Isoguanine quartets formed by d(T4isoG4T4): tetraplex identification and stability
Isoguanine quartets formed by d(T 4 isoG 4 T 4 ): tetraplex identification and stabilityFrank Seela*, Changfu Wei and Alexander Melenewski
Laboratorium für Organische und Bioorganische Chemie, Institut für Chemie, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, D-49069 Osnabrück, Germany
Received August 20, 1996;Revised and Accepted November 4, 1996
ABSTRACT
The self-aggregation of the oligonucleotide d(T4isoG4T4) (1) is investigated. Based on ion exchange HPLC experiments and CD spectroscopy, a tetrameric structure is identified. This structure was formed in the presence of sodium ions and shows almost the same chromatographic mobility on ion exchange HPLC as d(T4G4T4) (2). The ratio of aggregate versus monomer is temperature dependent and the tetraplex of [d(T4isoG4T4)]4 is more stable than that of [d(T4G4T4)]4. A mixture of d(T4isoG4T4) and d(T4G4T4) forms mixed tetraplexes containing strands of d(T4isoG4T4) and d(T4G4T4).
INTRODUCTION
Oligodeoxynucleotides containing short runs of guanines, such as d(TG4T), d(T4G4) or d(T4G4T), exhibit a tendency to aggregate in aqueous solution (1 ). The tetrameric structures are formed by Hoogsteen-type base pairs, the strands show parallel orientation and cations are bound in the center of the structure (Fig. 1 a). These tetrameric aggregates, which are naturally occurring in telomeres (2 ), are normally identified by their strongly retarded mobility in gel electrophoresis. However, the protocol of electrophoresis is time consuming and short DNA fragments with <12 bases are difficult to separate. Furthermore, oligonucleotides with an identical number of charges but showing structural differences are difficult to resolve.
High performance anion exchange chromatography has successfully been used for the preparative and analytical separation of synthetic oligonucleotides (3 ). Oligonucleotides of different length can be separated effectively by ion exchange chromatography according to the increasing number of negative charges (4 ). The use of this method can provide `n' from `n - 1' chain length resolution, particularly for samples of n < 30 bases in length (5 ). As the separation of molecules depends on the number of phosphodiester charges, it can be used to separate oligonucleotide aggregates from single-stranded species. This manuscript reports the identification of tetraplexes formed by oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing consecutive isoGd residues and describes their separation from single-stranded molecules. In this context, the first quartet structure of the isoguanine-containing oligodeoxynucleotide d(T4isoG4T4) (1) is established. Also, the formation of mixed quartets containing dG and isoGd residues will be discussed.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Recently, our laboratory as well as others have reported on the synthesis and properties of oligoribo- and oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing isoguanine as a base (6 -11 ). These compounds show unusual properties with respect to chemical reactivity (12 ) and to base pairing. It was observed that isoguanine forms stable duplexes with isocytosine within oligonucleotides of antiparallel chain orientation (7 ,13 ). Base pairing is also observed between isoguanine and cytosine within oligonucleotide duplexes having parallel chains (11 ,12 ,14 ). Apart from the pairing models with complementary bases, poly(isoguanylic acid) has been shown to form aggregates by self-association (15 ). Aggregation of an isoguanine ribonucleoside was also detected and a tetrameric structure (Fig. 1 b) has been proposed different from that of guanosine (16 ). Nevertheless, defined species were neither detected nor separated in the case of either deoxynucleosides or oligonucleotides.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
General
Reverse phase HPLC was carried out on a 4 * 250 mm RP-18 (10 [mu]m) LiChrosorb column (Merck) with a Merck-Hitachi HPLC pump (model 655 A-12) connected to a variable wavelength monitor (model 655-A), a controller (model L-5000) and an integrator (model D-2000). The solid phase synthesis of oligonucleotides was carried out on an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems model ABI 380 B for H-phosphonate synthesis). The phosphonates of dG and dT were purchased fromSigma (St Louis, MO) and the CPG (controlled pore glass; 30-50 [mu]mol immobilized protected 2'-deoxynucleoside/g solid support) fromMilligene (Eschborn, Germany). Snake venom phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.1, Crotallus durissus) and alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1, Escherichia coli) were products of Boehringer Mannheim (Mannheim, Germany). All other reagents are commercially available and were used as received. The solvents were purified and dried according to standard procedures.
