Biophysical and RNA Interference Inhibitory Properties of Oligonucleotides Carrying Tetrathiafulvalene Groups at Terminal Positions

Abstract

Oligonucleotide conjugates carrying a single functionalized tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) unit linked through a threoninol molecule to the 3′ or 5′ ends were synthesized together with their complementary oligonucleotides carrying a TTF, pyrene, or pentafluorophenyl group. TTF-oligonucleotide conjugates formed duplexes with higher thermal stability than the corresponding unmodified oligonucleotides and pyrene- and pentafluorophenyl-modified oligonucleotides. TTF-modified oligonucleotides are able to bind to citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and produce stable gold AuNPs functionalized with oligonucleotides. Finally, TTF-oligoribonucleotides have been synthesized to produce siRNA duplexes carrying TTF units. The presence of the TTF molecule is compatible with the RNA interference mechanism for gene inhibition.