TitleTuning the pH Response of i-Motif DNA Oligonucleotides.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsLannes L, Halder S, Krishnan Y, Schwalbe H
JournalChembiochem
Volume16
Issue11
Pagination1647-56
Date Published2015 Jul 27
ISSN1439-7633
Abstract

Cytosine-rich single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides are able to adopt an i-motif conformation, a four-stranded structure, near a pH of 6. This unique pH-dependent conformational switch is reversible and hence can be controlled by changing the pH. Here, we show that the pH response range of the human telomeric i-motif can be shifted towards more basic pH values by introducing 5-methylcytidines (5-MeC) and towards more acidic pH values by introducing 5-bromocytidines (5-BrC). No thermal destabilisation was observed in these chemically modified i-motif sequences. The time required to attain the new conformation in response to sudden pH changes was slow for all investigated sequences but was found to be ten times faster in the 5-BrC derivative of the i-motif.

DOI10.1002/cbic.201500182
Alternate JournalChembiochem
PubMed ID26032298