Cross-Linking Antisense Oligodeoxyribonucleotides with a Photoresponsive α-Chloroaldehyde Moiety for RNA Point Mutations.

Because point mutations in GTPase-coding genes have been reported to be responsible for the transformation of cells, anticancer reagents that react effectively and sequence selectively with target RNAs having a point mutation are highly desired. In this study, we developed novel photo-cross-linking oligodeoxyribonucleotides ((pro)PCA-ODNs) that had a caged α-chloroaldehyde group conjugated to a 2-methylpropanediyl backbone ((pro)PCA) in the middle of the strand. A kinetic study of the deprotection reaction of (pro)PCA-ODN revealed that the bis(2-nitrobenzyl)acetal group was completely deprotected within 1 min. Photo-cross-linking studies of (pro)PCA-ODNs with complementary oligoribonucleotides (ORNs) revealed that (pro)PCA-ODNs reacts efficiently and selectively with the target ORNs that have an adenosine or cytidine residue at a frontal position of the (pro)PCA residue without adverse effects of bases adjacent to the mutation site.