Synthesis and evaluation of a conformationally constrained pyridazinone PNA-monomer for recognition of thymine in triple-helix structures.

A novel conformationally constrained pyridazinone E(ag)-base PNA-monomer 2 capable of binding thymine in a triplex motif was designed and synthesised. A bis-PNA with the E(ag)-base incorporated in the Hoogsteen strand was hybridised with a complementary DNA. Thermal stability studies revealed an increase in T(m) (4.3 degrees C per mod.) compared to a no-base unit, but showed no improvement over a previously described unconstrained analogue (E, 1). Surprisingly, no significant difference was found in the thermodynamic parameters (DeltaH degrees, DeltaS degrees and DeltaG degrees ) for PNA-DNA triplex formation involving 2 or the unconstrained analogue 1.