Solid-phase synthesis of oligo(2'-deoxyxylonucleotides) and PCR amplification of base-modified DNA fragments

1-(2'-Deoxy-beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)thymine (xTd) and -adenine (xAd) were converted into their appropriately protected 3'-phosphonates 1a, 2a as well as their 2-cyanoethyl phosphoramidites 1b, 2b. These compounds were used for solid-phase syntheses of the oligo(2'-deoxy-beta-D-xylonucleotides) 5-8. Structural properties and behavior against nucleases is described. Apart from oligo(2'-deoxyxylonucleotides) the PCR-amplification of a pUC18 DNA fragment with Taq polymerase was studied in the presence of the 7-deazapurine derivatives of dGTP, dATP, and dITP. The incorporation efficiency of the modified compounds was compared with those of the parent nucleotides. 7-Deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine protected the DNA-fragment from hydrolysis by the restriction endodeoxyribonuclease Eco RI, Pst I, Bam HI, and Sma I if the nucleoside was located within the recognition site.