Strand invasion of mixed-sequence B-DNA by acridine-linked, gamma-peptide nucleic acid (gamma-PNA)

J Am Chem Soc. 2007 Dec 19;129(50):15596-600. doi: 10.1021/ja074886j. Epub 2007 Nov 21.

Abstract

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a synthetic mimic of DNA and RNA that can recognize double-stranded B-DNA through direct Watson-Crick base-pairing. Although promising, PNA recognition is presently limited to mostly purine- and pyrimidine-rich targets, because mixed-sequence PNA, in general, does not have sufficient binding free energy to invade B-DNA. In this Article, we show that conformationally preorganized gamma-peptide nucleic acid (gamma-PNA) containing an acridine moiety covalently linked at the C-terminus can invade mixed-sequence B-DNA in a sequence-specific manner. Recognition occurs through direct Watson-Crick base-pairing. This finding is significant because it demonstrates that the same principles that guide the recognition of single-stranded DNA and RNA can also be applied to double-stranded B-DNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acridines / chemistry*
  • Base Sequence
  • Circular Dichroism
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / genetics*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Peptide Nucleic Acids / chemistry*
  • Transition Temperature

Substances

  • Acridines
  • Peptide Nucleic Acids
  • DNA