Fluorescent C-linked C8-aryl-guanine probe for distinguishing syn from anti structures in duplex DNA

The synthesis and optical properties of the carbon (C)-linked C(8)-(2"-benzo[b]thienyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine ((Bth)dG), which acts as a fluorescent reporter of syn versus anti glycosidic conformations in duplex DNA, are described. In the syn-conformation, the probe stabilizes a G:G mismatch, emits at ∼385 nm (excitation ∼285 nm), and shows an induced circular dichroism (ICD) signal at ∼320 nm. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations predict a wedge (W)-conformation for the mismatched duplex with the C(8)-benzo[b]thienyl moiety residing in the minor groove. In contrast, the probe destabilizes the duplex when base paired with its normal pyrimidine partner C. With flanking purine bases, a major groove B-type duplex is favored with (Bth)dG present in the anti-conformation emitting at ∼413 nm (excitation ∼326 nm) and no ICD signal. However, with flanking pyrimidine bases, (Bth)dG adopts the syn-conformation when base paired with C, and MD simulations predict a base-displaced stacked (S)-conformation, with the opposing C flipped out of the helix. The different duplex (B-, S-, and W-) conformers formed upon incorporation of (Bth)dG are known to play a critical role in the biological activity of N-linked C8-dG adducts formed by arylamine carcinogens. Bulky environment-sensitive fluorescent C(8)-dG adducts that mimic the duplex structures formed by carcinogens may be useful in luminescence-based DNA polymerase assays.