A new universal linker
for solid phase DNA synthesis
A new universal linker for solid phase DNA synthesis
Matthew H.
Lyttle*
,
Derek
Hudson
and
Ronald M.
Cook
Biosearch Technologies Inc., 40 Mark Drive,
San Rafael
, CA 94903,
USA
Received February 12, 1996
;
Revised and Accepted May 29, 1996
ABSTRACT
A method is described as an alternative to the use of nucleoside pre-functionalized supports for DNA synthesis. The procedure should allow the
generation of 3
'
-OH terminal moieties of any natural or modified DNA fragment using a
single derivatized solid support material. The method utilizes 1-
O
-(4,4
'
dimethoxytrityl)-2-
O
-succinoyl-3-
N
-allyloxycarbonylpropane immobilized on amino-propyl CPG followed by subsequent coupling of unit phosphoramidites.
Work up is accomplished by removal of the 3-
N
-allyloxycarbonyl group [Pd(0) at 50
o
C for 15 min] followed by cleavage under very mild conditions (aqueous TEAA/NH
3
buffer pH 10, room temperature) to release the desired product. The mechanism
is believed to involve nucleophilic attack of the linker-derived amino group on the 3'
-phosphate triester, followed by elimination of the desired product. DNA
synthesis with the new support and with classical nucleotide synthesis supports
have been performed, and the products shown to be identical. Further proof of
product integrity was given by MALDI mass spectral studies and the efficacy of
DNA primers made with the new support in PCR amplification.
INTRODUCTION
Conventional oligonucleotide synthesis utilizes solid supports prederivatized
with nucleoside hemisuccinates. To simplify this strategy several groups (
1
-
4
) have described synthesis methods in which the 3' terminus of a synthetic oligonucleotide is incorporated during the first
addition of monomeric phophoramidite units. These alternative methods rely on a tetrahydropyran vicinal diol based linker system, in which the phosphate bond to the 3'-terminus of the desired DNA fragment is cleaved concomitant with
cyclic phosphate formation with the diol. Although these procedures work well,
the strongly basic conditions required are too harsh to be compatible with some
nucleotide synthesis methods. For example, DNA synthesis involving biotinylated
residues or base sensitive dyes may not be compatible with strongly basic
conditions.
Our methodology stems from solid phase chemistry previously used to produce 3'-[(hydroxylpropyl)amino] functionalized oligonucleotides by
application of a FMOC-N-protected amino propane diol linker (
5
). In later work, Vu
et al
. compared a series of different base labile amine protecting groups (
6
). In this study, a small amount of 3'-hydroxyl oligonucleotide was observed as an unwanted product with
some of the more base labile amine masking groups. We surmised that generation
of the amine while the 3'-phosphate was still protected as a triester could result in attack
at the phosphorus atom by the nucleophilic nitrogen, with subsequent
elimination of the 3' hydroxy nucleotide from the cyclic intermediate formed. Vu
et al
. were able to eliminate this side reaction by using more base stable amine
protecting groups to keep the nitrogen protected, presumably until all of the 3' phosphate was hydrolyzed to the diester stage. We have found,
conversely, that by using an amine protecting group which is removed under
neutral conditions, the `side-reaction' described by Vu can be used to generate pure 3'-hydroxynucleotides.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Acetic acid, pyridine, methanol (MeOH), aqueous ammonia, potassium hydrogen
phosphate, sodium sulfate, ammonium acetate and conc. hydrochloric acid were
reagent grade from J. T. Baker; ethyl acetate (EtOAc), dimethylformamide (DMF),
dichloromethane (DCM) and acetonitrile were Omnisolve grade from VWR.
Tetrahydrofuran (THF), sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate,
N
-methyl imidazole, diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIPCDI), triethylamine (TEA),
acetic anhydride, lithium chloride and magnesium sulfate were from Aldrich.
Hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) and benzotriazole-1-yl-oxy-Tris (dimethylamino) phosphonium hexafluorophosphate
(BOP) were obtained from Chem Impex. Aminopropyl 1000 Å, 500 Å and nucleoside derivatized controlled pore glass (CPG) was
obtained in house from Biosearch Technologies, Inc. DNA synthesis was performed
on a Biosearch 8750 synthesizer, with Biogenex (San Leandro) DNA amidites and
Clontech (Palo Alto) RNA amidites. All other DNA synthesis reagents were the
same as those previously reported (
7
). Elemental analysis and mass spectra were performed by the University of
California at Berkeley analytical services dept. and MALDI mass spectra of
oligonucleotides were obtained by the University of Michigan Protein and
Carbohydrate Structure Facility.
Synthesis of the universal linker
3-
N
-(allyloxycarbonyl)-1,2-propane diol,
4
A solution of 10 g (109.8 mmol) of 3-amino-1,2-propane diol
2
was prepared in a mixture of 200 ml of water and 50 ml of THF. To this was
added 10 g K
2
CO
3
, followed by dropwise addition, over 30 min, of 30 ml (34.08 g, 282.7 mmol)
allyl chloroformate
3
in 100 ml of THF. The reaction was stirred for 2 h, with more K
2
CO
3
added, as needed, to maintain a pH of 9-10. The mixture was cautiously acidified to pH 4 with dilute HCl, and
extracted twice with 200 ml EtOAc. The combined organic layers were dried over
Na
2
SO
4
and concentrated to 8 g (42% yield) of a clear oil. The oil was negative to a
ninhydrin test whereas the starting material was strongly positive.
1
H NMR, 360 mHz, CDCl
3
, d: 3.2 (dt, 1H), 3.3 (dt, 1H), 3.5 (dd, 1H), 3.6 (dd, 1H), 3.75 (m, 1H), 3.9
(broad s, 2H), 4.5(d, 2H), 5.2(dd, 2H), 5.3(dd, 2H), 5.9(m, 2H).
Anal. calcd. for C
7
H
13
NO
4
: C, 47.99. H, 7.48. N, 8.00. Found: C, 47.65. H, 7.63. N, 7.39.
3-
N
-(allyloxycarbonyl)-1-
O
-(4,4
'
dimethoxytrityl)-2-propanol,
5
A solution of 8 g (45.7 mmol) of
4
dissolved in 100 ml of pyridine was reduced to an oil
in vacuo
. The oil was dissolved in 200 ml of pyridine, and 18 g (53 mmol) of 4,4'dimethoxytrityl chloride was added. The red mixture was stirred
overnight. MeOH, 20 ml, was added to the mixture, and the solvent was removed
in vacuo
after 20 min. The residue was dissolved in 300 ml of EtOAc, and the organic
phase was washed with water, 200 ml, and dried over MgSO
4
. The solution was filtered and reduced to a tar
in vacuo
. A 4 * 40 cm silica column was prepared with 1% v:v pyridine in DCM. The crude
product was loaded onto the column and eluted with 1 l of this solvent,
followed by 1 l of 1% MeOH-DCM, then 1 l of 2% MeOH-DCM. Fractions of 500 ml were collected, and those which contained
pure product, Rf 0.73 (5% MeOH-DCM, aluminum backed silica plates) were pooled to give 7.4 g (31.5%
yield) of an orange oil. M/e (relative intensity) 477 (M
+
, 6), 438(1), 303(100), 154(11), 136(10).
1
H NMR, 360 mHz, CDCl
3
, [delta]: 3.2(m, 3H), 3.4(m,1H), 3.8(s, 6H), 3.9(m, 1H), 4.6(d, 2H), 5.6(broad s,
1H), 5.7(dd, 1H), 5.8(dq, 1H), 5.9(dq,1H), 6.8(s, 1H), 6.9(m, 4H), 7.2(m, 1H),
7.3(m, 6H), 7.4(d, 2H). High resolution mass spectrum: calc'd: 477.2151. Found:
477.2150.
