[Interaction of derivatives of short oligonucleotides with nucleic acids. VIII. Characteristics of target DNA modification by alkylating oligonucleotide derivatives in tandem complexes].

The influence of effectors [octanucleotides and their 3',5'-di-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenazinium derivatives] on the modification of a target DNA by alkylating oligonucleotide derivatives forming duplexes of different stability with the target ws studied. It is shown that, being in tandem complexes immediately adjacent to the reactive group of an oligonucleotide reagent possessing a high hybridization capacity, the effector, on the one hand, enhances the stability of the reagent target duplex, and on the other hand, changes the site-specificity of alkylation and decreases the efficiency of the target modification at temperatures that provide a high extent of the target association with the reagent. Conversely, in the case of oligonucleotide reagents forming weak complexes with the target, effectors enhance both the stability of the target.reagent duplex and the extent of the target throughout the temperature range tested. The data indicate that the varying influence of effectors on the target modification by reagents with different hybridization capacities is due to conformational features of the target reagent duplexed regions. Increasing the rigidity of the target.reagent duplex reduces the efficiency of the target modification in tandem complexes.