Organic Chemistry

Michal Hocek

Novel base-modified ribonucleoside triphosphates will be prepared and their RNA-polymerase catalyzed incorporation to oligoribonucleotides and RNA will be studied. The base-modifications will include functional groups of different size and reactivity, as well as redox or fluorescent labels. Stability of these modified RNAs towards ribonucleases and their potential use in RNA interference and RNA catalysis will be studied. Selected nucleotides will be used for selection of RNA aptamers.

Leading references:
1. Hocek, M.; Fojta, M. "Cross-coupling reactions of nucleoside triphosphates followed by polymerase incorporation. Construction and applications of base-functionalized nucleic acids" Org. Biomol. Chem. 2008, 6, 2233-2241.
2. Carthew, R. W.; Sontheimer, E. J. "Origins and Mechanisms of miRNAs and siRNAs" Cell, 2009, 136, 642-655.