NMR study on the interaction of the conserved CREX ‘stem–loop’ in the Hepatitis E virus genome with a naphthyridine-based ligand

Abstract

A 2-amino-1,8-naphthyridine derivative that is described to bind single guanine bulges in RNA–DNA and RNA–RNA duplexes was synthesized and its interaction with the single G bulge in the conserved CREX of the Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) genome was explored by NMR and molecular modeling. Results indicate that the ligand intercalates in the internal loop, though none of the expected hydrogen bonds with the single G in the bulge could be demonstrated.