Novel double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding molecules were developed for the effective thermodynamic and biological stabilization of nucleic acids including short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). β-(1→4)-Linked-2,6-diamino-2,6-dideoxy-D-galactopyranose oligomers (ODAGals) were synthesized for this purpose, and their binding ability with dsRNAs was evaluated. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements showed the 3mer and 4mer of ODAGals to be strongly bound (Kd < 0.02 μM). The UV melting experiments demonstrated that the binding of ODAGals to dsRNAs proceeded with significant thermodynamic stabilization of the duplexes. Furthermore, the 4mer of ODAGal was clearly revealed to almost completely protect siRNAs with a low N/P ratio (i.e., N in the oligocationic molecule to P in the siRNA ratio) from cleavage by RNase A. On the basis of these results, ODAGals can serve as promising stabilizers or carriers of dsRNA-based drugs such as RNAi drugs.

2-Deoxy-2-fluoromannosyl phosphotriester and phosphodiester derivatives were synthesized and they were demonstrated to be more stable than the 2-OH compounds under acidic conditions. 2-Fluoro substituted analog of α-mannopyranosyl 1-phosphodiester 20 was found to be significantly stable at pH 1, where 2-OH compound 21 was gradually hydrolyzed. In addition, 2-F analogs of α-mannopyranosyl 1-phosphotriesters also was found to be stable under both Brønsted and Lewis acidic conditions. These results strongly suggested that the 2-F substitution is useful for both the synthesis of mannosyl phosphodiester derivatives and improvement of their chemical stability.Download high-res image (148KB)Download full-size image

We synthesized 2′-O-monohaloethoxymethyl-modified RNAs and evaluated their duplex formation ability. The effects of 2-chloroethoxymethyl (MCEM) and 2-fluoroethoxymethyl groups on the RNA/RNA duplex stability was found to depend on both base sequences and halogen atoms. Only the 2′-O-MCEM-rU12/rA12 duplex was found to be significantly more stable than the unmodified duplex. In this study, it is proposed through UV melting analyses, isothermal titration calorimetry measurements, and molecular mechanics calculations that this stabilization might result from enthalpic stabilization due to interactions between the MCEM groups and nucleobases in the complementary strand.

Stereocontrolled solid-phase synthesis of phosphate/phosphorothioate chimeric oligodeoxyribonucleotides (PO/PS-ODNs) was achieved by integrating the conventional phosphoramidite method into a previously developed oxazaphospholidine method for the stereocontrolled synthesis of P-chiral oligonucleotides. P-Stereodefined PO/PS-ODNs with mixed sequences (up to 12-mers) were obtained in good yields and high stereoselectivities by reacting different combinations of monomers (conventional phosphoramidites/diastereopure nucleoside 3′-O-oxazaphospholidines), activators (ETT/CMPT), capping reagents (Pac2O/CF3COIm), and oxidizing/sulfurizing reagents (TBHP/POS) on an automated synthesizer. A thermal denaturation study examined the resultant diastereopure PO/PS-ODN 12-mers with three consecutive (Rp)- or (Sp)-PS-linkages at the internal or terminal regions of the molecules. We found that (Rp)-PO/PS-ODNs can only moderately destabilize duplexes with complementary oligoribonucleotides (ORNs) compared with their unmodified ODN counterparts (ΔTm = −0.4 °C per modification). In contrast, (Sp)-PO/PS-ODNs have larger destabilizing effects (ΔTm = −1.2 to −0.8 °C per modification). Although smaller destabilizing effects were observed when the (Sp)-PS-linkages were incorporated into the terminal regions of the molecule, there was a weaker correlation between the location of an incorporated (Rp)-PS-linkage and its destabilizing effect.

The synthesis of artificial cationic oligodiaminosaccharides, α-(1 → 4)-linked-2,6-diamino-2,6-dideoxy-D-mannopyranose oligomers (ODAMans), and their interactions with RNA duplexes are described. The monomer through the pentamer, all of which bear unnatural 2,6-diaminomannose moieties, were successfully prepared. UV melting and fluorescence anisotropy analyses revealed that the ODAMans bound and thermodynamically stabilized both 12mer RNA duplexes and an siRNA. Furthermore, it was clearly shown that the siRNA acquired substantial RNase A resistance due to its binding to the ODAMan 4mer.

