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Biomedical subjects

P Neuner

Publications and source records attributed to P Neuner.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

2'-O-alkyl oligoribonucleotides as antisense probes.

2'-O-Methyl oligoribonucleotides have recently been introduced as antisense probes for studying RNA processing and for affinity purification of RNA-protein complexes. To identify RNA analogues with improved properties for antisense analysis, 2'-O-alkyl oligoribonucleotides were synthesized in which the alkyl moiety was either the three-carbon linear allyl group or the five-carbon branched 3,3-dimethylallyl group. Both these analogues were found to be completely resistant to degradation by either DNA- or RNA-specific nucleases. Use of biotinylated derivatives of the probes to affinity-select ribonucleoprotein particles from crude HeLa cell nuclear extracts showed that the presence of the bulky 3,3-dimethylallyl group significantly reduces affinity selection, whereas the allyl derivative binds rapidly and stably to targeted sequences and affinity-selects efficiently. The allyl derivatives also showed an increase in the level of specific binding to targeted sequences compared with 2'-O-methyl probes of identical sequence. These properties indicate that the 2'-O-allyl oligoribonucleotides are particularly well suited for use as antisense probes.

Alkylation↗

Ultraviolet light induces increased circulating interleukin-6 in humans.

Although the clinical effects of acute exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light--such as cutaneous inflammation, malaise, somnolence, chills and fever--have been appreciated many years, the underlying mechanisms mediating these effects are poorly understood. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent cytokine with a wide variety of biologic activities, including induction of fever and acute phase response. Because IL-6 is produced by keratinocytes in vivo and in vitro and because the release is enhanced by UV light, the present study was performed to investigate the effect of a single UV dose eliciting moderate to severe sunburn reaction on the production of IL-6 in vivo. Therefore, plasma of UV-treated human subjects was evaluated for IL-6 activity by testing its capacity to induce the proliferation of an IL-6-dependent hybridoma cell line (B9). In contrast to plasma samples obtained before UV exposure, post-UV-specimens contained significant levels of IL-6 peaking at 12 h after UV irradiation. Plasma IL-6 activity was neutralized by an antiserum directed against recombinant human IL-6, and upon HPLC gel filtration exhibited a molecular weight of around 20 kD. Moreover, plasma IL-6 levels correlated remarkably with fever course followed by an increase of acute phase proteins such as C-reactive protein. These data indicate that IL-6, which is released by keratinocytes following UV exposure, may gain access to the circulation and via its pyrogenic as well as acute phase-inducing effect may function as an important mediator of systemic sunburn reaction.

Adult↗

Preparation of a novel psoralen containing deoxyadenosine building block for the facile solid phase synthesis of psoralen-modified oligonucleotides for a sequence specific crosslink to a given target sequence.

4,5',8-Trimethylpsoralen was attached to the C8-position of deoxyadenosine via a sulfur atom and a five carbon atom linker. The modified deoxyadenosine was then converted to a protected phosphoramidite and used as unusual as a building block for solid phase oligodeoxyribonucleotide synthesis. The efficiency of the photoreaction of a psoralen-modified oligonucleotide to a complementary matrix strand reached more than 90% within a 1 hour irradiation time at a wavelength of 345 nm.

Base Sequence↗

Highly efficient chemical synthesis of 2'-O-methyloligoribonucleotides and tetrabiotinylated derivatives; novel probes that are resistant to degradation by RNA or DNA specific nucleases.

2'-O-Methyloligoribonucleotides have been synthesised on solid phase from base protected 5'-O-dimethoxytrityl-2'-O-methylribonucleoside-3'-O-(2-cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidites) using 5-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-tetrazole as activator. Coupling yields greater than 99% were achieved, as judged by trityl cation release. The preparation of a modified 2'-deoxycytidine building block bearing an N4-(5-trifluoroacetylaminopentyl) spacer is also described. The latter compound enabled the chemical synthesis of 2'-O-methyloligoribonucleotide probes carrying several 5'- terminal biotinylation sites (in general four modified residues were used), which can be conveniently 32P end-labelled enzymatically using polynucleotide kinase. Used in conjunction with streptavidin-containing derivatives, such biotinylated probes have important applications in biochemical purification and electron microscopy of RNA-protein complexes. The 2'-O-methyloligoribonucleotides are completely resistant to degradation by either RNA or DNA specific nucleases. In contrast, nucleases with dual RNA/DNA specificity show a complete spectrum of cleavage rates.

Biotin↗

The synthesis of protected 5'-mercapto-2',5'-dideoxyribonucleoside-3'-O-phosphoramidites; uses of 5'-mercapto-oligodeoxyribonucleotides.

The syntheses of the four novel, base protected 5'-(S-triphenylmethyl)mercapto-2',5'-dideoxyribonucleoside-3 '-O-(2-cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidites) are described. These compounds have been used to prepare 5'-(S-triphenylmethyl) mercapto-oligodeoxyribonucleotides, which are readily purified by reversed phase h.p.l.c., owing to the highly lipophilic trityl group. After cleavage of the S-trityl group by silver or mercuric ions, the free thiol moiety can be coupled to a wide variety of reagents, generating very useful probes. Fluorescent labelled 5'-mercapto-oligodeoxyribonucleotides are being used for automated DNA sequencing without radioactivity, and heavy metal labelled 5'-mercapto-oligonucleotides will be used in X-ray crystallography.

Base Sequence↗