chemical tool compounds, which are able to dissect the different potential reaction pathways in cells. Here we report that the 2'-(R)-fluorinated derivatives F-hmdC, F-fdC, and F-cadC, which are resistant to removal by base excision repair, are good substrates for DNA polymerases and TET enzymes. This result shows that the fluorinated compounds are ideal tool substances to investigate potential C-C-bond cleaving reactions in the context of active demethylation.

Design and synthesis of fluorescence-labeled nucleotide with a cleavable azo linker for DNA sequencing

A cleavable azo linker was synthesized and reacted with 5-(6)-carboxytetramethyl rhodamine succinimidyl ester, followed by further reactions with di(N-succinimidyl) carbonate and 5-(3-amino-1-propynyl)-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate [dUTP(AP3)] to obtain the terminal product dUTP-azo linker-TAMRA as a potential reversible terminator for DNA sequencing by synthesis with no need for 3'-OH blocking.

Recent Trends in Nucleotide Synthesis

Focusing on the recent literature (since 2000), this review outlines the main synthetic approaches for the preparation of 5'-mono-, 5'-di-, and 5'-triphosphorylated nucleosides, also known as nucleotides, as well as several derivatives, namely, cyclic nucleotides and dinucleotides, dinucleoside 5',5'-polyphosphates, sugar nucleotides, and nucleolipids. Endogenous nucleotides and their analogues can be obtained enzymatically, which is often restricted to natural substrates, or chemically. In chemical synthesis, protected or unprotected nucleosides can be used as the starting material, depending on the nature of the reagents selected from P(III) or P(V) species. Both solution-phase and solid-support syntheses have been developed and are reported here. Although a considerable amount of research has been conducted in this field, further work is required because chemists are still faced with the challenge of developing a universal methodology that is compatible with a large variety of nucleoside analogues.

Chemoselective Dimerization of Phosphates

A methodology for the synthesis of oligophosphate conjugates using phosphordiamidites is described. This strategy facilitates the straightforward preparation of C2-symmetric dinucleoside tri-, penta-, and heptaphosphates. Moreover, unsymmetric compounds such as thiamine adenosine triphosphate and thiamine cytidine triphosphate can be prepared. The material is used to study the inhibitory activity of thiaminylated nucleotides against adenosine diphosphate ribosyltransferases.

Modified Nucleoside Triphosphates for In-vitro Selection Techniques

The development of SELEX (Selective Enhancement of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) provides a powerful tool for the search of functional oligonucleotides with the ability to bind ligands with high affinity and selectivity (aptamers) and for the discovery of nucleic acid sequences with diverse enzymatic activities (ribozymes and DNAzymes). This technique has been extensively applied to the selection of natural DNA or RNA molecules but, in order to improve chemical and structural diversity as well as for particular applications where further chemical or biological stability is necessary, the extension of this strategy to modified oligonucleotides is desirable. Taking into account these needs, this review intends to collect the research carried out during the past years, focusing mainly on the use of modified nucleotides in SELEX and the development of mutant enzymes for broadening nucleoside triphosphates acceptance. In addition, comments regarding the synthesis of modified nucleoside triphosphate will be briefly discussed.

Synthesis of Nucleoside Triphosphates from 2'-3'-Protected Nucleosides Using Trimetaphosphate

Chemists have been attempting to triphosphorylate nucleosides and other alcohols using trimetaphosphate (TriMP) since the 1960s. However, this route appears to have been abandoned due to poor yields. The first practical syntheses of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) are reported using TriMP as the key reagent. This was achieved by reacting the tetrabutylammonium salt of TriMP with mesitylenesulfonyl chloride in the presence of DABCO in pyridine followed by the addition of an appropriately protected nucleoside and phthalimide. Quenching the reaction with aqueous buffer followed by hydrolysis of the OH protecting groups gave the NTPs in good yield.

