Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
Nat Chem. 2009 Apr;1(1):53-6. doi: 10.1038/nchem.100. Epub 2009 Feb 22.
Short nucleotide fragments such as mono- and dinucleotides are generally unable to form stable hydrogen-bonded base pairs or duplexes in water. Within the hydrophobic pockets of enzymes, however, even short fragments form stable duplexes to transmit genetic information. Here, we demonstrate the efficient formation of hydrogen-bonded base pairs from mononucleotides in water through enclathration in the hydrophobic cavities of self-assembled cages. Crystallographic studies and 1H- and 15N-NMR spectroscopy clearly reveals pair-selective recognition of mononucleotides and the selective formation of an anti-Hoogsteen-type base pair in the cage's cavity. Within an analogous expanded cage, dinucleotides are also found to form a stable duplex in water. These results emphasize how hydrogen-bonded base pairing is amplified in a local hydrophobic area isolated from aqueous solution.
短核苷酸片段，如单核昔酸和二核苷酸，通常在水中无法形成稳定的氢键碱基对或双链。然而，在酶的疏水性口袋中，即使是短片段也能形成稳定的双链，从而传递遗传信息。在这里，我们通过自组装笼的疏水性腔体内包合证明了在水中从单核昔酸高效形成氢键碱基对。晶体学研究和 1H 和 15N-NMR 光谱清楚地揭示了单核昔酸的对选择性识别以及在笼腔内选择性形成反 Hoogsteen 型碱基对。在类似的扩展笼中，也发现二核苷酸在水中形成稳定的双链。这些结果强调了氢键碱基配对如何在与水溶液隔离的局部疏水区中放大。
