[Formation of phosphonoester bonds, catalyzed by DNA polymerases]

3'-Fluoro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine 5'-(alpha-methylphosphonyl)-beta, gamma-diphosphate (I) and 2'-deoxythymidine 5'-(alpha-methylphosphonyl)-beta,gamma-diphosphate (II) were synthesised. Reverse transcriptases of HIV and avian myeloblastosis virus, rat liver DNA polymerase beta, calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and E. coli DNA polymerase I KF incorporated both compounds into the growing DNA chain, KF being the least effective. Compound I revealed termination substrate properties, but II was repeatedly incorporated into the DNA chain, for example, by HIV reverse transcriptase - up to 8 residues. Human placenta DNA polymerases alpha and epsilon incorporated neither I nor II into the DNA chain, although DNA synthesis, catalyzed by all the investigated enzymes, was inhibited in the presence of I or II and compound II was a more effective inhibitor then I. The DNA fragments containing alpha-phosphonomethyl groups were hydrolyzed by 3'----5' exonuclease of DNA polymerase I and not hydrolyzed by ExoIII from E. coli.