2'-Fluoro-2'-deoxypolynucleotides as templates and inhibitors for RNA- and DNA-dependent DNA polymerases

Poly(2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenylic acid) (poly(dAfl)) and poly(2'-deoxycytidylic acid) (poly(dCfl)) were tested as templates in DNA synthesis reactions catalyzed by Xenopus laevis oocytes DNA polymerase alpha, mouse cell DNA polymerase gamma and avian myeloblastis virus (AMV) reverse transcriptase. Poly(dAfl).(dT)12 can fully substitute for poly(rA).(dT)12 as template with DNA polymerase gamma, to 50% with reverse transcriptase, but was poorly recognized by DNA polymerase alpha. DNA synthesis by reverse transcriptase with poly(dCfl).(dG)12 as template was 50% of that with poly(rC).(dG).(dG)12. The use of 2'-fluoropolymers as templates was more efficient at 37 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. No appreciable differences on the fidelity of DNA synthesis by reverse transcriptase were observed when dCMP misincorporation was measured with poly(dAfl).(dT)12 or poly(rA).(dT)12 as template primers. Poly(C) and poly-2'-O-methylcytidylic acid had no significant effect on the reaction catalyzed by DNA polymerase gamma and reverse transcriptase, independent of the synthetic polynucleotide complex utilized as template. On the other hand, poly(dCfl) was an inhibitor when poly(rA).(dT)12 or poly(dA).(dT)12 were used as templates, but not when poly(dAfl).(dT)12 was employed. Analogous results have been obtained with activated DNA and AMV 70 S RNA as templates in the reverse transcriptase reaction. The inhibition by poly(dCfl) was noncompetitive with regard to TTP, poly(dA) and poly(rA). Xenopus laevis oocytes DNA polymerase alpha was not inhibited by poly(dCfl).