Synthesis and biophysical studies of N2'-functionalized 2'-amino-alpha-L-LNA

A synthetic route towards a selected set of N-acylated and N-alkylated derivatives of 2'-amino-alpha-L-LNA phosphoramidite building blocks has been developed. Biophysical studies suggest that the 2-oxo-5-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane skeleton of 2'-amino-alpha-L-LNA allows precise positioning of intercalators in the core of nucleic acid duplexes.

Novel selective biocatalytic deacylation studies on key precursors for bicyclonucleosides

Immobilized Candida antarctica lipase and Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase catalyze the deacylation of precursors of LNA analogs, 4'-C-acyloxymethyl-2',3',5'-tri-O-acyl-beta-L-threo-pentofuranosylthymine and 4-C-acyloxymethyl-3,5-di-O-acyl-1,2-O-(1-methylethylidene)-beta-L-threo-pentofuranose, respectively in a highly selective and efficient manner.

In vitro incorporation of LNA nucleotides

An LNA modified nucleoside triphosphate 1 was synthesized in order to investigate its potential to act as substrate for DNA strand synthesis by polymerases. Primer extension assays for the incorporation experiments revealed that Phusion High Fidelity DNA polymerase is an efficient enzyme for incorporation of the LNA nucleotide and for extending strand to full length. It was also observed that pfu DNA polymerase could incorporate the LNA nucleotide but it failed to extend the strand to a full length product.

Chemically modified oligonucleotides with efficient RNase H response

Ten different chemically modified nucleosides were incorporated into short DNA strands (chimeric oligonucleotides ON3-ON12 and ON15-ON24) and then tested for their capacity to mediate RNAse H cleavage of the complementary RNA strand. The modifications were placed at two central positions directly in the RNase H cleaving region. The RNA strand of duplexes with ON3, ON5 and ON12 were cleaved more efficiently than the RNA strand of the DNA:RNA control duplex. There seems to be no correlation between the thermal stability between the duplexes and RNase H cleavage.

Thermodynamics of DNA-RNA heteroduplex formation: effects of locked nucleic acid nucleotides incorporated into the DNA strand

A locked nucleic acid (LNA) monomer is a conformationally restricted nucleotide analogue exhibiting enhanced hybridization efficiency toward complementary strand. The potential of LNA-based oligonucleotides has been sought to improve the selectivity and specificity of probe sets employed in detection and specific targeting of nucleic acids. We have evaluated the influence of "locked nucleic acid" residues on hybridization thermodynamics, counterions and hydration of DNA.RNA heteroduplex using spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques. One to three LNA substitutions have been introduced either at the adenine (5'-AGCACCAG) or thymine (5'-TGCTCCTG) residues of the DNA strand. A complete thermodynamic profile for heteroduplex formation suggested that LNA-induced stabilization results from a favorable increase in the enthalpy of hybridization that compensates for the unfavorable entropy change. Analysis of differential scanning calorimetry data indicated a nonzero heat capacity change, DeltaCp, accompanying the heteroduplex formation. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements indicated an increase in binding affinity of the two strands as the LNA content of the heteroduplex is increased. Overall our result demonstrated that the effect of LNA-substitution at the thymine residue is more pronounced compared to the adenine residue. Furthermore, optical melting studies showed that, compared to an unmodified duplex, the formation of LNA-modified duplex is accompanied by a higher uptake of counterions and a lower uptake of water molecules. Our result, thus, presents a preliminary attempt toward the characterization of hybridization thermodynamics of the LNA-based probe-target sets, which will in turn aid in the selection of optimal conditions for hybridization experiments, and evaluation of the minimum probe-length required for hybridization and cloning experiments.

Greener biocatalytic approach to the synthesis of nucleosides and their precursors

Novel, efficient and selective biocatalytic acylation / deacylation strategies have been used for the greener synthesis of precursors of different bicyclonucleosides. Biocatalytic methodology has also been developed for the separation of pyrano- and furanonucleosides, which is otherwise almost impossible to achieve by usual chemical approach.

