Stabilization of DNA duplex by 2-substituted adenine as a minor groove modifier

2-(1-Naphthalenylethynyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (NA) was synthesized and incorporated into oligodeoxynucleotides. DNA duplexes containing newly designed 5′-NAT-3′/3′-TNA-5′ base pairs are considerably stabilized than unmodified duplexes by stacking interaction of naphthalene rings in the narrow minor groove as characterized by a new emission at longer wavelength and exciton coupled CD signals.

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