Themed collection Nucleic Acid Chemistry: celebrating Christian Leumann’s retirement
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The bench to bedside journey of tricyclo-DNA antisense oligonucleotides for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
The review summarizes the preclinical evaluation of tricyclo-DNA-ASOs from the first fully phosphorotiated compounds to the latest generation of lipid-conjugated-ASOs currently evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of DMD.
RSC Med. Chem., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MD00394B
Enzymatic synthesis of ligand-bearing oligonucleotides for the development of metal-responsive DNA materials
This review provides an overview of enzymatic synthesis methods for DNA strands with ligand-type artificial nucleotides forming metal-mediated base pairs, which have been applied in developing metal-responsive functional DNA molecules.
Org. Biomol. Chem., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4OB00947A
Purinyl N-directed aroylation of 6-arylpurine ribo- and 2′-deoxyribonucleosides, and mechanistic insights
The purinyl nitrogen atom is an effective metalation director, which in the presence of Pd(OAc)2, t-BuOOH, and aryl aldehydes, leads to acylation of the aryl ring at the C6 position of the purine.
Org. Biomol. Chem., 2024,22, 6718-6726
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4OB00689E
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Peptide dendrimers transfecting CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid DNA: optimization and mechanism
We optimize a peptide dendrimer transfection reagent to deliver a large CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid DNA into cells, elucidate its delivery mechanism, and demonstrate its gene editing efficiency.
RSC Chem. Biol., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CB00116H
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Modular and automated synthesis of oligonucleotide-small molecule conjugates for cathepsin B mediated traceless release of payloads
An enzyme-cleavable dipeptide linker between an oligonucleotide and its payload tracelessly releases the payload in cells with applications in the rapidly expanding fields of oligonucleotide-drug conjugates and targeted oligonucleotide therapeutics.
RSC Chem. Biol., 2024,5, 738-744
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CB00112E
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Towards combining backbone and sugar constraint in 3′-3′ bis-phosphonate tethered 2′-4′ bridged LNA oligonucleotide trimers
The synthesis of alkylphosphonate-linked locked nucleic acid (LNA) trimers which restrict conformation of the furanose sugar and conformational mobility of the sugar-phosphate backbone across three nucleotide units is described.
RSC Adv., 2024,14, 23583-23591
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA04277H
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Impact of charges on the hybridization kinetics and thermal stability of PNA duplexes
Clicking-on side chains to assess the impact of charges on hybridization properties of PNA.
Org. Biomol. Chem., 2024,22, 5759-5767
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4OB00887A
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A toolbox for enzymatic modification of nucleic acids with photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy
Enzymatic bioconjugation of DNA with efficient photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy applications.
RSC Chem. Biol., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CB00103F
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THF peroxide as a factor in generating desulphurised products from the solid-phase synthesis of phosphorothioate-modified oligonucleotides
The oxidation of phosphite triester by peroxides contained in THF as a solvent is reflected as a PO-substituted product during the synthesis of phosphorothioate-modified oligonucleotides.
RSC Adv., 2024,14, 21590-21596
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA03592E
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The positional and numerical effect of N6-methyladenosine in tracrRNA on the DNA cleavage activity of Cas9
The m6A-modified tracrRNA can retain Cas9-mediated DNA cleavage activity only when the modified residues are located in the tail part of the tracrRNA, which is composed of stem loops 2 and 3.
RSC Adv., 2024,14, 20529-20535
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA03957B
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Improved synthesis and polymerase recognition of 7-deaza-7-modified α-L-threofuranosyl guanosine analogs
Threofuranosyl nucleic acid (TNA), an artificial genetic polymer known for its nuclease resistance and acid stability, has grown in popularity as a genetically-encoded material for applications in synthetic biology and biomedicine.
RSC Adv., 2024,14, 19701-19706
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA03029J
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Cell-resistant wavelength-shifting molecular beacons made of L-DNA and a clickable L-configured uridine
Molecular beacons prepared from L-configured building blocks using a two-fold click chemistry for dye modification show a temperature-induced fluorescence color readout.
Org. Biomol. Chem., 2024,22, 4568-4573
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4OB00692E
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Site-specific RNA modification via initiation of in vitro transcription reactions with m6A and isomorphic emissive adenosine analogs
Transcription reactions with excess adenosine surrogates leads to 5′-end modified transcripts, which can be ligated to diverse RNAs. By modifying a key position in a MazF RNA substrate, insight into the folding and recognition features is gained.
RSC Chem. Biol., 2024,5, 454-458
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CB00045E
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Discovery of highly potent SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 methyltransferase inhibitors based on adenosine 5′-carboxamides
RSC Med. Chem., 2024, Accepted Manuscript
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MD00422A
About this collection
This special collection marks Professor Christian Leumann's retirement, serving as a tribute to his outstanding contributions to nucleic acid chemistry and his lasting impact on the scientific community. Widely thought of as a leading figure in the synthesis of DNA, Professor Christian Leumann has helped to shape the application of oligonucleotides in medicine and pioneered some of the modifications that are in clinical trial today. This collection aims to reflect the breadth and depth of Professor Leumann’s research interests, inspiring generations of scientists to come to continue to push the boundaries of bioorganic chemistry.
This cross-journal collection in New Journal of Chemistry, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, RSC Advances, RSC Chemical Biology and RSC Medicinal Chemistry, guest edited by Dr Eugen Stulz (University of Southampton, UK) and Dr Marcel Hollenstein (Institut Pasteur, France), features the most recent and significant contributions to nucleic acid chemistry, with particular emphasis on synthesis, biological and medicinal applications, nanomaterials and more.
New articles will be added to the collection upon publication. Please return to this page frequently to see the collection grow.