Nucleosides with 1,4-dioxane as sugar moiety

A synthetic route towards novel nucleosides with 1,4- dioxane as the sugar moiety has been developed. The dioxane moiety features a second anomeric center, which has been phosphitylated giving a diastereomeric mixture of the corresponding phosphoramidites.

The sugar conformation governs (6-4) photoproduct formation at the dinucleotide level

The LNA dinucleotide mimic of TpT whose two-sugar puckers are locked in the C3'-endo conformation selectively produces the corresponding cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer under 254 nm irradiation. In the natural series (TpT) the sugar puckers are in a major C2'-endo sugar conformation and the (6-4) photoproduct is also produced. Consequently, this study demonstrates that the C2'-endo conformation of the sugar pucker is necessary for (6-4) photoproduct formation.

The advantages of being locked. Assessing the cleavage of short and long RNAs by locked nucleic acid-containing 8-17 deoxyribozymes

RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes can be used for the sequence-specific knockdown of mRNAs. It was previously shown that activity of these deoxyribozymes is enhanced when their substrate-binding arms include some locked nucleic acid (LNA) residues, but the mechanistic basis of this enhancement was not explored. Here we dissected the kinetics and thermodynamics underlying the reaction of LNA-containing 8-17 deoxyribozymes. Four 8-17 constructs were designed to target sequences within the E6 mRNA from human papillomavirus type 16. When one of these deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) and the corresponding LNA-armed enzyme (LNAzyme) were tested against a minimal RNA substrate, they showed similar rates of substrate binding and similar rates of intramolecular cleavage, but the LNAzyme released its substrate more slowly. The superior thermodynamic stability of the LNAzyme-substrate complex led to improved performances in reactions carried out at low catalyst concentrations. The four DNAzymes and the corresponding LNAzymes were then tested against extended E6 transcripts (>500 nucleotides long). With these structured substrates, the LNAzymes retained full activity, whereas the DNAzymes cleaved extremely poorly, unless they were allowed to pre-anneal to their targets. These results imply that LNAzymes can easily overcome the kinetic barrier represented by local RNA structure and bind to folded targets with a faster association rate as compared with DNAzymes. Such faster annealing to structured targets can be explained by a model whereby LNA monomers favor the initial hybridization to short stretches of unpaired residues ("nucleation"), which precedes disruption of the local mRNA structure and completion of the binding process.

Improved silencing properties using small internally segmented interfering RNAs

RNA interference is mediated by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that upon incorporation into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) can target complementary mRNA for degradation. Standard siRNA design usually feature a 19-27 base pair contiguous double-stranded region that is believed to be important for RISC incorporation. Here, we describe a novel siRNA design composed of an intact antisense strand complemented with two shorter 10-12 nt sense strands. This three-stranded construct, termed small internally segmented interfering RNA (sisiRNA), is highly functional demonstrating that an intact sense strand is not a prerequisite for RNA interference. Moreover, when using the sisiRNA design only the antisense strand is functional in activated RISC thereby completely eliminating unintended mRNA targeting by the sense strand. Interestingly, the sisiRNA design supports the function of chemically modified antisense strands, which are non-functional within the context of standard siRNA designs. This suggests that the sisiRNA design has a clear potential of improving the pharmacokinetic properties of siRNA in vivo.

