Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Nat Chem. 2017 Nov;9(11):1043-1055. doi: 10.1038/nchem.2859. Epub 2017 Oct 16.
Understanding the diversity of dynamic structures and functions of DNA and RNA in biology requires tools that can selectively and intimately probe these biomolecules. Synthetic fluorescent nucleobases that can be incorporated into nucleic acids alongside their natural counterparts have emerged as a powerful class of molecular reporters of location and environment. They are enabling new basic insights into DNA and RNA, and are facilitating a broad range of new technologies with chemical, biological and biomedical applications. In this Review, we will present a brief history of the development of fluorescent nucleobases and explore their utility as tools for addressing questions in biophysics, biochemistry and biology of nucleic acids. We provide chemical insights into the two main classes of these compounds: canonical and non-canonical nucleobases. A point-by-point discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of both types of fluorescent nucleobases is made, along with a perspective into the future challenges and outlook for this burgeoning field.
理解 DNA 和 RNA 在生物学中的动态结构和功能的多样性需要能够选择性和深入地探测这些生物分子的工具。可以与天然核苷酸一起掺入核酸中的合成荧光碱基已成为位置和环境的一类强大的分子报告器。它们使人们对 DNA 和 RNA 有了新的基本认识，并促进了一系列具有化学、生物和生物医学应用的新技术的发展。在这篇综述中，我们将简要介绍荧光碱基的发展历史，并探讨它们作为解决核酸生物物理学、生物化学和生物学问题的工具的用途。我们提供了这两类化合物的化学见解：规范和非规范碱基。我们逐点讨论了这两种类型的荧光碱基的优缺点，并对这一新兴领域的未来挑战和前景进行了展望。
