The effect of the 3′-terminal monophosphate group on the metal-ion-promoted hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bonds of short oligonucleotides

Abstract

The effect of 3′-terminal monophosphate group on the metal-ion-promoted hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bonds of oligonucleotides has been studied. For this purpose, the rate constants for the hydrolysis of the following oligomers in the presence of Zn²⁺ and its 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane chelate, Zn²⁺[12]aneN₃, have been determined: (i) ApUpUp(2′) and ApUpUp(3′), (ii) Up(Tp)_nT (n= 0–4 and 7), (iii) Up(Tp)_nTp (n= 0–4 and 7). The results obtained are used to propose a mechanism for the Zn²⁺ and Zn²⁺[12]aneN₃ promoted hydrolysis of polynucleotides.