Nucleic Acid Chemistry

"Nucleic acids" are a collective term for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).Nucleic acid synthesis has been actively studied, especially in the field of nucleic acid medicine.The traditional method for synthesizing oligonucleotides is called the phosphoramidite method, which is a form of solid-phase synthesis that involves the addition of a phosphoramidite monomer (monoamide of phosphite diester) to a solid-phase support.Our lineup of nucleic acid synthesis reagents focuses on ancillary reagents and dehydration solvents for use in the synthesis of oligonucleotides using the phosphoramidite method. We provide reagents of suitable quality for nucleic acid synthesis by leveraging our unique liquid preparation, synthesis, dehydration, and analysis technologies developed over years of reagent manufacturing.

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Nucleic acid drug

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Fig 1. Oligonucleotide

Nucleic acid is a collective term for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Oligonucleotides (Figure 1) are composed of bases, sugars, and phosphoric acid linked by phosphodiester bonds. Nucleic acid drugs," which have been the focus of much attention in recent years, utilize DNA and RNA molecules, which are the substance of genetic information of organisms, as pharmaceuticals, and are highly anticipated as next-generation pharmaceuticals because they can act on molecules in organisms that cannot be targeted by conventional small molecule drugs or antibody drugs1). Oligonucleotides, the main component of nucleic acid drugs, can be synthesized by organic synthesis (mainly solid-phase synthesis) using an automated synthesizing machine.

 

Types of Nucleic Acid

Drugs "Nucleic acid drugs" are drugs that target DNA or RNA in organisms and include antisense, siRNA, and aptamers. These nucleic acid drugs exert their medicinal effects by controlling the expression of target genes or inhibiting the expression of specific proteins.

Table 1: Major types of nucleic acid drugs

antisense siRNA aptamer decoy CpG oligo
Structure single-stranded
DNA/RNA
double-stranded
RNA
single-stranded
DNA/RNA
double-stranded
DNA
single-stranded
DNA
Base length 12-30 20-25 26-45 About 20 About 20
Target mRNA Pre-mRNA mRNA extracellular protein transcription factor protein
Mechanism of action mRNA degradation Splicing Control mRNA degradation dysfunction transcriptional inhibition Activation of innate immunity

 

Phosphoramidite method

The traditional method for synthesizing oligonucleotides is called the phosphoramidite method, which is a form of solid-phase synthesis that involves the addition of a phosphoramidite monomer (monoamide of phosphite diester) to a solid-phase support. The fundamental reaction to bind the amidite, which is a nucleic acid monomer, consists of 4 steps:
Step 1 detritylation→ Step 2 amidite coupling reaction→ Step 3 capping reaction→ Step 4 oxidation or sulfurization. A cycle consisting of these 4 steps is repeated until the desired strand length is obtained (see Figure 1). An automated synthesizer is used for this reaction2).

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Fig 2. Reaction mechanism of phosphoramidite method

 

Reactions and reagents for phosphoramidite method3)

Step 1: Detritylation

Step 1 is detritylation. 4,4’-Dimethoxytrityl group (DMTr group) is often used to protect the hydroxy group at the 5’ position. Since the trityl cation is stabilized by two methoxy groups, it can be easily cleaved by treatment with a weak acid. Dichloroacetic acid or trichloroacetic acid is used as the acid.

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Step 2: Coupling Reaction (Activation)

Step 2 is the coupling reaction. Condensation occurs between the nucleotide unit to be bound and the nucleoside on the solid support or the oligonucleotide being synthesized. In general, 5-Benzylthio-1H-tetrazole (BTT), 5-Ethylthio-1H-tetrazole (ETT), or 4,5-Dicyanoimidazole (DCI) is used to activate phosphoramidite.

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Step 3: Capping Reaction

Step 3 is the capping reaction. In the phosphoramidite method, an incomplete oligo that has one less base than the desired oligonucleotide may be formed if the coupling reaction does not progress completely and proceeds to the next step with an unreacted hydroxy group remaining. Therefore, the 5'-OH group of the unreacted strand is acetylated to prevent elongation reaction.

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Step 4: Oxidation

Step 4 is oxidation. A phosphite ester bond is formed during phosphoramidite coupling. This is slightly unstable and may cause a side reaction during further elongation reactions. To prevent this, it is converted into a stable phosphate ester. Iodine (I2) is the most commonly used oxidizing reagent.

NucleicAcidChemistry_img07R.png

 

References

  1. [2016 Edition: Current status and future prospects of global nucleic acid drug development] 2016: Sekai no kakusaniyakuhinkaihatsu no genjyo to syoraitenbou (in Japanese). Seed Planning, Inc. (2016).
  2. "Development and Applications of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics" ed. by Takeshi Wada., CMC Publishing Co.,Ltd. (2016). (Japanese)
  3. [Biotechnology reagents] Baiotekunoroji shiyaku (in Japanese). The Chemical Daily Co., Ltd. (1989).

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