Structural studies on LNA quadruplexes

Nucleosides Nucleotides Nucleic Acids. 2005;24(5-7):795-800. doi: 10.1081/ncn-200060279.

Abstract

LNAs (locked nucleic acids) are new DNA analogues with higher binding affinities toward nucleic acids than the canonical counterparts mainly due to the characteristic conformational restriction arising from the 2'-O, 4'-C methylene bridge. In light of the promising therapeutic applications and considering the advantageous characteristics of LNAs, such as their high water solubility, easy handling, and synthetic accessibility through the conventional phosphoramidite chemistry, we undertook a study concerning the capability of these nucleic acid analogues to form quadruplex structures. Particularly, we have been investigating the LNA/DNA chimeras corresponding to the well-known DNA sequences 5-GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG-3', capable of forming an unimolecular quadruplex. This article deals with the study of the sequence 5'-ggTTggTGTggTTgg-3' (upper and lower case letters represent DNA and LNA residues, respectively), which, according to CD spectroscopy, is able to fold into a quadruplex structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Circular Dichroism / methods
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Hydrocarbons / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Methane / analogs & derivatives
  • Methane / chemistry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Biology / methods
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation*
  • Nucleic Acid Denaturation
  • Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemistry
  • RNA / chemistry
  • Temperature
  • Thrombin / chemistry

Substances

  • Hydrocarbons
  • Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • phosphoramidite
  • carbene
  • RNA
  • DNA
  • Thrombin
  • Methane