Effective modulation of DNA duplex stability by reversible transition metal complex formation in the minor groove

Herein we describe the reversible changing of DNA duplex thermal stability by exploiting transition metal complexation phenomena. A terpyridine ligand was conjugated to the N2'-atoms of 2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine and its locked counterpart 2'-amino-LNA, and these metal-complexing monomers were incorporated into oligodeoxyribonucleotides. Upon addition of varying amounts of transition metal ions, the thermal stability of DNA duplexes containing these terpyridine-functionalized units in different constitutions was affected to different degrees (DeltaTm values = -15.5 to +49.0 degrees C, relative to the unmodified duplex). The most pronounced effects were observed when two complexing monomers were positioned in opposite strands. Addition of 1 equiv of Ni2+ to such a system induced extraordinary duplex stabilization. Molecular modeling studies suggest, as an explanation for this phenomenon, formation of nickel-mediated interstrand linkages in the minor groove. Addition of an excess of metal ions resulted in largely decreased Tm values. Alternating addition of metal ions and EDTA demonstrated reversibility of metal ion-induced changes in hybridization strength, proving that the described approach provides an efficient method for duplex stability modulation.

LNA nucleotides improve cleavage efficiency of singular and binary hammerhead ribozymes

Variants of trans-acting hammerhead ribozymes were modified with Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) nucleotides to reduce their size, to improve access to their RNA target and to explore combinational properties of binary constructs. Using low Mg(2+) concentrations and low substrate and ribozyme concentrations, it was found that insertion of LNA monomers into the substrate binding arms allowed these to be shortened and results in a very active enzyme under both single and multiple turnover conditions. Incorporation of a mix of LNA and DNA residues further increased the multiple turnover cleavage activity. At high Mg(2+) concentrations or high substrate and ribozyme concentrations, the enhancing effect of LNA incorporation was even more prominent. Using LNA in the stem of Helix II diminished cleavage activity, but allowed deletion of the tetra-loop and thus separating the ribozyme into two molecules with each half binding to the substrate. Efficient, binary hammerhead ribozymes were pursued in a combinatorial approach using a 6-times 5 library, which was analysed concerning the best combinations, buffer conditions and fragment ratios.

LNA (locked nucleic acid) and analogs as triplex-forming oligonucleotides

The triplex-forming abilities of some conformationally restricted nucleotide analogs are disclosed and compared herein. 2'-Amino-LNA monomers proved to be less stabilising to triplexes than LNA monomers when incorporated into a triplex-forming third strand. N2'-functionalisation of 2'-amino-LNA monomers with a glycyl unit induced the formation of exceptionally stable triplexes. Nucleotide analogs containing a C2',C3'-oxymethylene linker (E-type furanose conformation) or a C2',C4'-propylene linker (N-type furanose conformation) had no significant effect on triplex stability proving that conformational restriction per se is insufficient to stabilise triplexes.

Synthesis and hybridization studies of 2'-amino-alpha-L-LNA and tetracyclic "locked LNA"

A convergent route to a new class of locked nucleic acids, i.e., 2'-amino-alpha-L-LNA, has been developed. The optimized synthetic route to the corresponding phosphoramidite building block of thymine proceeds in 4% overall yield over 15 steps from the starting diol. Crucial synthetic steps include (a) introduction of a C2-azido group prior to nucleobase coupling, (b) Vorbrüggen glycosylation primarily affording the desired alpha-anomer, (c) separation of alpha-L-ribo- and beta-L-ribo-configured bicyclic nucleosides, and (d) selection of a suitable protecting group to avoid intramolecular Michael addition of the C2'-amino group onto the C6-position. Incorporation of a 2'-amino-alpha-L-LNA monomer into oligodeoxyribonucleotides results in modest changes in thermal stability with complementary DNA, whereas significant increases in thermal stability are observed with RNA complements along with excellent Watson-Crick discrimination. These results, along with the flexibility of the synthetic strategy allowing chemoselective N2'-functionalization at a late stage, render 2'-amino-alpha-L-LNA a promising building block for nucleic acid based nanobiotechnology and therapeutics. A slight modification in strategy facilitated the synthesis of the corresponding phosphoramidite building blocks of Michael adducts, which due to their tetracyclic skeletons exhibit a conformationally restricted furanose ring and glycosidic torsion angle (anti-range). Incorporation of such a "locked LNA" monomer into oligodeoxyribonucleotides results in large decreases in thermal affinity toward DNA/RNA complements.

