Triple-helix formation by alpha oligodeoxynucleotides and alpha oligodeoxynucleotide-intercalator conjugates.

Base-pair sequences in double-stranded DNA can be recognized by homopyrimidine oligonucleotides that bind to the major groove at homopurine.homopyrimidine sequences thereby forming a local triple helix. To make oligodeoxynucleotides resistant to nucleases, we replaced the natural (beta) anomers of the nucleotide units by the synthetic (alpha) anomers. The 11-mer alpha oligodeoxynucleotide 5'-d(TCTCCTCCTTT)-3' binds to the major groove of DNA in an antiparallel orientation with respect to the homopurine strand, whereas a beta oligonucleotide adopts a parallel orientation. When an intercalating agent was attached to the 3' end of the alpha oligodeoxynucleotide, a strong stabilization of the triple helix was observed. A 16-base-pair homopurine.homopyrimidine sequence of human immunodeficiency virus proviral DNA was chosen as a target for a 16-mer homopyrimidine alpha oligodeoxynucleotide. A restriction enzyme that cleaves DNA at the junction of the homopurine.homopyrimidine sequence was inhibited by triple-helix formation. The 16-mer alpha oligodeoxynucleotide substituted by an intercalating agent was approximately 20 times more efficient than the unsubstituted oligomer. Nuclease-resistant alpha oligodeoxynucleotides offer additional possibilities to control gene expression at the DNA level.