K. Yamana et al., Synthesis of oligonucleotides containing a new azobenzene fragment with efficient photoisomerizability, BIO MED CH, 7(12), 1999, pp. 2977-2983
The azobenzene derivatives possessing substituents of ROCH2CH2O- and-CH2CH2
OR' or -CONHCH2CH2OR' at p,p'-positions, where R and R' are 4,4'-dimethoxyt
rityl and 2-cyanoethyl-N,N'-diisopropylphophoramidite, have been synthesize
d for linking two oligonucelotide segments. It has been found that the azob
enzene linkers efficiently undergo trans-cis isomerization by exposing to U
V light. The conversion efficiency showed slight dependence on structure or
conformation of oligonucleotides attached to the azobenzene chromophore. T
he cis-form of the azobenzene in oligonucleotides was sufficiently stable a
t low temperature under dark. The present findings would open the way for l
ight switch of nucleic acid structures. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All
rights reserved.