Organic Chemistry

Novel base-modified nucleoside triphosphates will be designed and prepared and their polymerase catalyzed incorporation to oligonucleotides (both DNA and RNA) will be studied. The base-modifications will include reactive groups capable of reactions with amino acids sidechains. They will be used in selection of covalent aptamers – nucleic acids capable of specific binding to proteins and covalent cross-linking to them.

Leading references:
1. Dadová, J.; Orság, P.; Pohl, R.; Brázdová, M.; Fojta, M.; Hocek, M. "Vinylsulfonamide and acrylamide modification of DNA for cross-linking with proteins" Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 10515-10518.
2. Diafa, S.; Hollenstein, M. " Generation of Aptamers with an Expanded Chemical Repertoire " Molecules, 2015, 20, 16643-16671.