Synthesis of novel derivatives of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-formylcytosine as tools for epigenetics

Abstract

SummaryIn this work we present for the first time the synthesis of novel 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and 5-formylcytosine (5fC) derivatives that can be used as tools in the emerging field of epigenetics for deciphering chemical biology of TET-mediated processes.

Homologues of epigenetic pyrimidines: 5-alkyl-, 5-hydroxyalkyl and 5-acyluracil and -cytosine nucleotides: synthesis, enzymatic incorporation into DNA and effect on transcription with bacterial RNA polymerase

“…Although the synthesis of several ethyl-based pyrimidine nucleosides is known, [41][42][43] we prepared some of them in a different and more efficient way (Scheme 1A). Catalytic hydrogenation of 5-ethynylpyrimidine nucleosides dU E (ref.…”