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We report the synthesis of N 2 -aryl (benzyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, and pyrenyl)-deoxyguanosine (dG) modified phosphoramidite building blocks and the corresponding damaged DNAs. Primer extension studies using E. coli Pol IV, a translesion polymerase, demonstrate that translesion synthesis (TLS) across these N 2 -dG adducts is error free. However, the efficiency of TLS activity decreases with increase in the steric bulkiness of the adducts. Molecular dynamics simulations of damaged DNA-Pol IV complexes reveal the van der Waals interactions between key amino acid residues (Phe13, Ile31, Gly32, Gly33, Ser42, Pro73, Gly74, Phe76, and Tyr79) of the enzyme and adduct that help to accommodate the bulky damages in a hydrophobic pocket to facilitate TLS. Overall, the results presented here provide insights into the TLS across N 2 -aryl-dG damaged DNAs by Pol IV.

During the synthesis of a series of 2'-deoxy-9-deaza nucleosides using Heck methodology, the necessity for a pyrrole protecting group was discovered. The results of this brief study revealed that the benzyloxymethyl (BOM) group proved optimal, and Heck coupling using Jeffery conditions increased the coupling yield significantly. The results are reported herein.

A kinetic study is reported for the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of oxygen (O)-linked biaryl ether 8-2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) adducts produced by phenolic toxins following metabolism into phenoxyl radical intermediates. Strikingly, the reaction rate of hydrolysis at pH 1 decreases as electron-withdrawing chlorine (Cl) substituents are added to the phenoxyl ring. The Hammett plot for hydrolysis at pH 1 shows a linear negative slope with ρX = -0.65, implying that increased Cl-substitution diminishes the rate of hydrolysis by lowering N(7) basicity. Spectrophotometric titration provided an N(7)H(+) pKa value of 1.1 for the unsubstituted adduct 8-phenoxy-dG (Ph-O-dG). Model pyridine compounds suggest N(7)H(+) pKa values of 0.92 and 0.37 for 4-Cl-Ph-O-dG and 2,6-dichloro-Ph-O-dG (DCP-O-dG), respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations also highlight the ability of the 8-phenoxy substituent to lower N(7) basicity and predict a preference for N(3)-protonation for highly chlorinated O-linked 8-dG adducts in water. The calculations also provide a rationale for the hydrolytic reactivity of O-linked 8-dG adducts in the gas-phase, as determined using electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The inclusion of our data now establishes that the order of hydrolytic reactivity at neutral pH for bulky 8-dG adducts is N-linked > C-linked > O-linked, which correlates with their relative ease of N(7)-protonation.

The 2'-hydroxyl groups within RNA contribute in essential ways to RNA structure and function. Previously, we designed an atomic mutation cycle (AMC) that uses ribonucleoside analogues bearing different C-2'-substituents, including -OCH(3), -NH(2), -NHMe, and -NMe(2), to identify hydroxyl groups within RNA that donate functionally significant hydrogen bonds. To enable AMC analysis of the nucleophilic guanosine cofactor in the Tetrahymena ribozyme reaction and at other guanosines whose 2'-hydroxyl groups impart critical functional contributions, we describe here the syntheses of 2'-methylamino-2'-deoxyguanosine (G(NHMe)) and 2'-N,N-dimethylamino-2'-deoxyguanosine (G(NMe(2))) and their corresponding phosphoramidites. The key step in obtaining the nucleosides involved S(N)2 displacement of 2'-β-triflate from an appropriate guanosine derivative by methylamine or dimethylamine. We readily obtained the G(NMe(2)) phosphoramidite and incorporated it into RNA. However, the G(NHMe) phosphoramidite posed a significantly greater challenge due to lack of a suitable -2'-NHMe protecting group. After testing several strategies, we established that allyloxycarbonyl (Alloc) provided suitable protection for 2'-N-methylamino group during the phosphoramidite synthesis and the subsequent RNA synthesis. This work enables AMC analysis of guanosine's 2'-hydroxyl group within RNA.

N(2)-alkyl analogues of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (OG) were synthesized (alkyl = propyl, benzyl) via reductive amination of the protected OG nucleoside and incorporated into various positions of an RNA strand. Thermal stability studies of duplexes containing A or C opposite a single modified base revealed only moderate destabilization. Both OG as well as its N(2)-alkyl analogues can pair opposite A or C with nearly equal stability, potentially offering a new means of modulating RNA-protein interactions in the minor vs major grooves.

Selenium modification of nucleic acids is of great importance in X-ray crystal structure determination and functional study of nucleic acids. Herein, we describe a convenient synthesis of a new building block, the 2'-SeMe-modified guanosine (G(Se)) phosphoramidite, and report the first incorporation of the 2'-Se-G moiety into DNA. The X-ray crystal structure of the 2'-Se-modified octamer DNA (5'-GTG(Se)TACAC-3') was determined at a resolution of 1.20 A. We also found that the 2'-Se modification points to the minor groove and that the modified and native structures are virtually identical. Furthermore, we observed that the 2'-Se-G modification can significantly facilitate the crystal growth with respect to the corresponding native DNA.