Synthesis and evaluations of an acid-cleavable, fluorescently labeled nucleotide as a reversible terminator for DNA sequencing

An acid-cleavable linker based on a dimethylketal moiety was synthesized and used to connect a nucleotide with a fluorophore to produce a 3'-OH unblocked nucleotide analogue as an excellent reversible terminator for DNA sequencing by synthesis.

Design and synthesis of new acid cleavable linkers for DNA sequencing by synthesis

A new kind of acid sensitive tetrahydrofuranyl (THF) linker was synthesized and then reacted with 5-(6)-carboxytetramethylrhodaminesuccinimidyl ester (5(6)-TAMRA, SE), followed by di(N-succinimidyl) carbonate (DSC) and modified 2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP); the final product, as a reversible terminator for DNA sequencing by synthesis (DNA SBS), was given obtained and confirmed by 1H-NMR, 31P-NMR, and HRMS with purity of up to 99%. The synthesized dye-labeled terminator incorporated into DNA strand successfully, and the fluorophore was cleaved completely under acidic conditions. The preliminary results encourage us to explore more acid-sensitive linkers for DNA SBS to increase the cleavage efficiency under weakly acidic conditions.

A Modular Synthesis of Modified Phosphoanhydrides

Phosphoanhydrides (P-anhydrides) are ubiquitously occurring modifications in nature. Nucleotides and their conjugates, for example, are among the most important building blocks and signaling molecules in cell biology. To study and manipulate their biological functions, a diverse range of analogues have been developed. Phosphate-modified analogues have been successfully applied to study proteins that depend on these abundant cellular building blocks, but very often both the preparation and purification of these molecules are challenging. This study discloses a general access to P-anhydrides, including different nucleotide probes, that greatly facilitates their preparation and isolation. The convenient and scalable synthesis of, for example, (18) O labeled nucleoside triphosphates holds promise for future applications in phosphoproteomics.

Synthesis of base-modified 2'-deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and their use in enzymatic synthesis of modified DNA for applications in bioanalysis and chemical biology

The synthesis of 2'-deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) either by classical triphosphorylation of nucleosides or by aqueous cross-coupling reactions of halogenated dNTPs is discussed. Different enzymatic methods for synthesis of modified oligonucleotides and DNA by polymerase incorporation of modified nucleotides are summarized, and the applications in redox or fluorescent labeling, as well as in bioconjugations and modulation of interactions of DNA with proteins, are outlined.

Phosphate analogues in the dissection of mechanism

Phosphoryl group transfer is central to genetic replication, cellular signalling and many metabolic processes. Understanding the mechanisms of phosphorylation and phosphate ester and anhydride cleavage is key to efforts towards biotechnological and biomedical exploitation of phosphate-handling enzymes. Analogues of phosphate esters and anhydrides are indispensable tools, alongside protein mutagenesis and computational methods, for the dissection of phosphoryl transfer mechanisms. Hydrolysable and non-hydrolysable phosphate analogues have provided insight into the nature and sites of phosphoryl transfer processes. Kinetic isotope effects and crystallography using transition state analogues have painted more detailed pictures of transition states and how enzymes work to stabilise them.

Synthesis of an apionucleoside family and discovery of a prodrug with anti-HIV activity

We report the synthesis of a family of D- and L-furano-D-apionucleosides, their 3'-deoxy, as well as their 2',3'-dideoxy analogues with thymine and adenine nucleobases. Single carbon homologation of 1,2-O-isopropylidene-D-glycero-tetrafuranos-3-ulose (15) and optimized glycosylation conditions involving microwave irradiation were key to the successful synthesis of the target compounds. While all target nucleosides failed to show significant antiviral activity, we demonstrated that the triphosphate of 2',3'-deoxy-D-apio-D-furanoadenosine (1), in contrast to that of its D-apio-L-furanose epimer 2, was readily incorporated into a DNA template by HIV reverse transcriptase to act as a DNA chain terminator. This led us to convert adenine derivative 1 into two phosphoramidate prodrugs. ProTide 9b was found active against HIV-1 and HIV-2 (EC50 = 0.5-1.5 μM), indicating that the lack of activity of the parent nucleoside, and possibly also other members of the D-apio-D-furanose nucleoside family must be sought in the inefficient cellular conversion to the monophosphate.

