Synthesis and Biophysical Studies of High-Affinity Morpholino Oligomers Containing G-Clamp Analogs

Successful syntheses of chlorophosphoramidate morpholino monomers containing tricyclic cytosine analogs phenoxazine, G-clamp, and G^8AE-clamp were accomplished. These modified monomers were incorporated into 12-mer oligonucleotides using trityl-chemistry by an automated synthesizer. The resulting phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers, containing a single G-clamp, demonstrated notably higher affinity for complementary RNA and DNA compared to the unmodified oligomers under neutral and acidic conditions. The duplexes of RNA and DNA with G-clamp-modified oligomers adopt a B-type helical conformation, as evidenced by CD-spectra and show excellent base recognition properties. Binding affinities were sequence and position dependent.