1-
O
-(4,4
'
dimethoxytrityl)-2-
O
-succinoyl-3-
N
-allyloxycarbonyl propane
1
A solution of 5 g (10 mmol) of
5
in 100 ml of pyridine was reduced to an oil
in vacuo
. The oil was dissolved in 200 ml of pyridine, and 10 g (100 mmol) of succinic
anhydride was added, along with 1 ml of
N
-methylimidazole. The mixture was allowed to stand overnight, after the
solids were dissolved by swirling the flask. MeOH (20 ml) was added, and the
solvents were removed
in vacuo
. A 4 * 40 cm silica column was prepared with 1% v:v triethylamine in DCM. The
crude product was loaded onto the column and eluted with 1 l of this solvent,
followed by 2 l of 1% MeOH-DCM, then 1 l of 4% MeOH-DCM, then 1 l of 6% MeOH-DCM. Fractions of 500 ml were collected, and those which
contained pure product, Rf 0.27 (5% MeOH-DCM, aluminum backed silica plates) were pooled to give 5 g (84% yield)
of
1
triethylammonium salt as an orange oil.
1
H NMR, 360 mHz, CDCl
3
, [delta]: 1.25(t, 9H), 2.6(m, 4H), 3.1(q, 6H), 3.2(d, 2H), 3.3(m, 1H), 3.5(m,
1H), 3.8(s, 6H), 4.5(d, 2H), 5.0 - 5.3(m, 3H), 5.9(dq, 1H), 6.9(d, 4H), 7.2(dd, 1H), 7.3(m, 7H), 7.4(d. 2H),
8.6(d, 1H).
Anal. calcd. for C
38
H
50
N
2
O
9
.
1/2 H
2
O: C, 66.35. H, 7.47. N, 4.07. Found: C, 66.20. H, 7.87. N, 4.34.
Immobilization of
1
on controlled pore glass (CPG)
In a 125 ml erlenmeyer flask,
1
(1.0 g, 1.6 mmol) was dissolved in 22 ml of DMF. Hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT),
150 mg (1.1 mmol) was added, and the mixture was swirled until this dissolved.
Next, 0.2 ml (161 mg, 1.3 mmol) of DIPCDI was added, followed immediately by 10
g of aminopropyl 1000 Å CPG. The mixture was allowed to stand overnight, whereupon preliminary
testing of the loading gave 12 [mu]mol/g. Another 1 g of
1
and 0.2 ml more DIPCDI were added, and the mixture was again allowed to stand
overnight. The support was washed with two 100 ml portions of acetonitrile, and
then excess amino groups on the support were acetylated with 100 ml of a
mixture of 5:5:8:82 acetic anhydride:pyridine:
N
-methylimidazole:THF for 1 h. The support was then rinsed with two 100 ml
washes of acetonitrile, two 100 ml washes of MeOH and two 100 ml washes of DCM.
After overnight drying
in vacuo
the loading was determined to be 17 [mu]mol/g.
For 500 Å CPG, the following procedure gave good results. In a 125 ml erlenmeyer
flask, 10 g of aminopropyl 500 Å CPG was slurried with ~20 ml of acetonitrile, and a solution of 0.20 g (0.29 mmol)
1
, 50 mg (0.4 mmol) of HOBT and 0.20 g (0.5 mmol) of BOP in 4 ml of 0.3 M
N
-methylmorpholine in acetonitrile was mixed and allowed to stand 5 min. The
mixture was added to the slurry containing the CPG, and allowed to stand
overnight after thorough mixing. The support was washed with two 100 ml
portions of acetonitrile, and excess amino groups on the support were
acetylated with 100 ml of a mixture of 5:5:8:82 acetic anhydride:pyridine:
N
-methylimidazole:THF for 1 h. The support was then rinsed with two 100 ml
washes of acetonitrile, two 100 ml washes of MeOH and two 100 ml washes of DCM.
After overnight drying
in vacuo
the loading was determined to be 24 [mu]mol/g.
