Modified nucleic acids are very interesting molecules because of their application in Biomedicine, as therapeutic agents, and in Nanoscience, as potential components of nano-devices. Of particular relevance is the substitution of a hydrogen atom at the 2’ position of the DNA deoxyribose by fluorine. Fluorine is the most electronegative element and alters the electronic distribution in its surroundings, provoking interactions that are not present, or are much weaker, in natural nucleic acids.

In two recent papers researchers of the IQFR, in collaboration with colleagues of McGill University in Canada and in the IRB in Barcelona, have described these effects at structural level and analysed their physico-chemical basis in double helical and guanine quadruplex structures.

Reference:

N. Martín-Pintado, M. Yahyaee-Anzahaee, G. F. Deleavey, G. Portella, M. Orozco, M.J. Damha, and C. González.Dramatic effect of furanose C2´-substitution on structure and stability:  Directing the folding of the human telomeric quadruplex with a single fluorine atom.J. Am. Chem. Soc., 135, 5344-5347, 2013.doi: 10.1021/ja401954t

N. Martín-Pintado, G. F. Deleavey, G. Portella, R. Campos-Olivas, M. Orozco, M.J. Damha, and C. González.Backbone FC-H...O hydrogen bonds in 2´F-substituted nucleic acids.Angewandte Chemie Int Ed, en prensa, 2013.doi:10.1002/anie.201305710