Ruthenium-caged antisense morpholinos for regulating gene expression in zebrafish embryos. Issue 4 (6th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Griepenburg, Julianne C.; Rapp, Teresa L.; Carroll, Patrick J.; Eberwine, James; Dmochowski, Ivan J.
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 6:Issue 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 2342
• Page End: 2346
• Publication Date: 2015-02-06
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c4sc03990d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : Ruthenium photolinkers provide a versatile method of using visible light to control structure and function of biopolymers. Abstract : Photochemical approaches afford high spatiotemporal control over molecular structure and function, for broad applications in materials and biological science. Here, we present the first example of a visible light responsive ruthenium-based photolinker, Ru(bipyridine)2 (3-ethynylpyridine)2 (RuBEP), which was reacted stoichiometrically with a 25mer DNA or morpholino (MO) oligonucleotide functionalized with 3′ and 5′ terminal azides, via Cu(i )-mediated [3+2] Huisgen cycloaddition reactions. RuBEP-caged circular morpholinos (Ru-MOs) targeting two early developmental zebrafish genes, chordin and notail, were synthesized and tested in vivo . One-cell-stage zebrafish embryos microinjected with Ru-MO and incubated in the dark for 24 h developed normally, consistent with caging, whereas irradiation at 450 nm dissociated one 3-ethynylpyridine ligand ( Φ = 0.33) and uncaged the MO to achieve gene knockdown. As demonstrated, Ru photolinkers provide a versatile method for controlling structure and function of biopolymers.