Procedure for deprotection and cleavage of DNA from the universal support
Automated DNA synthesis (
8
) is concluded with the 5'-DMT group either on or off, and a mixture of 25 mg
tetrakistriphenylphosphine palladium(0), 50 mg ammonium acetate hydrate and 100
mg triphenyl phosphine in 1 ml THF is heated to 50oC for 2 min. About 200 ml of the yellow solution is taken up in a 1 ml
syringe and ~1/2 of this is passed into the oligonucleotide synthesis column containing
the support bound nucleotide. The column, with syringe attached, is placed in a
previously warmed 13 * 100 mm test tube and heated in an aluminum hot block at 50oC. After 10 min, the rest of the solution is forced through the
column, and after 5 min the column is removed from the tube and washed with 5
ml acetonitrile, either on the DNA synthesizer or by syringe. Next, a solution
of 1 ml 0.1 N TEAA, pH 8.5, is mixed with 40 [mu]l of 3% aqueous ammonia, and 0.5 ml of this solution is taken up in a
syringe. Over 2 h, this solution is pushed through the column in small
increments, with the effluent collected in an eppendorf tube. The column is
then further rinsed with 0.5 ml 50% acetonitrile in water, and the combined
effluent is evaporated
in vacuo.
The residue is then subjected to concentrated ammonia for 5 h at 55oC, and evaporated for subsequent purification or analysis.
Analysis of DNA
Quantitation was performed at 254 nm with a Beckmann DU spectrophotometer.
Reverse phase HPLC conditions
The dried sample was dissolved in 20% acetonitrile in water, and 2-20 [mu]l of this solution, depending on the concentration, was injected onto
a Perkin Elmer Reverse Phase 3.3 cm Cartridge. The column was eluted with a
gradient of 100% A (0.1 N ammonium acetate) for 2 min, 100-90% A (B was 100%
acetonitrile) over 10 min, then 90-50% A over 10 min, then back to 100% A over
1 min. The flow rate was 1 ml/min, with absorbance read at 260 nm.
Ion paring HPLC conditions
The dried sample was dissolved in 20% acetonitrile in water, and 2-20 [mu]l of this solution, depending on the concentration, was injected onto
a 16 * 40 mm long column of 7 micron Aspect (Biosearch Technologies Inc., San
Rafael) polyethylene support. Buffer A was 2 mM tetrabutylammonium sulfate
(TBAS) in 25 mM borate buffer, pH 6.5 containing 5% acetonitrile; B was 2 mM
TBAS in 25 mM borate buffer, pH 10.5 containing 50% acetonitrile. The gradient
was 1 min of 100% A, flow 1 ml/min; 2 min of 100% A at 2 ml/min, then a linear
gradient to 100% B over 30 min at 2 ml/min, with absorbance read at 260 nm.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
We describe use of a solid support functionalized with a linker
1
which allows the incorporation, during automated DNA synthesis, of the 3' terminus of the polynucleotide (through coupling of the corresponding
phosphoramidite derivative), instead of by pre-derivatisation processes. The synthesis of the linker
1
is shown in Figure
1
. The readily available, economical 3-amino-1,2 dihydroxy propane (
2
) was reacted with allyl chloroformate (
3
). The resulting diol (
4
) was then treated with 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl chloride (DMT-Cl) to give alcohol (
5
), which was then succinylated with succinic anhydride and
N
-methylimidazole in pyridine to afford
1
. Attachment of
1
to the solid support (aminopropyl CPG) was accomplished with either
diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIPCDI) and hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) in DMF solvent or hydroxy-benzotriazole (HOBT) and benzotriazole-1-yl-oxy-Tris (dimethylamino) phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP) with
N
-methylmorpholine
in acetonitrile.
CONCLUSION
A method which allows for incorporation of the 3'-terminal residue of DNA during automated synthesis is presented.
The new method will extend the art of oligonucleotide synthesis, as well as
eliminate the need for four different DNA supports. In contrast with previous
universal supports, our method requires extraordinarily mild conditions for
work-up. This utility may be optimally exploited when used in conjunction with
hyper base labile DNA synthons (e.g. phenoxyacetyl or dimethylformamidine) which are now commercially available. A further application of our linker arm
offers the possibility of preparing fully protected oligomeric blocks since the
benign cleavage conditions do not disturb traditional phosphate and exocylic
amine protection.
REFERENCES
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11 Biosearch Technologies, Inc., reverse phase DNA purification cartridge and protocols.
12 Instructions and all other reagents for PCR were from the Perkin Elmer (ABI division, Foster City) Gene Amptm PCR amplification kit.