Site-selective artificial ribonucleases: oligonucleotide conjugates containing multiple imidazole residues in the catalytic domain.

Design of site-selective artificial ribonucleases (aRNases) is one of the most challenging tasks in RNA targeting. Here, we designed and studied oligonucleotide-based aRNases containing multiple imidazole residues in the catalytic part and systematically varied structure of cleaving constructs. We demonstrated that the ribonuclease activity of the conjugates is strongly affected by the number of imidazole residues in the catalytic part, the length of a linker between the catalytic imidazole groups of the construct and the oligonucleotide, and the type of anchor group, connecting linker structure and the oligonucleotide.

Methoxyoxalamido chemistry in the synthesis of tethered phosphoramidites and functionalized oligonucleotides.

A general approach to phosphoramidites tethered with single and multiple linkers through the use of methoxyoxalamido (MOX) chemistry is described. The approach utilizes readily available and inexpensive primary aliphatic amino alcohols and diamines to produce a rich and diverse variety of tethered phosphoramidites. Furthermore, the use of MOX chemistry in a modular fashion enables fairly rapid assembly of compound tethers.

High-throughput production of optimized primers (fimers) for whole-genome direct sequencing.

Fimers are specifically modified primers selected to inhibit nonspecific interactions occurring in cycle sequencing. They are postsynthetically derived from 2'-methoxyoxalamido or 2'-succinimido precursor oligonucleotides by treatment with appropriate small molecular weight modifiers (a primary aliphatic amine or hydroxide anion). We describe design, synthesis, and purification of fimers, and their use in protocols for direct sequencing of genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Biotin-labeled oligonucleotides with extraordinarily long tethering arms.

We describe synthesis of four novel biotin phosphoramidites with tethering arms ranging from 20 to 74 atoms in length. One of these phosphoramidites is a uridine derivative with a biotin moiety attached through the 2'-position. The biotin phosphoramidites were synthetized based on robust and efficient methoxyoxalamido (MOX) and succinimido (SUC) precursor strategies from MOX/SUC precursors containing a secondary hydroxyl.

Sequence-specific artificial ribonucleases. I. Bis-imidazole-containing oligonucleotide conjugates prepared using precursor-based strategy.

Antisense oligonucleotide conjugates, bearing constructs with two imidazole residues, were synthesized using a precursor-based technique employing post-synthetic histamine functionalization of oligonucleotides bearing methoxyoxalamido precursors at the 5'-termini. The conjugates were assessed in terms of their cleavage activities using both biochemical assays and conformational analysis by molecular modelling. The oligonucleotide part of the conjugates was complementary to the T-arm of yeast tRNA(Phe) (44-60 nt) and was expected to deliver imidazole groups near the fragile sequence C61-ACA-G65 of the tRNA.

Methoxyoxalamido chemistry in the synthesis of novel amino linker and spacer phosphoramidites: a robust means for stability, structural versatility, and optimal tether length.

We have developed a general route to the synthesis of novel amino linker and spacer phosphoramidites utilizing methoxyoxalamido (MOX) chemistry. The synthesis makes use of readily available and inexpensive primary aliphatic amino alcohols and diamines to produce a rich and diverse variety of phosphoramidites. Among these are monomers with exceptionally long (up to 56 atoms in length) amphipathic tethering arms.

The complete genome of hyperthermophile Methanopyrus kandleri AV19 and monophyly of archaeal methanogens.

We have determined the complete 1,694,969-nt sequence of the GC-rich genome of Methanopyrus kandleri by using a whole direct genome sequencing approach. This approach is based on unlinking of genomic DNA with the ThermoFidelase version of M. kandleri topoisomerase V and cycle sequencing directed by 2'-modified oligonucleotides (Fimers).