We describe two approaches for the synthesis of 2'-C-beta-methyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (3) via 2'-radical deoxygenation. One approach starts from 1,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-d-ribofuranose (6) and gives 3 in 11 steps with 9.7% overall yield. The second approach starts from guanosine and gives 3 in 8 steps with 23% overall yield.

We describe a novel trifluoroethanol (TFE) or hexafluoropropan-2-ol (HFP) mediated substitution reaction of the bay-region C10 acetoxy group in four stereoisomeric 7,8,9,10-tetraacetoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrenes (tetraol tetraacetates, two pairs of cis and trans isomers at the 9,10 positions) by the exocyclic N2-amino group of O6-allyl-3',5'-di-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine (3). The tetraacetates are derived from cis and trans hydrolysis of (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9beta,10beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P DE-1) and of (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9alpha,10alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P DE-2) at C-10 followed by acetylation. Excellent yields and high regioselectivity were observed. Similar cis/trans product ratios were observed for each set of cis and trans tetraol tetraacetates derived from DE-1 ( approximately 75/25) and from DE-2 (approximately 67/33) in HFP. This strongly suggests that the substitution proceeds via an SN1 mechanism involving a carbocation intermediate that is common to the cis and trans tetraacetates. Since it is likely that the cis and trans products from 3 arise from different conformations of the carbocation, its lifetime must be sufficiently long to permit conformational equilibration before its capture by the purine nucleophile. The corresponding reaction of (+/-)-9alpha-bromo-7beta,8alpha,10beta-triacetoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene with 3 in HFP was highly regio- and stereoselective and gave exclusively trans 10beta-adducts. This newly developed substitution reaction provides an attractive alternative synthetic strategy for the preparation of polycyclic hydrocarbon adducted oligonucleotide building blocks.

The synthesis of the C5' tert-butyl ketone of thymidine 1a and 2'-deoxyguanosine 2 is achieved by reaction of 5'-C-cyano derivatives with tert-butyl lithium followed by acid hydrolysis. The 5'R configuration is assigned by X-ray crystal structure determination of an opportunely protected derivative of 1a. The (5'S)-isomers of both nucleosides are not stable, and a complete decomposition occurs in the reaction medium. The photochemistry of 1a and 2 effectively produced the thymidin-5'-yl radical and the 2'-deoxyguanosin-5'-yl radical, respectively. In the thymidine system, the C5' radical is fully quenched in the presence of a physiological concentration of thiols. In the 2'-deoxyguanosine system, the C5' radical undergoes intramolecular attack onto the C8-N7 double bond of guanine leading ultimately to the 5',8-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine derivative. The cyclization of the 2'-deoxyguanosin-5'-yl radical occurs with a rate constant of ca. 1x10(6) s-1 and is highly stereoselective affording only the (5'S)-diastereomer.

We describe the completion of the set of four benzo-fused expanded DNA (xDNA) nucleoside analogues. We previously reported the development of benzo-fused analogues of dA and dT and their inclusion in an exceptionally stable new four-base genetic system, termed xDNA, in which the base pairs were expanded in size. Here we describe the preparation and properties of the second half of this nucleotide set: namely, the previously unknown dxC and dxG nucleosides. The dxC analogue was prepared from the previously reported dxT nucleoside in three steps and 57% yield. The large-sized deoxyguanosine analogue was prepared from an intermediate in the synthesis of dxA, yielding dxG in 14 steps overall (2.4%). Suitably protected versions of the deoxynucleosides were prepared for oligonucleotide synthesis following standard procedures, and they were readily incorporated into DNA by automated synthesizer. "Dangling-end" measurements revealed that the benzo-fused homologues stack considerably more strongly on neighboring DNA sequences than do their natural counterparts. Base pairing experiments with xC or xG bases showed that they pair selectively with their Watson-Crick partners, but with mild destabilization, due apparently to their larger size. Overall, the data suggest that the fluorescent xG and xC bases may be useful probes of steric effects in the study of biological nucleotide recognition mechanisms. In addition, the completion of the xDNA nucleoside set makes it possible in the future to construct full four-base xDNA strands that can target any sequence of natural DNA and RNA.

We have previously reported the use of a 13C tag at the C2 of 15N-multilabeled purine nucleosides to distinguish the adjacent-labeled 15N atoms from those in an untagged nucleoside. We now introduce the use of an indirect tag at the C8 of 15N7-labeled purine nucleosides. This tag allows unambiguous differentiation between a pair of 15N7-labeled purines in which only one is 13C8 labeled. Although the very small C8-N7 coupling (<1 Hz) precludes its direct detection in 1D 15N spectra, 2D 1H-15N NMR experiments display the large C8-H8 coupling (>200 Hz) because H8 is coupled to both N7 and C8. The 13C8 atom is introduced by means of a ring closure of the exocyclic amino groups of a pyrimidinone using [13C]sodium ethyl xanthate. Here, we present methods for the syntheses of [8-13C-1,7,NH2-15N3]adenosine, -guanosine, and their deoxy analogues.

