Novel isoguanine derivative of unlocked nucleic acid-Investigations of thermodynamics and biological potential of modified thrombin binding aptamer

PLoS One. 2018 May 24;13(5):e0197835. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197835. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Thrombin binding aptamer (TBA), is a short DNA 15-mer that forms G-quadruplex structure and possesses anticoagulant properties. Some chemical modifications, including unlocked nucleic acids (UNA), 2'-deoxy-isoguanosine and 2'-deoxy-4-thiouridine were previously found to enhance the biological activity of TBA. In this paper, we present thermodynamic and biological characteristics of TBA variants that have been modified with novel isoguanine derivative of UNA as well as isoguanosine. Additionally, UNA-4-thiouracil and 4-thiouridine were also introduced simultaneously with isoguanine derivatives. Thermodynamic analysis indicates that the presence of isoguanosine in UNA or RNA series significantly decreases the stability of G-quadruplex structure. The highest destabilization is observed for substitution at one of the G-tetrad position. Addition of 4-thiouridine in UNA or RNA series usually decreases the unfavorable energetic cost of the presence of UNA or RNA isoguanine. Circular dichroism and thermal denaturation spectra in connection with thrombin time assay indicate that the introduction of UNA-isoguanine or isoguanosine into TBA negatively affects G-quadruplex folding and TBA anticoagulant properties. These findings demonstrate that the highly-ordered structure of TBA is essential for inhibition of thrombin activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / chemistry*
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry*
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Guanine / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nucleic Acids / chemistry*
  • Thermodynamics
  • Thrombin / chemistry*
  • Thrombin Time

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Nucleic Acids
  • thrombin aptamer
  • Guanine
  • isoguanine
  • Thrombin

Grants and funding

This publication was supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, under the KNOW program and by Polish National Science Center grant UMO-2013/10/E/NZ1/00741 and UMO-2017/25/B/NZ7/00127 to AP and UMO-2015/19/N/NZ5/02246 to WK. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.