Phosphate esters and anhydrides--recent strategies targeting nature's favoured modifications

Esters and anhydrides of phosphoric acid are essential in biology. It is very difficult to identify processes in life that do not involve these modifications and their transformation at some point. Consequently, phosphorylation chemistry is an essential methodology with significant impact on the biological sciences. This perspective gives an overview of some very recent achievements in synthetic phosphorylation chemistry and aims at identifying challenges that lie ahead.

Iterative synthesis of nucleoside oligophosphates with phosphoramidites

P-Amidites can be used in iterative couplings to selectively give mixed P(III) -P(V) anhydrides. These intermediates can be oxidized followed by a rapid removal of the two terminal fluorenylmethyl groups. An iterative synthesis (coupling, oxidation, deprotection) of nucleoside oligophosphates can be carried out in solution and on a solid support. The coupling rates and yields are high, the procedures convenient (non-dry reagents and solvents, ambient conditions, unprotected nucleotides), and the purification is very simple. The method works with all canonical nucleosides and holds promise for significant simplification of the usually cumbersome process of P-anhydride bond construction.

Use of a novel 5'-regioselective phosphitylating reagent for one-pot synthesis of nucleoside 5'-triphosphates from unprotected nucleosides

5'-Triphosphates are building blocks for enzymatic synthesis of DNA and RNA. This unit presents a protocol for convenient synthesis of 2'-deoxyribo- and ribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates (dNTPs and NTPs) from any natural or modified base. This one-pot synthesis can also be employed to prepare triphosphate analogs with a sulfur or selenium atom in place of a non-bridging oxygen atom of the α-phosphate. These S- or Se-modified dNTPs and NTPs can be used to prepare diastereomerically pure phosphorothioate or phosphoroselenoate nucleic acids. Even without extensive purification, the dNTPs or NTPs synthesized by this method are of high quality and can be used directly in DNA polymerization or RNA transcription. Synthesis and purification of the 5'-triphosphates, as well as analysis and confirmation of natural and sulfur- or selenium-modified nucleic acids, are described in this protocol unit.

Phosphodeoxyribosyltransferases, designed enzymes for deoxyribonucleotides synthesis

A large number of nucleoside analogues and 2'-deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTP) have been synthesized to interfere with DNA metabolism. However, in vivo the concentration and phosphorylation of these analogues are key limiting factors. In this context, we designed enzymes to switch nucleobases attached to a deoxyribose monophosphate. Active chimeras were made from two distantly related enzymes: a nucleoside deoxyribosyltransferase from lactobacilli and a 5'-monophosphate-2'-deoxyribonucleoside hydrolase from rat. Then their unprecedented activity was further extended to deoxyribose triphosphate, and in vitro biosyntheses could be successfully performed with several base analogues. These new enzymes provide new tools to synthesize dNTP analogues and to deliver them into cells.

Synthesis and enzymatic incorporation of α-L-threofuranosyl adenine triphosphate (tATP)

Threose nucleic acid (TNA) is an artificial genetic polymer in which the natural ribose sugar found in RNA has been replaced with an unnatural threose sugar. TNA can be synthesized enzymatically using Therminator DNA polymerase to copy DNA templates into TNA. Here, we expand the substrate repertoire of Therminator DNA polymerase to include threofuranosyl adenine 3'-triphsophate (tATP). We chemically synthesized tATP by two different methods from the 2'-O-acetyl derivative. Enzyme-mediated polymerization reveals that tATP functions as an efficient substrate for Therminator DNA polymerase, indicating that tATP can replace the diaminopurine analogue (tDTP) in TNA transcription reactions.

