Me-dC Brancher CE-Phosphoramidite
Me-dC Brancher CE-Phosphoramidite
Key features
Show- Useful to synthesise branched DNA (bDNA)
- Can achieve multiplicity of labelled probe hybridisation to target sequences leading to enhanced signals.
- The levulinyl group is removed with buffered hydrazine at neutral pH.
- Does not degrade during storage and synthesis, unlike Fmoc protection found in other similar products.
- Nucleosidic, thereby preserving internucleotide distance.
Product information
Branched DNA (bDNA) has become a significant tool in diagnostics research and, in particular, gene expression analysis.(1) For example, branching possibilities can be exploited to achieve multiplicity of labelled probe hybridisation to target sequences leading to enhanced signals. 5-Me-dC-Brancher CE Phosphoramidite(2) has been designed to provide a facile route to incorporate branching capability into an oligonucleotide.
The levulinyl group on the branching chain is removed with buffered hydrazine at neutral pH—conditions that do not affect any other groups (e.g. it does not cleave from the support)—yet it does not degrade during storage and synthesis, unlike the Fmoc protection used on other commercially available branching phosphoramidites. This product has the advantage of being nucleosidic, thereby preserving internucleotide distance, therefore perturbs DNA structure less than, for example, a non-nucleosidic doubler or trebler molecule.
It must be noted that, although visually this structure resembles Me-dC, the linker on the N-4 position results in hybridisation akin to dT. Therefore if hybridisation is required at the branching point, this modifier must replace a T base within the natural DNA sequence.
Ref:
- (a) Nucleic Acid Detection Technologies—Labels, Strategies, and Formats, L.J. Kricka, Clinical Chemistry, 45, 453-458, 1999; (b) Signal amplification through nucleotide extension and excision on a dendritic DNA platform, S. Capaldi, R.C. Getts, and S.D. Jayasena, Nucleic Acids Research, 28, e21, 2000.
- (a) Forks and combs and DNA: The synthesis of branched oligodeoxyribonucleotides, T. Horn and M.S. Urdea, Nucleic Acids Research, 17, 6959-6967, 1989; (b) An improved divergent synthesis of comb-type branched oligodeoxyribonucleotides (bDNA) containing multiple secondary sequences, T. Horn, C-A. Chang and M.S. Urdea, Nucleic Acids Research, 25, 4835-4841, 1997; (c) Chemical synthesis and characterization of branched oligodeoxynucleotides (bDNA) for use as signal amplifiers in nucleic acid quantification assays, T. Horn, C-A. Chang and M.S. Urdea, Nucleic Acids Research, 25, 4842-4849, 1997.
Applicable Product
LK2150 | 5-Me-dC-Brancher-CE Phosphoramidite |
Physical & Dilution Data
Dilution volumes (in ml) are for 0.1M solutions in dry acetonitrile (LK4050). Adjust accordingly for other concentrations. For µmol pack sizes, products should be diluted as 100µmol/ml to achieve 0.1M, regardless of molecular weight.
Item |
Mol. Formula |
Mol. Wt. |
Unit Wt. |
250mg |
500mg |
1g |
LK2150 | C51H68N5O10P | 942.10 | 403.37 | 2.65 | 5.31 | 10.61 |
General
Due to the possible complexity of these syntheses, we would advise customers to use these recommendations only as a guide and to optimise the conditions for their own use depending on the sequences and other modifiers employed.
Note that 3’-phosphate modification is not stable to the levulinyl deprotection step and the oligo is cleaved from the support.
Synthesis of simple branched structures
The product is simple to use in the synthesis of branched oligos with a small number of Branching Modifier (BM) inclusions (e.g. the “fork” structure created by using just one BM). The primary sequence is synthesised, incorporating the BM as follows:
Coupling
No changes are required from the standard method recommended by the synthesiser manufacturer. Coupling is as per standard nucleoside amidites.
Levulinyl Deprotection
If the secondary sequence is not required at the 5’ end, this must be capped prior to removing the levulinyl group. Prior to secondary sequence synthesis, the column is removed from the synthesiser and the levulinyl group is selectively removed without cleavage of the oligonucleotide by treatment with 0.5ml freshly-prepared 0.5M hydrazine hydrate in 1:1 pyridine/acetic acid (when using a 40nmol to 1μmol scale; use 10-15ml for 10μmol synthesis columns). To do this, fit the column with syringes and wash the solution back and forth. Allow to react for 15min (note sequences with many BM molecules require treatment for up to 90min to ensure complete levulinyl removal). Rinse the solid support with 10ml acetic acid/pyridine (1:1), followed by extensive rinsing with acetonitrile before drying under a stream of argon.
Secondary Sequence
At this point the column can be returned to the synthesiser to proceed with the secondary sequence synthesis. For primary sequences with only one or two BM molecules, the secondary sequence can be carried out using standard conditions although optimisation may be required.
It is important that no initial capping step is carried out in the synthesis cycle.
Note that for the secondary sequence, the equivalents of phosphoramidites must be increased to account for the number of growing chains. For example, if there are two branching points, double the molar equivalents of amidite will theoretically be required.
Cleavage & Nucleobase Deprotection
After secondary synthesis is complete, the oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support and base-deprotected using standard deprotection conditions (although this will be determined by other modifications within the oligo).
However, due to the complex secondary structures that can now form, ammonium hydroxide overnight at 55˚C gives the best results.
Synthesis of complex ‘comb’-like structures
Construction of more complex comb-like structures with many BMs in the primary sequence requires greater control both in the initial design of the primary sequence, and in the protocol used for synthesis of the secondary sequences. Horn et al1 have suggested a scheme for doing this, the overall design of which is shown therein.
The main recommendations for carrying out these syntheses are as follows:1, 2
Primary Sequence
For complex structures, the principal consideration when synthesising the primary target oligonucleotide is to combat the possible adverse effects on oligo yield due to the steric bulk of the oligo. This is done in two main ways: by using a large-pore CPG; and by introducing a spacer sequence to distance the branches from the CPG.
Increasing the pore size of the CPG to 2000Å or even 3000Å has been shown to greatly improve the quality of the synthesis. The steric constraints can be further reduced by using a lower nucleoside loading. A spacer sequence, typically T20, can be added between the primary sequence and inclusion of the branching molecules, and a further T2 spacer between the BMs themselves.
The coupling of the phosphoramidites, and subsequent levulinyl deprotection (90min for high BM content) and washing of the support is carried out as described above for simple primary sequences.
Secondary Sequence
Synthesis of the secondary sequences is best carried using a large excess of phosphoramidite reagents (10-fold excess with respect to each hydroxyl site) and a longer coupling time (e.g. 60s on an ABI 394 synthesiser). As in simpler structures (see above) the molar equivalents of phosphoramidites employed needs to be increased in accordance with the number of branched chains being extended.
The branched DNA can be detritylated, cleaved from the support and deprotected using ammonium hydroxide although conditions may need to be optimised. Note that for multiple branches the final detritylation may need to be increased.
References
- An improved divergent synthesis of comb-type branched oligodeoxyribonucleotides (bDNA) containing multiple secondary sequences, T. Horn, C-A. Chang and M.S. Urdea, Nucleic Acids Research, 25, 4835-4841, 1997.
- Chemical synthesis and characterization of branched oligodeoxynucleotides (bDNA) for use as signal amplifiers in nucleic acid quantification assays, T. Horn, C-A. Chang and M.S. Urdea, Nucleic Acids Research, 25, 4842-4849, 1997.
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