We and others have demonstrated the use of triaminotriazine (melamine) as a synthetic base-triple motif in a family of molecules that include bifacial peptide nucleic acid (bPNA). Bifacial PNA and related artificial scaffolds displaying melamine, such as peptoid, polyacrylate and small synthetic backbones, can engage two oligo T/U strands simultaneously to form unique triple stranded structures. These bPNAs can serve as allosteric triggers of aptamer protein-binding, ribozyme catalysis, aptamer small-molecule binding and scaffolds for potent siRNA delivery. bPNA-derived probes displaying melamine can also target T/U bulges in folded nucleic acid structures and trigger cooperative folding in unstructured oligo T/U domains; we have applied this approach to develop novel fluorogenic labeling strategies for RNA as well as NMR-probes for RNA-binding protein domains. Overall, a wide range of applications emerge from the use of a simple artificial base triple unit.

Applications of a synthetic base-triple motif in nucleic acid structure-function, diagnostics and delivery

2019 Spring National Meeting

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