General approach for introduction of various chemical labels in specific RNA locations based on insertion of amino linkers

Molecules. 2013 Nov 25;18(12):14455-69. doi: 10.3390/molecules181214455.

Abstract

Introduction of reporter groups at designed RNA sites is a widely accepted approach to gain information about the molecular environment of RNAs in their complexes with other biopolymers formed during various cellular processes. A general approach to obtain RNAs bearing diverse reporter groups at designed locations is based on site-specific insertion of groups containing primary aliphatic amine functions (amino linkers) with their subsequent selective derivatization by appropriate chemicals. This article is a brief review on methods for site-specific introduction of amino linkers in different RNAs. These methods comprise: (i) incorporation of a nucleoside carrying an amino-linker or a function that can be substituted with it into oligoribonucleotides in the course of their chemical synthesis; (ii) assembly of amino linker-containing RNAs from short synthetic fragments via their ligation; (iii) synthesis of amino linker-modified RNAs using T7 RNA polymerase; (iv) insertion of amino linkers into unmodified RNAs at functional groups of a certain type such as the 5'-phosphates and N7 of guanosine residues and (v) introduction of an amino linker into long highly structured RNAs exploiting an approach based on sequence-specific modification of nucleic acids. Particular reporter groups used for derivatization of amino linker-containing RNAs together with types of RNA derivatives obtained and fields of their application are presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemistry
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
  • RNA / chemical synthesis
  • RNA / chemistry*
  • Viral Proteins

Substances

  • Amines
  • Viral Proteins
  • RNA
  • bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases