A search for base analogs to enhance third-strand binding to ‘inverted’ target base pairs of triplexes in the pyrimidine/parallel motif

Eight base analogs were tested as third strand residues in otherwise homopyrimidine strands opposite each of the 'direct' (A.T and G.C) and 'inverted' (T.A and C.G) Watson-Crick base pairs, using UV melting profiles to assess triplex stability. The target duplexes contained 20 A.T base pairs and a central test base pair X.Y, while the third strand contained 20 T residues and a central Z test base. Z included 5-bromo-uracil, 5-propynyluracil, 5-propynylcytosine, 5-methyl-cytosine, 5-bromocytosine, hypoxanthine, 2-amino-purine and 2,6-diaminopurine. Some of the base analogs enhanced third strand binding to the target duplex with one or other 'inverted' central base pair relative to the binding afforded by any of the canonical bases. Other analogs did the same for the duplexes with the 'direct' target pairs. The increasing order of triplex stabilization by these base analogs is: opposite the 'inverted' base pairs, for T.A, A < C < 5-pC < 5-pU < T < 5-BrC < 5-meC < 5-BrU < 2-AP < 2,6-DAP < Hy < G, for C.G, 2-AP < A < Hy < G < 5-pC < 5-BrC < 5-meC < C < 2,6-DAP < T < 5-BrU < 5-pU; opposite the 'direct' base pairs, for A.T, 2-AP < A < 5-meC < C < G < Hy < 2,6-DAP < 5-pU < T = 5-BrU < 5-BrC < 5-pC, for G.C, G < 2,6-DAP < 2-AP < A < Hy < T < 5-BrU < 5-pU < 5-pC < 5-BrC < C < 5-meC.