@article{ScheitlOkudaAdelmannetal.2023,
  author    = {Scheitl, Carolin P. M. and Okuda, Takumi and Adelmann, Juliane and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia},
  title     = {Ribozyme-catalyzed late-stage functionalization and fluorogenic labeling of RNA},
  series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition},
  volume    = {62},
  journal   = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition},
  doi       = {10.1002/anie.202305463},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-327543},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Site-specific introduction of biorthogonal handles into RNAs is in high demand for decorating RNAs with fluorophores, affinity labels or other modifications. Aldehydes represent attractive functional groups for post-synthetic bioconjugation reactions. Here, we report a ribozyme-based method for the synthesis of aldehyde-functionalized RNA by directly converting a purine nucleobase. Using the methyltransferase ribozyme MTR1 as an alkyltransferase, the reaction is initiated by site-specific N1 benzylation of purine, followed by nucleophilic ring opening and spontaneous hydrolysis under mild conditions to yield a 5-amino-4-formylimidazole residue in good yields. The modified nucleotide is accessible to aldehyde-reactive probes, as demonstrated by the conjugation of biotin or fluorescent dyes to short synthetic RNAs and tRNA transcripts. Upon fluorogenic condensation with a 2,3,3-trimethylindole, a novel hemicyanine chromophore was generated directly on the RNA. This work expands the MTR1 ribozyme's area of application from a methyltransferase to a tool for site-specific late-stage functionalization of RNA.},
  language  = {en}
}