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Related Concept Videos

Nucleic Acid Structure01:25

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...
Nucleic Acids02:43

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and carry instructions for its functioning.
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes, the...
Nucleic acids02:43

Nucleic acids

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and carry instructions for its functioning.
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes, the...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
Nucleic Acids and Nucleotides01:20

Nucleic Acids and Nucleotides

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and have instructions for its functioning. The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and the organelles such as chloroplasts and mitochondria. In...
ATP and Macromolecule Synthesis01:28

ATP and Macromolecule Synthesis

Biological macromolecules are organic compounds, predominantly composed of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are covalently bonded with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other minor elements. There are four major biological macromolecule classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Most macromolecules are composed of single subunits, or building blocks, called monomers. The monomers combine with each other using covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers.
Conversion of...

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Protocol for the Solid-phase Synthesis of Oligomers of RNA Containing a 2'-O-thiophenylmethyl Modification and Characterization via Circular Dichroism
11:37

Protocol for the Solid-phase Synthesis of Oligomers of RNA Containing a 2'-O-thiophenylmethyl Modification and Characterization via Circular Dichroism

Published on: July 28, 2017

Oligopyrenotides: abiotic, polyanionic oligomers with nucleic acid-like structural properties.

Robert Häner1, Florian Garo, Daniel Wenger

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. robert.haener@ioc.unibe.ch

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|May 13, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Oligopyrenotides, novel abiotic nucleic acid mimics, form stable hybrids through pyrene stacking, mirroring DNA and RNA behavior. These compounds offer potential for designing artificial self-replicating systems.

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Protocol for the Solid-phase Synthesis of Oligomers of RNA Containing a 2'-O-thiophenylmethyl Modification and Characterization via Circular Dichroism
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Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides
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Published on: June 2, 2022

Area of Science:

  • * Supramolecular Chemistry
  • * Synthetic Biology
  • * Astrobiology

Background:

  • * Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are fundamental to life, storing and transmitting genetic information.
  • * Artificial systems that mimic nucleic acid functions are crucial for understanding life's origins and developing new technologies.
  • * Designing abiotic molecules with nucleic acid-like properties is a key challenge in synthetic biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To describe the synthesis and properties of oligopyrenotides, a new class of abiotic oligomers.
  • * To investigate the structural analogies between oligopyrenotides and natural nucleic acids.
  • * To evaluate the potential of oligopyrenotides as model systems for artificial self-replicating systems.

Main Methods:

  • * Synthesis of phosphodiester-linked pyrene building blocks with a chiral 1,2-diaminocyclohexane unit.
  • * Hybridization studies in aqueous solution to assess oligomer interactions.
  • * Thermal denaturation and renaturation experiments to analyze hybridization stability.
  • * Investigation of salt-concentration-dependent structural polymorphism.

Main Results:

  • * Oligopyrenotides were successfully synthesized, exhibiting structural analogies to nucleic acids.
  • * Stable hybrids were formed in aqueous solution, driven by pyrene stacking interactions.
  • * Oligopyrenotides displayed thermal denaturation/renaturation behavior similar to DNA and RNA.
  • * Salt concentration influenced the structural polymorphism of oligopyrenotides.

Conclusions:

  • * Oligopyrenotides represent a novel class of abiotic molecules with significant structural and functional similarities to nucleic acids.
  • * Their hybridization and polymorphic behaviors make them excellent model systems for studying nucleic acid principles.
  • * These findings open avenues for the design of artificial self-replicating systems and synthetic life forms.