Incorporation of cyclic azobenzene into oligodeoxynucleotides for the photo-regulation of DNA hybridization.

Cyclic azobenzene carboxylic acid was synthesized using a shortened route. After reaction with D-threolinol, the resulting cyclic azobenzene-D-threolinol (cAB-Thr) building block was transformed into the corresponding DMTr-protected phosphoramidite, and incorporated into oligodeoxynucleotides at various positions and frequencies by solid phase synthesis. The melting temperatures of these modified oligonucleotides were determined by UV spectrometry. Photo-regulation of cAB-Thr-modified oligonucleotides with their complementary sequence was evaluated by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer experiments using a fluorescein-Black Hole Quencher pair. Results suggest that while cis-cAB destabilizes DNA duplexes, trans-cAB can be accommodated in double stranded DNA.