Sensitized photomodification of DNA by binary systems .1. Synthesis of oligonucleotide reagents and the effect of their structure on the efficacy of target modification

A highly effective sensitized photomodification of the target DNA by a binary system of oligonucleotide reagents complementary to adjacent regions of the target was accomplished, One of the oligonucleotides carries a photoreagent p-azidotetrafluorobenzamide, and the other carries a pyrene sensitizer. Synthesis of the oligonucleotide derivatives was described. The rate and efficacy of the direct and sensitized target photomodifications depending on the location of the photoreagent and sensitizer at the 3'- and 5'-terminal phosphates and on the length of the linker between the sensitizer and addressed nucleotide were studied. The oligonucleotide derivatives with the photoreagent at the 3' terminus proved to be more effective (yield of the covalent adducts 70%). The rate of photomodification sensitized by UV light (365-390 nm) is 100-1500-fold higher than that of the direct site-specific modification and decreases with an increasing length of the linker. In all cases, modification occurs at the guanosine residue located near the photoreagent.