Synthesis of photocaged 6-O-(2-nitrobenzyl)guanosine and 4-O-(2-nitrobenzyl) uridine triphosphates for photocontrol of the RNA transcription reaction.

6- O -(2-Nitrobenzyl)guanosine and 4- O -(2-nitrobenzyl)uridine triphosphates ( NB GTP, NB UTP) were synthesized, and their biochemical and photophysical properties were evaluated. We synthesized NB UTP using the canonical triphosphate synthesis method and NB GTP from 2′,3′- O -TBDMS guanosine via a triphosphate synthesis method by utilizing mild acidic desilylation conditions. Deprotection of the nitrobenzyl group in NB GTP and NB UTP proceeded within 60 s by UV irradiation at 365 nm. Experiments using NB GTP or NB UTP in T7-RNA transcription reactions showed that NB GTP could be useful for the photocontrol of transcription by UV irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]