Organic Chemistry

Novel base-modified nucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) will be prepared and their polymerase catalyzed incorporations to oligonucleotides and DNA will be studied. Diverse modifications of different bulkiness will be attached at position 7 of 7-deazapurines or at position 5 of pyrimidines. Then the interactions of these modified DNA sequences with RNA polymerases and transcription factors will be studied. In later stages, new bioorthogonal reactions will be studied for transformations or removal of the modifications in order to trigger on the transcription. Colaboration with Dr. L. Krásný (MBU AVČR).

Leading references:
1. Macíčková-Cahová, H.; Hocek, M. " Cleavage of adenine-modified functionalized DNA by type II restriction endonucleases" Nucleic Acids Res. 2009, 37, 7612-7622.
2. Kielkowski, P.; Macíčková-Cahová, H.; Pohl, R.; Hocek, M. "Transient and switchable (triethylsilyl)ethynyl protection of DNA against cleavage by restriction endonucleases" Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 8727-8730.