Toward the Development of Metal‐Free Synthetic Nucleases: Cleavage of a Model Substrates by 1,4‐Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]Octane Derivatives

Abstract

Artificial ribonucleases of A_nBCL series were synthesized by solid‐phase method. They consist of a hydrophobic alkyl radical A (n = 3–12 carbon atoms), an “RNA‐binding domain” B (bisquaternary salt of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane), a “catalytic domain” C (histidine residue) and a “linker” L that joins the domains B and C. The effect of the alkyl radical on the catalytic properties of the chemical catalyst was studied using three activated phosphate ester substrates: p‐nitrophenyl phosphate, bis‐p‐nitrophenyl phosphate, and thymidine‐3′‐p‐nitrophenyl phosphate.

Keywords:

• Metal‐free artificial nucleases
• p‐nitrophenyl phosphate derivatives
• 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by RFBR (02‐04‐48664‐a), Grants BRHE Rec‐008, Wellcome Trust (CRIG 063630) and Russian Science Support Foundation.