Design, synthesis, and photochemistry of modular caging groups for photoreleasable nucleotides

A modular approach to preparing caged nucleotides having additional properties has been achieved. The modular caging agent includes three components: an amine reactive NHS ester moiety, a photoactive Bhc group, and tosylhydrazone as a precursor of the diazomethyl group. Various amines including biotin and an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide were introduced into the key intermediate via amide linkage. The Bio-Bhc-diazo thus synthesized enables the preparation of a photoreleasable siRNA with additional properties.