TEMPLATE-DIRECTED SYNTHESIS OF OLIGONUCLEOTIDE .3. CONDENSATION OF NUCLEOTIDES IN THE PRESENCE OF NUCLEIC-ACID BASE-BINDING CROSS-LINKED POLY(4-VINYLPYRIDINE)

Cationic polynucleotide analogues such as derivatives of nucleic acid base-binding poly(4-vinylpyridine) are capable of interacting strongly with nucleotides. Thus, the cross-linked poly(4-vinylpyridine) containing adenine. [PVP]2-C2′-Ade61, showed considerable selectivity in interacting with the complementary nucleotide. The selective adsorption of nucleotides onto [PVP]2-C2′-Ade 61 have been studied together with the selective adsorption of the complementary nucleotide in water and in pyridine. Selectivities were 26 to 40% in water and 33 to 44% in pyridine. Using [PVP]2-C 2′-Ade61 as a template, template-directed non-enzymatic condensations of nucleotides were carried out in both water and pyridine. The total conversion was greater in pyridine than in water. Considerable amounts of complementary oligonucleotides with the template were obtained. The selectivity as a whole in the condensation depended on the selectivity in the adsorption.