Rapid RNA cleavage using an antisense system with two terpyridine.Cu(II) complexes

Cleavage of an RNA analog by Zn(II) macrocyclic catalysts appended with a methyl or an acridine group

Two macrocycles (1 and 2) are prepared that incorporate pendent groups in macrocycle 3 (3=1-oxa-4,7,10-triazacyclododecane) with the goal of studying the effect of these pendent groups on metal ion complexation, solution chemistry and catalysis. Zn(1) contains a macrocyclic ligand with a pendent acridine group and Zn(2) has an appended methyl group. Water ligand pK(a) values for Zn(1) (6.7) and Zn(2) (7.3) are lower than that of Zn(3) (7.7). Zn(II) complexes of 1 and 2 are studied as catalysts for the cleavage of 2-hydroxypropyl 4-nitrophenylphosphate (HpPNP), an RNA analog. Zn(2) has a lower catalytic activity over the pH range 7-10 for cleavage of HpPNP compared to the parent macrocyclic complex, Zn(3). In contrast, Zn(1) has a threefold larger rate constant at pH 7.0 compared to Zn(2), attributed to the presence of a catalytic species which has a protonated acridine amino group. The binding constant of 1.5mM at pH 8.0 for formation of the Zn(2)-uridine adduct is similar to that for Zn(3), suggesting that N-alkylation of the macrocyclic ligand does not interfere with binding of the Zn(II) complex to uridine groups. Binding of cytidine to Zn(2) was not detectable under similar conditions up to 25mM nucleoside. Binding experiments under similar conditions could not be carried out for adenosine or guanosine due to their low solubility.

Artificial ribonucleases

Mimicking the action of enzymes by simpler and more robust man-made catalysts has long inspired bioorganic chemists. During the past decade, mimics for RNA-cleaving enzymes, ribonucleases, or, more precisely, mimics of ribozymes that cleave RNA in sequence-selective rather than base-selective manner, have received special attention. These artificial ribonucleases are typically oligonucleotides (or their structural analogs) that bear a catalytically active conjugate group and catalyze sequence-selective hydrolysis of RNA phosphodiester bonds.

Highly efficient catalytic RNA cleavage by the cooperative action of two Cu(II) complexes embodied within an antisense oligonucleotide

Based on our recent studies of RNA cleavage by oligonucleotide-terpyridine.Cu(II) complex 5'- and/or 3'-conjugates, we designed 2'-O-methyloligonucleotides with two terpyridine-attached nucleosides at contiguous internal sites. To connect the 2'-terpyridine-modified uridine residue at the 5'-side to the 5'-O-terpyridyl nucleoside residue at the 3'-side, a dimethoxytrityl derivative of 5-hydroxypropyl-5'-O-terpyridyl-2'-deoxyuridine-3'-phosphoramidite was newly synthesized. Using this unit, we constructed two terpyridine conjugates, with either an unusual phophodiester bond or the bond extended by a propanediol(s)-containing linker. Cleavage reactions of the target RNA oligomer, under the conditions of conjugate excess in the presence of Cu(II), indicated that the conjugates precisely cleaved the RNA at the predetermined site and that one propanediol-containing linker was the most appropriate for inducing high cleavage activity. Furthermore, a comparison of the activity of the propanediol agent with those of the control conjugates with one complex confirmed that the two complexes are required for efficient RNA cleavage. The reaction of the novel cleaver revealed a bell-shaped pH-rate profile with a maximum at pH approximately 7.5, which is a result of the cooperative action of the complexes. In addition, we demonstrated that the agent catalytically cleaves an excess of the RNA, with the kinetic parameter kcat/K(m) = 0.118 nM(-1) x h(-1).