Synthesis of oligonucleotides containing Fapy.dG (N(6)-(2-deoxy-alpha,beta-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine) using a 5'-dimethoxytrityl dinucleotide phosphoramidite.

Fapy.dG (N(6)()-(2-deoxy-alpha,beta-d-erythropentofuranosyl)-2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine) is a modified purine lesion produced by a variety of DNA-damaging agents, which shows interesting biochemical properties. The previous method for synthesizing oligonucleotides containing Fapy.dG utilized a reverse dinucleotide phosphoramidite, which also required the synthesis of the appropriate reverse phosphoramidites. An improved method for synthesizing oligonucleotides containing Fapy.dG, which does not require reverse phosphoramidites, is described. Fapy.dG containing dinucleotide phosphoramidites containing 5'-thymidine (11a) or 5'-deoxycytidine (15) are prepared and employed in oligonucleotide synthesis. Oligonucleotide purity is assayed using the DNA repair enzyme formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase and by ESI-MS.