2′-O-Me-oligoribonucleotides bearing a stereoregulated boranophosphate backbone (2′-O-Me-PB-ORNs) were synthesized by using 2′-O-Me-ribonucleoside 3′-O-oxazaphospholidine monomers. A thermal denaturation study of the resultant diastereopure 2′-O-Me-PB-ORNs revealed that an all-(Sp)-boranophosphate backbone had a large stabilizing effect on the duplex with complementary RNA.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising tool to regulate gene expression by external double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) such as siRNAs. As an efficient method to deliver siRNAs to liver cells, we propose a novel strategy using vitamin E (VE)-conjugated neomycin derivatives. With the aim of delivering RNAi-based drugs to liver cells, several tripod-type and prodrug-type neomycin derivatives were synthesized, all of which were thermodynamically stabilized RNA duplexes. The prodrug-type derivative 7 and the tripod-type derivative 10 were delivered to liver cancer cells and successfully induced RNAi activity. These results indicated the potential use of natural aminoglycosides as carriers of RNAi drugs.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene-regulating system that is controlled by external short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Sequence selective gene silencing by siRNA shows promise in clinical research. However, there have been few efficient methods for delivering siRNAs to target cells. In this study, we propose a novel type of RNA duplex-bindable molecule with an oligodiaminosaccharide structure. These 2,6-diamino-2,6-dideoxy-(1-4)-β-d-galactopyranose oligomers (oligodiaminogalactoses; ODAGals) conjugated with α-tocopherol (vitamin E; VE) or a VE analog were designed as novel siRNA-bindable molecules that can be utilized to deliver RNAi drugs to the liver. Among these compounds, the VE analog-bound ODAGal was suggested to bind to RNA duplexes without inhibiting RNAi activity.

Solid-phase oligopeptide synthesis has been well developed and most short oligopeptides can now be easily synthesized. However, when a desired oligopeptide forms a secondary structure or includes less reactive amino acids such as aminoisobutyric acid, its terminal amino groups become less reactive and synthesis of the desired oligopeptides becomes difficult. To expand the number of synthetic peptide sequences, we have developed efficient coupling conditions using 3-nitro-l,2,4-triazol-l-yl-tris(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyNTP) as a highly reactive condensing reagent on an unswellable solid support. PyNTP demonstrated higher reactivity than conventional condensing reagents and the optical purity of the synthesized oligopeptides was sufficiently high for application to general oligopeptide synthesis.

Recently, P-boronated oligonucleotides have been attracting much attention as potential therapeutic oligonucleotides. In this study, we developed H-boranophosphonate oligonucleotide bearing a borano group and hydrogen atom on the internucleotidic phosphorus and demonstrated that this novel P-boronated oligonucleotide is a versatile precursor to various P-boronated oligonucleotides such as boranophosphate, boranophosphorothioate, and boranophosphoramidate. The method was also applicable to the synthesis of a locked nucleic acid-modified boranophosphate oligonucleotide, which exhibited a dramatically enhanced affinity to complementary oligonucleotides.

α-Glycosyl phosphate derivatives are widely known as constituents of biomolecules. To date, several types of non-natural α-glycosyl phosphates including “P-modified analogs” have been synthesized to investigate their characteristics. Herein a new approach to the stereoselective modification of the intersugar phosphorus atom in α-glycosyl phosphates by use of the oxazaphospholidine method is presented. Via this approach, the dimers of α-glycosyl phosphorothioates and α-glycosyl boranophosphates were obtained efficiently and stereoselectively.

The synthesis of artificial cationic oligodiaminosaccharides, α-(1 → 4)-linked-2,6-diamino-2,6-dideoxy-D-mannopyranose oligomers (ODAMans), and their interactions with RNA duplexes are described. The monomer through the pentamer, all of which bear unnatural 2,6-diaminomannose moieties, were successfully prepared. UV melting and fluorescence anisotropy analyses revealed that the ODAMans bound and thermodynamically stabilized both 12mer RNA duplexes and an siRNA. Furthermore, it was clearly shown that the siRNA acquired substantial RNase A resistance due to its binding to the ODAMan 4mer.

Novel double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding molecules were developed for the effective thermodynamic and biological stabilization of nucleic acids including short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). β-(1→4)-Linked-2,6-diamino-2,6-dideoxy-D-galactopyranose oligomers (ODAGals) were synthesized for this purpose, and their binding ability with dsRNAs was evaluated. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements showed the 3mer and 4mer of ODAGals to be strongly bound (Kd < 0.02 μM). The UV melting experiments demonstrated that the binding of ODAGals to dsRNAs proceeded with significant thermodynamic stabilization of the duplexes. Furthermore, the 4mer of ODAGal was clearly revealed to almost completely protect siRNAs with a low N/P ratio (i.e., N in the oligocationic molecule to P in the siRNA ratio) from cleavage by RNase A. On the basis of these results, ODAGals can serve as promising stabilizers or carriers of dsRNA-based drugs such as RNAi drugs.

A one-pot synthesis of glycosyl phosphates and their P-modified analogs from glycosyl boranophosphates under mild basic conditions has been conducted. 31P NMR monitoring of the reaction mixture revealed that the key intermediates of these reactions were acyl phosphites, which could not be formed from the corresponding H-phosphonate diesters.