Regiospecific inhibition of DNA duplication by antisense phosphate-methylated oligodeoxynucleotides

Nucleic Acids Res. 1989 Jun 26;17(12):4769-82. doi: 10.1093/nar/17.12.4769.

Abstract

A new synthesis route for long phosphate-methylated oligodeoxynucleotides is described, which were used as antisense inhibitors of the DNA replication. Phosphate-methylated oligomers hybridize more strongly with natural DNA than their natural analogues, due to the absence of electrostatic interstrand repulsions. Compared with phosphate-ethylated and methyl phosphonate systems, phosphate-methylated systems are preferable as antisense DNA, which was concluded from the high Tm values and sharp melting transitions of duplexes of phosphate-methylated and natural DNA. By using the Sanger dideoxy technique, it was shown that a complementary phosphate-methylated 18-mer can effectively and site-specifically block the DNA replication process at room temperature.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Replication / drug effects*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Methylation
  • Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes / metabolism
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides* / chemical synthesis
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides* / metabolism
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides* / pharmacology
  • Phosphates / metabolism*
  • Templates, Genetic

Substances

  • Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Phosphates