Synthesis and Properties of Nucleobase-Sugar Dual Modified Nucleic Acids: 2'-OMe-RNA and scpBNA Bearing a 5-Hydroxycytosine Nucleobase.

Naturally occurring 5-hydroxycytosine (5-OHCyt), which is associated with DNA damage, was recently found to reduce the hepatotoxicity of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) without compromising its antisense activity when used as a replacement for cytosine (Cyt). Additionally, sugar-modified nucleic acids, such as 2'-O-methylribonucleic acid (2'-OMe-RNA) and 2'-O,4'-C-spirocyclopropylene-bridged nucleic acid (scpBNA), have emerged as useful antisense materials. Herein, we aimed to combine these two advantages by designing dual modified nucleic acids 2'-OMe-RNA-5-OHCyt and scpBNA-5-OHCyt bearing the 5-OHCyt nucleobase to develop efficient and safe ASOs. We describe the synthesis of 2'-OMe-RNA-5-OHCyt and scpBNA-5-OHCyt phosphoramidites and their incorporation into oligonucleotides (ONs). The duplex-forming ability and base discrimination properties of 2'-OMe-RNA-5-OHCyt- and scpBNA-5-OHCyt-modified ONs were similar to those of 2'-OMe-RNA-Cyt- and scpBNA-mCyt-modified ONs, respectively. We also synthesized two 2'-OMe-RNA-5-OHCyt-modified ASOs, and one of the two was found to exhibit reduced hepatotoxicity while retaining target mRNA knockdown activity in in vivo experiments.

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Yota Sakurai, Takao Yamaguchi, Tokuyuki Yoshida, Masahiko Horiba, Takao Inoue, Satoshi Obika. Synthesis and Properties of Nucleobase-Sugar Dual Modified Nucleic Acids: 2'-OMe-RNA and scpBNA Bearing a 5-Hydroxycytosine Nucleobase. The Journal of organic chemistry. 2023 Jan 06;88(1):154-162

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PMID: 36520114

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