α,β-Methylene-2′-deoxynucleoside 5′-triphosphates as noncleavable substrates for DNA polymerases: Isolation, characterization, and stability studies of novel 2′-deoxycyclonucleosides, 3,5′-cyclo-dG, and 2,5′-cyclo-dT

We report synthesis and characterization of a complete set of α,β-methylene-2′-dNTPs (α,β-m-dNTP; N = A, C, T, G, 12-15) in which the α,β-oxygen linkage of natural dNTP was replaced by a methylene group. These nucleotides were designed to be noncleavable substrates for DNA polymerases. Synthesis entails preparation of 2′-deoxynucleoside 5′-diphosphate precursors, followed by an enzymatic γ-phosphorylation. All four synthesized α,β-m-dNTPs were found to be potent inhibitors of polymerase β, with Ki values ranging 1-5 μM. During preparation of the dG and dT derivatives of α,β-methylene diphosphate, we also isolated significant amounts of 3,5′-cyclo-dG (16) and 2,5′-cyclo-dT (17), respectively. These novel 2′-deoxycyclonucleosides were formed via a base-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization (N3 → C5′ and O2 → C5′, respectively). In acidic solution, both 16 and 17 underwent glycolysis, followed by complete depurination. When exposed to alkaline conditions, 16 underwent an oxidative deamination to produce 3,5′-cyclo-2′-deoxyxanthosine (19), whereas 17 was hydrolyzed exclusively to dT. © 2008 American Chemical Society