Site-directed spin-labeling of nucleic acids by click chemistry: detection of abasic sites in duplex DNA by EPR spectroscopy.

This paper describes a spin label that can detect and identify local structural deformations in duplex DNA, in particular abasic sites. The spin label was incorporated into DNA by a new postsynthetic approach using click-chemistry on a solid support, which simplified both the synthesis and purification of the spin-labeled oligonucleotides. A nitroxide-functionalized azide, prepared by a short synthetic route, was reacted with an oligomer containing 5-ethynyl-2'-dU.