Synlett 2004(2): 0217-0224  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-44967
ACCOUNT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

4′C-Modified Nucleotides as Chemical Tools for Investigation and Modulation of DNA Polymerase Function

Daniel Summerer, Andreas Marx*
Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
Fax: +49(228)735388; e-Mail: a.marx@uni-bonn.de;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 15 September 2003
Publication Date:
04 December 2003 (online)

Abstract

DNA polymerases catalyze the entire biological DNA synthesis in DNA replication, repair and recombination. A DNA polymerase is presented with a pool of four structurally similar dNTPs from which it must select the sole correct substrate for incorporation into the growing DNA strand. The mechanisms how these remarkable enzymes achieve this tremendous task is a matter of ­current interest and intensive discussion. Valuable new insights into complex DNA polymerase selectivity mechanisms were gained through employment of 4′C-alkylated nucleotide analogues in ­functional enzyme studies. First investigations indicate that the 4′C-modified substrates are promising for the development of faithful methods for genome diagnostics.

  • 1 Introduction

  • 2 DNA Polymerase Selectivity

  • 3 Steric Probes for DNA Polymerases

  • 4 Synthesis of 4′C-Alkylated Thymidines

  • 5 Functional DNA Polymerase Studies

  • 6 DNA Polymerase Interactions with the Primer Template Complex

  • 7 Application of 4′C-Modified Primer Probes to Increase ­Single Nucleotide Discrimination in PCR

  • 8 Conclusions and Outlook