UNA (unlocked nucleic acid): a flexible RNA mimic that allows engineering of nucleic acid duplex stability.
UNA (unlocked nucleic acid) monomers are acyclic derivatives of RNA lacking the C2'-C3'-bond of the ribose ring of RNA. Synthesis of phosphoramidite UNA building blocks of the nucleobases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil is described herein together with their incorporation into RNA strands. UNA monomers additively decrease nucleic acid duplex stability and can be positioned strategically to induce either lack of discrimination of mismatches, that is, universal base behavior, or increased discrimination of mismatches, that is, improved hybridization specificity. UNA-modified RNA duplexes are shown to structurally mimic unmodified RNA duplexes by CD spectroscopy.
Langkjaer
Niels
N
Nucleic Acid Center, Department of Physics and Chemistry, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
Pasternak
Anna
A
Wengel
Jesper
J
D000225:Adenine / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003596:Cytosine / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006147:Guanine / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D020871:RNA Stability; D013696:Temperature; D014498:Uracil / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C434331:phosphoramidite; D014498:Uracil; D006147:Guanine; D012313:RNA; D003596:Cytosine; D000225:Adenine