We describe the preparation and structure of the deoxyribonucleoside of 4-fluoro-6-methylbenzimidazole, abbreviated dH (8), which acts as a close shape mimic of the nucleoside deoxyguanosine. The nucleoside is prepared from 2-fluoro-4-methylaniline in seven steps. The X-ray crystal structure reveals a (-sc) glycosidic orientation, an S conformation for the deoxyribose moiety, and quite close shape mimicry of guanine by the substituted benzimidazole. Conformational studies by (1)H NMR and (1)H-(1)H ROESY experiments reveal an S-type conformation and an anti glycosidic orientation in solution (D(2)O), essentially the same as that of deoxyguanosine. Base-stacking studies in a "dangling end" context reveal that the benzimidazole base mimic stacks more strongly than all four natural bases, and more strongly than its counterpart guanine by 1.1 kcal/mol. Base-pairing studies in a 12mer DNA duplex show that, like other nonpolar nucleoside isosteres, H is destabilizing and nonselective when paired opposite natural bases. However, when paired opposite another nonpolar isostere, difluorotoluene (F), a mimic of thymine, the pair exhibits stability approaching that of its natural analogue, a G-T (wobble) base pair. The nucleoside analogue dH will be useful in studies of protein-DNA interactions, and the H-F base pair will serve as a structurally and thermodynamically close mimic of G-T in studies of DNA mismatch repair enzymes.

The 7-deazaguanine (2-aminopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one) C(8)-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranoside) (6b), which possesses an unusual glycosylation site, was synthesized and incorporated in oligonucleotides. The oligonucleotides were prepared by solid-phase synthesis using phosphoramidite chemistry and were hybridized to form duplex DNA. Compound 6b is able to form base pairs with 2'-deoxy-5-methylisocytidine (m(5)isoC(d)) in oligonucleotide duplexes with antiparallel chain orientation and with dC in parallel duplex DNA. Thus, the C(8)-nucleoside 6b shows a similar base recognition as 2'-deoxyisoguanosine but not as 2'-deoxyguanosine. This indicates that the nucleic acid recognition not only depends on the donor-acceptor pattern of the nucleobase but is influenced by the glycosylation site. Base pairs of compound 6b formed with canonical and modified nucleosides are proposed.

Treatment of DNA with nitrous acid results in the formation of DNA-DNA cross-links. Two cross-link lesions have previously been isolated and their structures assigned based on spectroscopic data. The major lesion has been proposed to consist of two deoxyguanosine (dG) nucleosides sharing a common N2 atom (1), while the structure of the minor lesion has been proposed to consist of a common nitrogen atom linking C2 of a dG nucleoside to C6 of deoxyadenosine (2). The chemical synthesis of 1 and 2, utilizing a palladium-catalyzed coupling, is described herein. It is demonstrated that the spectroscopic properties of synthetic 1 are identical to that of lesion 1 obtained from nitrous acid cross-linked DNA, thus providing a proof of its structure. Comparison of the limited spectroscopic data available for lesion 2 originating from nitrous acid cross-linked DNA to synthetic 2 supports its structural assignment. The synthetic approach used for synthesis of 1 and 2 is shown to be a general method for the preparation of a variety of N2-substituted dG nucleosides in good yields.

Synthesis of spirocyclic analogues of 2'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-deoxyguanosine (12a-15a and 12b-15b) is described. Rhodium-catalyzed reaction of ethyl diazoacetate with methylenecyclopropane 19, obtained from 2-bromo-2-bromomethylcyclopropane 17 via debromination (16), reduction (18), and acetylation (19), gave a mixture of all four isomeric spiropentanes 20a-20d. Hydrolysis afforded hydroxy carboxylic acids 21a-21d. Acetylation of separated proximal + medial-syn isomers 21a + 21b and medial anti + distal isomers 21c + 21d furnished acetates 22a + 22b and 22c + 22d. Curtius rearrangement effected by diphenylphosphoryl azide in tert-butyl alcohol performed separately with mixtures 22a + 22b and 22c + 22d led to BOC-amino spiropentanes 23a + 23b and 23c + 23d. After deacetylation all isomers 24a-24d were separated and deprotected to give aminospiropentane hydrochlorides 25a-25d. Free bases were of limited stability. The heterocyclic moieties were introduced into individual isomers 25a-25d via 6-chloropurine derivatives 26a-26d or 30a-30d. Ammonolysis of 26a-26d furnished the adenine isomeric series 12a-15a, whereas guanine derivatives 12b-15b were obtained by hydrolysis of 30a-30d with formic acid. The isomeric assignments followed from IR spectra of BOC-aminospiropentanes 24a-24d and NMR spectra of 12a-15a including NOE and (H,H) COSY. The proximal and medial-syn isomers 12a and 12b were modest inhibitors of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in culture, whereas the medial-anti isomer 12c was a substrate for adenosine deaminase. The distal isomer 15b was an anti-EBV agent. The medial-syn phosphoralaninate 34 was an effective inhibitor of HCMV replication in vitro. It was also active against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), varicella zoster virus (VZV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and EBV with a varying degree of cytotoxicity.