异核双金属探针在活细胞细胞核和线粒体中选择性定位DNA

用于实时成像活细胞DNA的细胞核探针是非常罕见的。通过Ru(N^N)₃、Ir(C^N)₂(N^N)、Re(CO)₃Cl(N^N)和Pt(C^N)(N^N)的结合,生成了4种异核双金属配合物：2种不同的功能金属位点被锚定在线性双齿螯和配体(N^N)-(N^N)的尾端,形成不对称哑铃状的双金属分子M₁-M₂,即Ru-Re、Ru-Pt、Ir-Re和Ir-Pt。Ru-Re和Ru-Pt的红色发射探针具有较大的斯托克斯位移、优异的核膜穿透能力、良好光稳定性的DNA结合能力。此外,Ru-Re和Ru-Pt探针的DNA成像可与专门用于活细胞细胞核DNA染色的Hoechst 33342商用染料相媲美,而Ir-Re和Ir-Pt探针直接靶向线粒体。不同探针的发光特性和选择性胞内定位高度依赖于在异核双金属配合物中的金属物种。     

镍(Ⅱ)、镉(Ⅱ)与去甲基斑蝥酸钠和咪唑配合物的结构、与DNA/BSA的作用及抗增殖活性

以2种配体去甲基斑蝥酸钠(Na₂DCA=7-氧杂二环[2.2.1]庚烷-2,3-二甲酸钠)和咪唑(IM),分别与镍(Ⅱ)和镉(Ⅱ)的醋酸盐通过溶液法合成了2种配合物[Ni(IM)(DCA)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O(1),[Cd₂(IM)₄(DCA)₂]·2H₂O(2)。应用元素分析、热重分析、红外光谱及X-射线单晶衍射法对配合物的组成和结构进行了表征。配合物1与2的中心离子分别与咪唑的亚胺氮原子、去甲基斑蝥酸根的羧基氧原子和醚键氧原子配位,配位数均为6,分别为单核(1)和双核(2)配合物。通过紫外光谱法、荧光光谱法和粘度法研究了配合物与DNA的相互作用。结果表明,配合物能通过部分插入模式与DNA发生较强的结合作用(K_b:5.51×10³(1)、1.01×10³(2)L·mol^-1)。同时,利用荧光光谱法研究了配合物与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用。配合物能与BSA发生强烈的相互作用(K_AM:1.91×10⁵(1)和6.17×10⁵(2)L·mol^-1),结合位点数均为1。测试了配合物对人肝癌细胞(SMMC₇₇₂₁)和人乳腺癌(MCF-7)的体外抗增殖活性。结果显示,配合物对不同癌细胞具有选择性抑制作用。镍配合物(1)对SMMC₇₇₂₁的抗癌活性较去甲基斑蝥酸钠有明显提高。     

One Way Traffic: Base-to-Backbone Hole Transfer in Nucleoside Phosphorodithioate

The directionality of the hole-transfer processes between DNA backbone and base was investigated by using phosphorodithioate [P(S⁻)=S] components. ESR spectroscopy in homogeneous frozen aqueous solutions and pulse radiolysis in aqueous solution at ambient temperature confirmed initial formation of G^.+-P(S⁻)=S. The ionization potential of G-P(S⁻)=S was calculated to be slightly lower than that of guanine in 5′-dGMP. Subsequent thermally activated hole transfer from G^.+ to P(S⁻)=S led to dithiyl radical (P-2S^.) formation on the μs timescale. In parallel, ESR spectroscopy, pulse radiolysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed P-2S^. formation in an abasic phosphorodithioate model compound. ESR investigations at low temperatures and higher G-P(S⁻)=S concentrations showed a bimolecular conversion of P-2S^. to the σ²-σ*¹-bonded dimer anion radical [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ [ΔG (150 K, DFT)=−7.2 kcal mol⁻¹]. However, [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ formation was not observed by pulse radiolysis [ΔG° (298 K, DFT)=−1.4 kcal mol⁻¹]. Neither P-2S^. nor [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ oxidized guanine base; only base-to-backbone hole transfer occurs in phosphorodithioate.     

Small Targeted Cytotoxics: Current State and Promises from DNA‐Encoded Chemical Libraries

The targeted delivery of potent cytotoxic agents has emerged as a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer and other serious conditions. Traditionally, antibodies against markers of disease have been used as drug‐delivery vehicles. More recently, lower molecular weight ligands have been proposed for the generation of a novel class of targeted cytotoxics with improved properties. Advances in this field crucially rely on efficient methods for the identification and optimization of organic molecules capable of high‐affinity binding and selective recognition of target proteins. The advent of DNA‐encoded chemical libraries allows the construction and screening of compound collections of unprecedented size. In this Review, we survey developments in the field of small ligand‐based targeted cytotoxics and show how innovative library technologies will help develop the drugs of the future.     

Use of Mercury Film Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in Electrochemical Analysis of DNA

Mercury film plated on a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MF/MWNTs/GCE) was used for the analysis of single (ss) and double stranded (ds) DNA, as well as for Jurkat genomic DNAs methylated to different degrees. The results indicated that the DNA molecules adsorbed quite strongly on the MF/MWNTs/GCE surface allowing ex situ adsorption and produce well developed peaks (due to cytosine and adenine) by using adsorptive stripping (Ads, ex situ) square wave voltammetry (SWV). Also, SWV of Jurkat DNA mixtures methylated to different degrees revealed a linear decrease of the peak height with increasing methylation indicating an increase of structural rigidity.     

Error analysis of idealized nanopore sequencing

This numerical study provides an error analysis of an idealized nanopore sequencing method in which ionic current measurements are used to sequence intact single‐stranded DNA in the pore, while an enzyme controls DNA motion. Examples of systematic channel errors when more than one nucleotide affects the current amplitude are detailed, which if present will persist regardless of coverage. Absent such errors, random errors associated with tracking through homopolymer regions are shown to necessitate reading known sequences (Escherichia coli K‐12) at least 140 times to achieve 99.99% accuracy (Q40). By exploiting the ability to reread each strand at each pore in an array, arbitrary positioning on an error rate versus throughput tradeoff curve is possible if systematic errors are absent, with throughput governed by the number of pores in the array and the enzyme turnover rate.     

Synthesis and Properties of Isobicyclo‐DNA

We present the synthesis of the isobicyclo‐DNA building blocks with the nucleobases A, C, G and T, as well as biophysical and biological properties of oligonucleotides derived thereof. The synthesis of the sugar part was achieved in 5 steps starting from a known intermediate of the tricyclo‐DNA synthesis. Dodecamers containing single isobicyclo‐thymidine incorporations, fully modified A‐ and T‐containing sequences, and fully modified oligonucleotides containing all four bases were synthesized and characterized. Isobicyclo‐DNA forms stable duplexes with natural nucleic acids with a pronounced preference for DNA over RNA as complements. The most stable duplexes, however, arise by self‐pairing. Isobicyclo‐DNA forms preferentially B‐DNA‐like duplexes with DNA and A‐like duplexes with complementary RNA as determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Self‐paired duplexes show a yet unknown structure, as judged from CD spectroscopy. Biochemical tests revealed that isobicyclo‐DNA is stable in fetal bovine serum and does not elicit RNaseH activity.     

Nucleoside and oligonucleotide pyrene conjugates with 1,2,3-triazolyl or ethynyl linkers: synthesis,duplex stability,and fluorescence changes generated by the DNA-dye connector

Fluorescent nucleosides and oligonucleotides functionalized with pyrene were synthesized using ‘click’ chemistry or the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction. The dye was connected to position-7 of 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine or to the 2′-deoxyribofuranose moiety. Four different DNA-dye connectors with 1,2,3-triazolyl residues or triple bonds were constructed. Phosphoramidites of the pyrene conjugates (9, 14, 25) were prepared and used in solid-phase synthesis. Short linkers (2, 4) destabilize DNA, while long linkers (1) increased duplex stability. Nucleosides and oligonucleotides with single dye incorporations show linker dependent fluorescence. Linker dependent excimer emission with pyrenes in proximal positions was also observed. A ‘superchromophore’ formed by the 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine ethynylpyrene conjugate shows strong red shifted fluorescence emission at 495 nm.     

Advances in nucleic acid architectures for electrochemical sensing

Nucleic acid–based electrochemical sensors are ideally suited to the detection of molecular targets for which enzymatic detection or direct electrochemical oxidation – reduction reactions are not possible. Moreover, the versatility of nucleic acids in their ability to bind a great variety of target types, from small molecules to single-entity mesoscopic targets, makes them attractive receptors for the development of electrochemical biosensors. In this brief opinion piece, we discuss field advances from the past two years. We hope the works highlighted here will inspire the community to pursue creative designs enabling the detection of larger and more complex targets with a specific focus on analytical validation and translation into preclinical or clinical applications.