Synthesis and Hybridization Property of Oligonucleotides Containing Carbocyclic Oxetanocins

Oligonucleotides containing enantiomeric carbocyclic oxetanocins possessing adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine were synthesized from an optically active cyclobutane derivative. Their hybridization properties with the complementary oligonucleotides were studied using melting point method, CD spectroscopy, and mixing curve method (Job plots). The artificial nucleotides possessing adenine, guanine and cytosine bases show tendency to form complexes more strongly with ribonucleotide than deoxyribonucelotide. These complexes are triplexes consisting of purine and pyrimidine in 1:2 ratio. Such triplex formation is observed both under high (1 M NaCl) and low salt conditions (0.1 M NaCl).