Brightly Fluorescent 2′-Deoxyribonucleoside Triphosphates Bearing Methylated Bodipy Fluorophore for in Cellulo Incorporation to DNA, Imaging, and Flow Cytometry

Synthesis of cytosine, uracil, and 7-deazaadenine 2'-deoxyribonucleosides and triphosphates (dNTPs) bearing hexamethylated phenyl-bodipy fluorophore attached at position 5 of pyrimidines or at position 7 of 7-deazapurine was developed. All the title labeled nucleosides and dNTPs displayed bright green fluorescence with very high quantum yields. The modified dN(mBdp)TPs were good substrates to diverse DNA polymerases and were used for in vitro enzymatic synthesis of labeled DNA by primer extension or PCR. In combination with cationic cyclodextrin-peptide-based dNTP transporter, the dN(mBdp)TPs were successfully used for staining of genomic DNA in living cells for applications in confocal microscopy and in flow cytometry. The best performing cytosine nucleotide dN(mBdp)TPs was used to monitor mitosis in live cells.