PNA metabolic chemistry integration
Another key achievement in the
project is the coupling between the
genetic material and a metabolic system. Several “metabolic ligands”
can be envisaged. We have initially focussed on photoactivatible
ruthenium-tri-bipyridyl (Ru-bpy) ligands, which have been demonstrated
in model experiments to convert lipophilic membrane precursors into
amphiphilic membrane components upon irradiation (energy input). In
theory this reaction may be enhanced by charge transfer stabilization
via the PNA bases (primarily guanine). In order to test and optimize
this system, PNA- Ru-bpy (Fig. 11) conjugates have been synthesized
and studied in terms of photoinduced charge transfer and membrane
precursor reactions.
Fig. 11. An example of PNA-Ru-bpy conjugate