Cooperative lectin recognition of periodical glycoclusters along DNA duplexes: alternate hybridization and full hybridization Original Research Article

We describe herein the construction of periodically, spatially controlled glycoclusters along DNA duplexes and their cooperative lectin recognition. Site-specifically α-mannosylated oligodeoxynucleotide 20-mer (Man-ODN20) was synthesized via the phosphoramidite solid-phase synthesis. Alternate hybridization of the Man-ODN20 with the half-sliding complementary ODN 20-mer (hscODN20) gave an alternately prolonged Man-cluster Man-ODN20/hscODN20. The binding of the Man-cluster to FITC-labeled ConA lectin showed sigmoidal fluorescence dependency on the concentration of Man-ODN, indicating that some mannose residues along the repeating DNA duplex were cooperatively bound to ConA (apparent affinity constant: Kaf = 2.4 × 104 M−1 and Hill coefficient: n = 3.5). The duplex of Man-ODN20 with full complementary ODN 20-mer (fcODN20) was little bound to ConA. The binding behavior of Man-ODN20/hscODN20 is compared with that of the alternately prolonged Gal-cluster Gal-ODN20/hscODN20 previously reported. Duplexes 20-mer, 40-mer, and 60-mer presenting one, two, and three periodic galactoses were also prepared by full hybridization of 20-mer β-galactosylated oligodeoxynucleotide (Gal-ODN20) with the periodically repeating full complementary 20-mer, 40-mer, and 60-mer ODNs. RCA120 lectin was found to little bind the 20-mer and 40-mer duplexes and to bind weakly and non-cooperatively the 60-mer duplex (Kaf = 1.1 × 104 M−1). The cooperative lectin recognition of these glycoclusters in relation with the degree of association (DA) of ODN and the numbers of glycosides along the DNA duplex is discussed.