title: Alternate dab-aegPNAs: synthesis, nucleic acid binding studies and biological activity.
abstract: As part of our research on new oligonucleotide analogs for therapeutic and diagnostic use, here we explored the ability of an alternate dab-aegPNA oligomer to bind complementary natural nucleic acids. The alternate homothymine dab-aegPNA, synthesized following a chirally safe procedure and fully characterized by ESIMS and CD, was capable of forming hybrids with complementary DNA and RNA with enhanced thermal stability in comparison to natural oligomers, as shown by CD and UV spectroscopies. The stoichiometry of the complexes formed was determined by CD titration experiments that suggested triple helices formation. With respect to an analogous t(12) strand composed entirely of aegPNA, the chiral alternate t(12) oligomer presented an enhanced solubility in aqueous medium and did not form aggregates. Human serum stability assays performed on the new alternate oligomer evidenced a noteworthy enzymatic resistance. Moreover, the efficiency of dab-aegPNA in interfering with the reverse transcription of eukaryotic mRNA, and the absence of cytotoxic effects of the new analog were demonstrated, encouraging us to further study this chiral PNA analog in view of its possible in vivo/in vitro biotechnological applications.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Roviello
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Cristofaro
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Gaetano
authors.forename: Enrico M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedone
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides