Template-Dependent Incorporation of Spin-Labeled Thymidine Analogs into Viral DNA

The synthesis of novel pppU_d analogs substituted at position C(5) with tethered nitroxide radicals is reported. It is shown that these analogs can serve as good substrates for E. coli DNA polymerase (Pol I) and T-4 DNA polymerase using lambda-phage DNA as template. The template-dependent incorporation of the substrates was established by radio-labeling and ESR experiments.