Synthesis and Characterisation of a Copolymer Consisting of Alternating Deoxyadenosine- and 2- Thiodeoxythymidine Nucleotides.

Starting from 2-thiodeoxythymidine, the mono- and triphosphate of the nucleoside analog were prepared by enzymatic phosphorylation with thymidine kinase and thymidylate kinase, respectively. 2-Thiodeoxythymidine triphosphate was also obtained by chemical pyrophosphorylation of the monophosphate. The analog nucleoside-triphosphate is a substra@ for Escherichia coli DNA polymerase. A copolymer consisting of alternating deoxyadenosine- and 2-thiodeoxythyunidine nucleotides is synthesized extensively by the enzyme. The polymer was characterized by nearest neighbour analysis, sedimentation and buoyant density in the analytical ultracentrifuge, ultraviolet spectra and stability against thermal and alkaline denaturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]