Efficient inhibition of HIV-1 expression by LNA modified antisense oligonucleotides and DNAzymes targeted to functionally selected binding sites

BACKGROUND

A primary concern when targeting HIV-1 RNA by means of antisense related technologies is the accessibility of the targets. Using a library selection approach to define the most accessible sites for 20-mer oligonucleotides annealing within the highly structured 5'-UTR of the HIV-1 genome we have shown that there are at least four optimal targets available.

RESULTS

The biological effect of antisense DNA and LNA oligonucleotides, DNA- and LNAzymes targeted to the four most accessible sites was tested for their abilities to block reverse transcription and dimerization of the HIV-1 RNA template in vitro, and to suppress HIV-1 production in cell culture. The neutralization of HIV-1 expression declined in the following order: antisense LNA > LNAzymes > DNAzymes and antisense DNA. The LNA modifications strongly enhanced the in vivo inhibitory activity of all the antisense constructs and some of the DNAzymes. Notably, two of the LNA modified antisense oligonucleotides inhibited HIV-1 production in cell culture very efficiently at concentration as low as 4 nM.

CONCLUSION

LNAs targeted to experimentally selected binding sites can function as very potent inhibitors of HIV-1 expression in cell culture and may potentially be developed as antiviral drug in patients.

Direct imaging of hexaamine-ruthenium(III) in domain boundaries in monolayers of single-stranded DNA

We describe adsorption and identification of the binding sites of [Ru(NH3)6]3+ (RuHex) molecules in a closely packed monolayer of a 13-base ss-DNA on Au(111) electrodes by electrochemical in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), cyclic voltammetry and interfacial capacitance data. In situ STM at single-molecule resolution shows that RuHex adsorbs only at the domain borders and near defects. Together with the electrochemical data that show a negative redox potential shift for RuHex adsorbed to DNA strands, this strongly suggests that RuHex binds only to the exposed phosphate groups in the DNA backbone.

Deacylation studies on furanose triesters using an immobilized lipase: Synthesis of a key precursor for bicyclonucleosides

Lipozyme TL IM immobilized on silica catalyses the deacylation of 4-C-acyloxymethyl-3,5-di-O-acyl-1,2-O-(1-methylethylidene)-beta-L-threo-pentofuranose to form 3,5-di-O-acyl-4-C-hydroxymethyl-1,2-O-(1-methylethylidene)-alpha-d-xylo-pentofuranose in a highly selective and efficient manner.

LNA-modified oligonucleotides effectively drive intramolecular-stable hairpin to intermolecular-duplex state

Sequence-specific hybridization of antisense and antigene agent to the target nucleic acid is an important therapeutic strategy to modulate gene expression. However, efficiency of such agents falls due to inherent intramolecular-secondary-structures present in the target that pose competition to intermolecular hybridization by complementary antisense/antigene agent. Performance of these agents can be improved by employing structurally modified complementary oligonucleotides that efficiently hybridize to the target and force it to transit from an intramolecular-structured-state to an intermolecular-duplex state. In this study, the potential of variably substituted locked nucleic acid-modified oligonucleotides (8mer) to hybridize and disrupt highly stable, secondary structure of nucleic acid has been biophysically characterized and compared with the conventionally used unmodified DNA oligonucleotides. The target here is a stem-loop hairpin oligonucleotide-a structure commonly present in most structured-nucleic acids and known to exhibit an array of biological functions. Using fluorescence-based studies and EMSA we prove that LNA-modified oligonucleotides hybridize to the target hairpin with higher binding affinity even at lower concentration and subsequently, force it to assume a duplex conformation. LNA-modified oligonucleotides may thus, prove as potential therapeutic candidates to manipulate gene expression by disruption of biologically relevant nucleic acid secondary structure.