Hexitol nucleic acids (HNAs) are DNA analogues that contain the standard nucleoside bases attached to a phosphorylated 1,5-anhydrohexitol backbone. We find that HNAs support efficient information transfer in nonensymatic template-directed reactions. HNA heterosequences appeared to be superior to the corresponding DNA heterosequences in facilitating synthesis of complementary oligonucleotides from nucleoside-5'-phosphoro-2-methyl imidazolides.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo major hurdles to the widespread use of synthetic nucleic acids as drugs are the biological stability of the compounds and efficiency of cellular penetration. Recent advances in the chemistry of nucleic acids has given rise to highly stable derivatives with an anhydrohexitol backbone. This report addresses the cellular uptake of these molecules.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHexitol nucleic acids (HNAs) with modified bases (5-methylcytosine, 2,6-diaminopurine or uracil) were synthesized. The introduction of the 5-methylcytosine base demonstrates that N -benzoylated 5-methylcytosyl-hexitol occurs as the imino tautomer. The base pairing systems (G:CMe, U:D, T:D and U:A) obey Watson-Crick rules.
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