1,3-Dipolar [3+2] cycloaddition between azides and alkynes—an archetypal “click” chemistry—has been used increasingly for the functionalization of nucleic acids. Copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between alkyne-tagged DNA molecules and azides work well, but they require optimization of multiple reagents, and Cu ions are known to mediate DNA cleavage. For many applications, it would be preferable to eliminate the Cu(I) catalyst from these reactions. Here we describe the solid-phase synthesis and characterization of 5’-dibenzocyclooctyne (DIBO)-modified oligonucleotides, using a new DIBO phosphoramidite, which react with azides via copper-free, strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition (SPAAC). We found that the DIBO group not only survived the standard acidic and oxidative reactions of solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis SPOS, but that it also survived the thermal cycling and standard conditions of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). As a result, PCR with DIBO-modified primers yielded “clickable” amplicons that could be tagged with azide-modified fluorophores or immobilized on azide-modified surfaces. Given its simplicity, SPAAC on DNA could streamline the bioconjugate chemistry of nucleic acids in a number of modern biotechnologies.

Covalent protein-oligodeoxynucleotide (protein-ODN) conjugates are useful in a number of biological applications, but synthesizing discrete conjugates—where the connection between the two components is at a defined location in both the protein and the ODN—under mild conditions with significant yield can be a challenge. In this article, we demonstrate a strategy for synthesizing discrete protein-ODN conjugates using strain-promoted azide-alkyne [3+2] cycloaddition (SPAAC, a copper-free “click” reaction). Azide-functionalized proteins, prepared by enzymatic prenylation of C-terminal CVIA tags with synthetic azidoprenyl diphosphates, were “clicked” to ODNs that had been modified with a strained dibenzocyclooctyne (DIBO-ODN). The resulting protein-ODN conjugates were purified and characterized by size-exclusion chromatography and gel electrophoresis. We find that the yields and reaction times of the SPAAC bioconjugation reactions are comparable to those previously reported for copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne [3+2] cycloaddition (CuAAC) bioconjugation, but require no catalyst. The same SPAAC chemistry was used to immobilize azide-modified proteins onto surfaces, using surface-bound DIBO-ODN as a heterobifunctional linker. Cu-free click bioconjugation of proteins to ODNs is a simple and versatile alternative to Cu-catalyzed click methods.

We report that poly(L-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) copolymers that bear multiple thiol groups on the polymer backbone are exceptional ligands for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). In general, these graft copolymer ligands stabilize AuNPs against environments that would ordinarily lead to particle aggregation. To characterize the effect of copolymer structure on AuNP stability, we synthesized thiolated PLL-g-PEGs (PLL-g-[PEG:SH]) with different backbone lengths, PEG grafting densities, and number of thiols per polymer chain. AuNPs were then combined with these polymer ligands, and the stabilities of the resulting AuNP@PLL-g-[PEG:SH] particles against high temperature, oxidants, and competing thiol ligands were characterized using dynamic light scattering, visible absorption spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectrophotometry. Our observations indicate that thiolated PLL-g-PEG ligands combine thermodynamic stabilization via multiple Au-S bonds and steric stabilization by PEG grafts, and the best graft copolymer ligands balance these two effects. We hope that this new ligand system enables AuNPs to be applied to biotechnological applications that require harsh experimental conditions.

Two cyano-bridged Cu(II)-M(V) [M = Mo (2), W (3)] complexes formed by self-assembly of octacyanometalates [M(CN)8]3- (M = Mo, W) with a new molecular precursor [Cu(L2)]2+ (1) (L2 = a macrocyclic ligand) in a 2:3 ratio have been investigated in terms of structures and magnetic behaviors. The M2Cu3 repeating unit of both bimetallic compounds is extended to a two-dimensional honeycomblike layered structure. The pendant ethyl groups on L2 noticeably influence the structural parameters around the Cu center. Compared with the system composed of a macrocycle without a side group, Cu-N(ax) (ax = axial) distances become shorter and the Cu-N(ax)-C(ax) angles are more bent for 2 and 3. The magnetic data denote that the Cu(II) and M(V) spins undergo explicit ferromagnetic interactions via CN bridges. From a structural and magnetic point of view, given that the Cu-N(ax) bond length in the tetragonally distorted octahedral Cu(II) environment is long enough, the overall ferromagnetic character remains despite the variation of Cu-N(ax)-C(ax) angle in this system.

Two W(V)-Mn(III) bimetallic compounds, [Mn(Cl-salmen)(H(2)O)2]{[Mn(5-Clsalmen)(H(2)O)]2[W(CN)8].2H(2)O (1.2H(2)O) [5-Clsalmen = N,N'-(1-methylethylene)bis(5-chlorosalicylideneiminato) dianion], which contains trinuclear Mn(2)W and isolated Mn(III) moieties, and [Mn(3-MeOsalcy)(H(2)O)2]3[W(CN)(8)].2H(2)O (2.2H(2)O) [3-MeOsalcy = N,N'-(trans-1,2-cyclohexanediylethylene)bis(3-methoxysalicylideneiminato) dianion] molecules were prepared in redox processes and characterized using X-ray analysis and magnetic measurements. Compound 1 is composed of the {[Mn(5-Clsalmen)(H(2)O)]2[W(CN)8]}- trimer, in which two CN groups among eight in [W(CN)8](3-) bridge W(5+) and two Mn(3+) ions and the remaining CN ligands are hydrogen-bonded to water molecules or unbound, and the [Mn(Cl-salmen)(H(2)O)2]+ cation. Subsequently, two water molecules of the isolated cation are subject to hydrogen bonds. For 2, there are no covalent bonds among the subunits and six serial stacks of [Mn(3-MeOsalcy)(H(2)O)2]+ units are all hydrogen-bonded. The many hydrogen bonds found in both complexes eventually lead to three-dimensional networks. The magnetic studies for 1 reveal that antiferromagnetic interactions (J = -5.4 cm(-1)) between W(V) and Mn(III) centers within the trimer are transmitted via the bridging CN groups. Intermolecular antiferromagnetic couplings (zJ' = -0.2 cm(-1)) are also observed. The static and dynamic magnetic data of 1 demonstrate the existence of a field-induced spin-flop transition occurring among the clusters and monomeric molecules.

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The hydration effect on the intrinsic magnetism of natural salmon double-strand DNA was explored using electron magnetic resonance (EMR) spectroscopy and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetic measurements. We learned from this study that the magnetic properties of DNA are roughly classified into two distinct groups depending on their water content: One group is of higher water content in the range of 2.6-24 water molecules per nucleotide (wpn), where all the EMR parameters and SQUID susceptibilities are dominated by spin species experiencing quasi one-dimensional diffusive motion and are independent of the water content. The other group is of lower water content in the range of 1.4-0.5 wpn. In this group, the magnetic properties are most probably dominated by cyclotron motion of spin species along the helical π-way, which is possible when the momentum scattering time (τ k) is long enough not only to satisfy the cyclotron resonance condition (ω c τ k > 1) but also to induce a constructive interference between the neighboring double helices. The same effect is reflected in the S-shaped magnetization-magnetic field strength (M-H) curves superimposed with the linear background obtained by SQUID measurements, which leads to larger susceptibilities at 1000 G when compared with the values at 10,000 G. In particular, we propose that the spin-orbital coupling and Faraday's mutual inductive effect can be utilized to interpret the dimensional crossover of spin motions from quasi 1D in the hydrate state to 3D in the dry state of dsDNA.