Synthesis of nucleoside 3'-(S-alkyl phosphorothioates) and their use as substrates for nucleases.

The synthesis of cytidine, uridine, guanosine, and adenosine 3'-(S-methyl phosphorothioates) by treatment of the 2',5'-di-O-(4-methoxytetrahydropyran-4-yl)ribonucleosides with 2-(methylthio 4H-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin 2-oxide is described. These nucleotide analogues are stable compounds both in the solid state and the neutral aqueous solution. All four of these compounds are degraded by RNase T2 to the parent nucleotides and methanethiol. In addition, cytidine and uridine 3'-(S-methyl phosphorothioates) are substrates for bovine pancreatic ribonuclease and guanosine 3'-(S-methyl phosphorothioate) is a substrate for RNase T1 and RNase U1. When used in conjunction with a chromophore-producing reagent, nucleoside 3'-(S-methyl phosphorothioates) provide a means for direct kinetic measurement of ribonuclease activity over a wide pH range (pH 2-9). The reactivities of these substrates with ribonucleases are compared to the reactivities of other synthetic substrates as well as a number of natural substrates. The utility of ribonucleoside 3'-(S-methyl phosphorothioates) as substrates for the assay of ribonucleases is discussed.