Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are one of many synthetic mimics of DNA and RNA that have found applications as biological probes, as nano-scaffold components, and in diagnostics. In an effort to use PNA as constructs for cellular delivery we investigated the possibility of installing a biologically susceptible disulfide bond in the backbone of a PNA oligomer. Here we report the synthesis of a new abasic Fmoc monomer containing a disulfide bond that can be incorporated into a PNA oligomer (DS-PNA) using standard solid phase peptide synthesis. The disulfide bond survives cleavage from the resin and DS-PNA forms duplexes with complementary PNA oligomers. Initial studies aimed at determining if the disulfide bond is cleavable to reducing agents while in a duplex are explored using UV thermal analysis and HPLC.

中文翻译：

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合成新的二硫键Fmoc单体，以在肽核酸寡聚体中产生生物学敏感的键。

肽核酸（PNA）是DNA和RNA的许多合成模拟物中的一种，已被发现可作为生物探针，纳米支架成分以及在诊断中应用。为了使用PNA作为细胞递送的构建体，我们研究了在PNA低聚物的主链中安装生物学敏感的二硫键的可能性。在这里，我们报告了一种新的含有二硫键的无碱Fmoc单体的合成，可以使用标准固相肽合成方法将其掺入PNA低聚物（DS-PNA）中。二硫键可以从树脂上裂解下来，并且DS-PNA与互补的PNA低聚物形成双链体。最初的研究旨在确定二硫键在双链体中是否可被还原剂裂解，这是使用UV热分析和HPLC进行的。