RP-18 HPLC separation of oligonucleotides
HPLC was carried out as reported (6 ). The following solvent gradients were used: 0.1 M Et3NHOAc, pH 7.0, MeCN 95:5 (A) and CH3CN (B). They were used in the following order: gradient I, 3 min 15% B in A, 12 min 15-40% B in A, 5 min 40-15% B in A with a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min; gradient II, 20 min 0-20% B in A with a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min; gradient III, 20 min 100% A with a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min.
CD spectra
The CD spectra were measured in 1 cm cuvettes using a Jasco 600 spectropolarimeter (Tokyo, Japan) connected to a temperature controller (RCS 6; Lauda, Germany) and a bath (RK 20; Lauda, Germany). CD spectra of the oligonucleotides were measured in 1 M NaCl, 10 mM MgCl2, 10 mM Na cacodylate, pH 7.0 (oligomer concentration 5.0 [mu]M). The spectra were recorded from 220 to 320 nm and the data were treated using DP-J600/PC System V.1.31.
Solid phase synthesis of oligonucleotides 1 and 2
Synthesis was performed on a DNA synthesizer (model 380 B; Applied Biosystems, Weiterstadt, Germany). The oligonucleotide d(T4isoG4T4) was synthesized using the DPC-protected phosphonate (17 ) according to a modified protocol (17 ) and d(T4G4T4) was synthesized following the regular protocol for phosphonates (24 ). Deprotection of the oligonucleotides was performed in aqueous 25% NH3 at 60oC for 18 h. The 5'-DMT-protected oligomers were purified by HPLC on a 250 * 4 mm RP-18 column (gradient I), isolated and the 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl residues were removed by treatment with 2.5% dichloroacetic acid, CH2Cl2 solution for 5 min at room temperature. The detritylated oligomers were purified by HPLC with gradient II. The oligomers were desalted on a 4 cm column (RP-18, silica gel) using H2O for elution of the salt, while the oligomers were eluted with MeOH, H2O (3:2). The oligonucleotides were lyophilized on a Speed-Vac evaporator to yield colorless solids which were dissolved in 100 [mu]l H2O and stored frozen at -18oC.
Ion exchange HPLC
The ion exchange chromatography was performed on a 4 * 50 mm NucleoPac PA-100 column (P/N 043018; Dionex, USA) using a Merck-Hitachi HPLC apparatus with one pump (model 655 A-12) connected to a proportioning valve, a variable wavelength monitor (model 655-A) and a controller (model L-5000), which connected with an integrator (model D-2000). A column oven (model L-7350; Merck, Germany) was used to control the temperature of the ion exchange column as well as the injector loop. The oligonucleotide samples were prepared as follows. A sample of 0.15 A260 units was dissolved in H2O (100 [mu]l). The solution was heated to 90oC for 2 min, brought to room temperature (5 min) and kept in a refrigerator (-20oC) for 15 min to be frozen. Then the sample was brought to room temperature and injected into the system, which had been preheated to the required temperature. The column was eluted using the following systems: 25 mM Tris-HCl containing 1 mM EDTA buffer, pH 8.0, MeCN 90:10 (A); 25 mM Tris-HCl, 1.0 M NaCl containing 1 mM EDTA buffer, pH 8.0, MeCN 90:10 (B). The following gradient was used: 30 min 20-80% B in A, 5 min 80% B in A, 5 min 80-20% B in A, with a flow rate of 0.75 ml/min. The spectrum was recorded at 260 nm. For results see Figures 2 and 3 and Table 1 .
Retention times and analytical data of oligonucleotides
d(T4isoG4T4) (1)
d(T4G4T4) (2)
Retention time (min)a
19.6
18.2
Thermal hyperchromicity (%)b
15
9
Yield (A260 units)
32
42
Nucleoside composition
2:1 (dT/isoGd)
2:1 (dT/dG)
aRP-18 HPLC with gradient II.bAt 260 nm.
Composition analysis of oligonucleotides
The oligonucleotides (0.2 A260 units) were dissolved in 200 [mu]l 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.3, and treated with snake venom phosphodiesterase (3 [mu]l) at 37oC for 45 min and alkaline phosphatase (3 [mu]l) at 37oC for 30 min. The mixture was analyzed by reversed phase HPLC (RP-18, gradient III, at 280 nm for 1 or 260 nm for 2). Quantification of the material was made on the basis of the peak areas, which were divided by the extinction coefficients of the nucleoside constituents ([epsilon]260 isoGd 4300, dG 11 700, dT 8800; [epsilon]280 isoGd 7300, dT 6337) (Table 2 ).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank Dr E.Uhlmann for helpful discussions. Financial support by Hoechst AG and generous gifts of enzymes by Boehringer Mannheim GmbH are gratefully acknowledged.
REFERENCES
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