Nucleic Acids Research, 2002, Vol. 30, No. 19 e101
© 2002 Oxford University Press
An orthogonal oligonucleotide protecting group strategy that enables assembly of repetitive or highly structured DNAs
Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
*To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 650 724 4741; Fax: +1 650 725 0259; Email: kool{at}stanford.edu
Present address:
Ulf M. Lindström, Bioorganic Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, PO Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
A general problem that exists in the assembly of large and organized DNA structures from smaller fragments is secondary structure that blocks or prevents it. For example, it is common to assemble longer synthetic DNA and RNA fragments by ligation of smaller synthesized units, but blocking secondary structure can prevent the formation of the intended complex before enzymatic ligation can occur. In addition, there is a general need for protecting groups that would block reactivity of some DNA bases in a sequence, leaving others free to react or hybridize. Here we describe such a strategy. The approach involves the protecting group dimethylacetamidine (Dma), which we show to remain intact on exocyclic amines of adenine bases while other bases carrying commercially available ‘ultra mild deprotection’ protecting groups are removed by potassium carbonate in methanol. The intact Dma groups prevent unwanted hybridization at undesired sites, thus encouraging it to occur where intended, and allowing for successful ligations. The Dma group is then deprotected by treatment with ammonia in methanol. Other common amine protecting groups such as benzoyl and allyloxycarbonyl were not successful in such a strategy, at least in part because they did not prevent hybridization. We demonstrate the method in the synthesis of a circular 54mer oligonucleotide composed of nine human telomere repeats, which was not possible to assemble by conventional methods.
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