Synthesis of 5-hydroxymethyl-, 5-formyl-, and 5-carboxycytidine-triphosphates and their incorporation into oligonucleotides by polymerase chain reaction

The synthesis of the triphosphates of 5-hydroxymethyl-, 5-formyl-, and 5-carboxycytidine and the incorporation of these building blocks into long DNA fragments using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are reported. In this way DNA fragments containing multiple hmC, fC, and caC nucleobases are readily accessible.

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.

An improved protection-free one-pot chemical synthesis of 2'-deoxynucleoside-5'-triphosphates

A facile, straightforward, reliable, and an efficient method for the gram-scale chemical synthesis of both purine deoxynucleotides such as 2 '-deoxyguanosine-5 '-triphosphate (dGTP) and 2 '-deoxyadenosine-5 '-triphosphate (dATP) and pyrimidine deoxynucleotides such as 2 '-deoxycytidine-5 '-triphosphate (dCTP), thymidine-5 '-triphosphate (TTP), and 2 '-deoxyuridine-5 '-triphosphate (dUTP) starting from the corresponding nucleoside is described. This improved "one-pot, three step" Ludwig synthetic strategy involves the monophosphorylation of nucleoside followed by reaction with tributylammonium pyrophosphate and hydrolysis of the resulting cyclic intermediate to provide the corresponding dNTP in good yields (65%-70%).

Gram-scale chemical synthesis of 2'-deoxynucleoside-5'-o-triphosphates

A simple, straightforward, reliable, and efficient method for the chemical synthesis of sodium salt of 2'-deoxynucleoside-5'-O-triphosphates (dNTPs), starting from the corresponding nucleoside, is described. This improved "one-pot, three-step" synthetic strategy involves the monophosphorylation of nucleoside, followed by reaction with tributylammonium pyrophosphate and hydrolysis of the resulting cyclic intermediate to provide the corresponding dNTP in good yields (65% to 70%). It is noteworthy that the protocol holds good for both the purine deoxynucleotides, such as 2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-O-triphosphate (dGTP) and 2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-O-triphosphate (dATP), and pyrimidine deoxynucleotides, such as 2'-deoxycytidine-5'-O-triphosphate (dCTP), thymidine-5'-O-triphosphate (TTP), and 2'-deoxyuridine-5'-O-triphosphate (dUTP).

Enzymatic synthesis of 8-vinyl- and 8-styryl-2'-deoxyguanosine modified DNA--novel fluorescent molecular probes

Fluorescent analogs of the natural nucleobases are widely used as molecular probes for investigating DNA hybridization and topology. In this study the guanosine analogs 8-vinyl- and 8-styryl-2'-deoxyguanosine were synthesized and converted into the corresponding 5'-triphosphates. These C8 modified nucleotides were processed by various DNA polymerases to create fluorescent DNA. Whereas the 8-styryl modified nucleotide somewhat hampers DNA synthesis 8-vinyl-2'-deoxyguanosine is processed by DNA polymerases emphasizing the broad applicability as a molecular probe for fluorescence spectroscopy.

The synthesis of 2'-methylseleno adenosine and guanosine 5'-triphosphates

Modified nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) represent powerful building blocks to generate nucleic acids with novel properties by enzymatic synthesis. We have recently demonstrated the access to 2′-SeCH₃-uridine and 2′-SeCH₃-cytidine derivatized RNAs for applications in RNA crystallography, using the corresponding nucleoside triphosphates and distinct mutants of T7 RNA polymerase. In the present note, we introduce the chemical synthesis of the novel 2′-methylseleno-2′-deoxyadenosine and -guanosine 5′-triphosphates (2′-SeCH₃-ATP and 2′-SeCH₃-GTP) that represent further candidates for the enzymatic RNA synthesis with engineered RNA polymerases.