The ability of several DNA polymerases to catalyze the template-directed synthesis of duplex oligonucleotides containing a base pair between a nucleotide with anhydrohexitol ring and its natural complement has been investigated. All DNA polymerases were able to accept the chemically synthesized anhydrohexitol triphosphate as substrate and to catalyze the incorporation of one anhydrohexitol nucleotide. However, only family B DNA polymerases succeeded in elongating the primer after the incorporation of an anhydrohexitol nucleotide. In this family, Vent (exo(-)) DNA polymerase is the most successful one and was therefore selected for further investigation. Results revealed that at high enzyme concentrations six hATPs could be incorporated; however, a selective incorporation proved only feasible under experimental conditions where no more than two analogues could be inserted. Also the synthesis of a mixed HNA-DNA sequence was examined. Kinetic parameters for incorporation of one anhydrohexitol adenine nucleoside were similar to those of its natural analogue.

Several reverse transcriptases were studied for their ability to accept anhydrohexitol triphosphates, having a conformationally restricted six-membered ring, as substrate for template-directed synthesis of HNA. It was found that AMV, M-MLV, M-MLV (H(-)), RAV2 and HIV-1 reverse transcriptases were able to recognise the anhydrohexitol triphosphate as substrate and to efficiently catalyse the incorporation of one non-natural anhydrohexitol nucleotide opposite a natural complementary nucleotide. However, only the dimeric enzymes, the RAV2 and HIV-1 reverse transcriptases, seemed to be able to further extend the primer with another anhydrohexitol building block. Subsequently, several HIV-1 mutants (4xAZT, 4xAZT/L100I, L74V, M184V and K65A) were likewise analysed, resulting in selection of K65A and, in particular, M184V as the most succesful mutant HIV-1 reverse transcriptases capable of elongating a DNA primer with several 1,5-anhydrohexitol adenines in an efficient way. Results of kinetic experiments in the presence of this enzyme revealed that incorporation of one anhydrohexitol nucleotide of adenine or thymine gave an increased (for 1,5-anhydrohexitol-ATP) and a slightly decreased (for 1,5-anhydrohexitol-TTP) K(m) value in comparison to that of their natural counterparts. However, no more than four analogues could be inserted under the experimental conditions required for selective incorporation. Investigation of incorporation of the altritol anhydrohexitol nucleotide of adenine in the presence of M184V and Vent (exo(-)) DNA polymerase proved that an adjacent hydroxyl group on C3 of 1,5-anhydrohexitol-ATP has a detrimental effect on the substrate activity of the six-ring analogue. These results could be rationalised based on the X-ray structure of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

A number of 5-heteroaromatic-substituted 2'-deoxyuridines were synthesized from 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine using tetraorganotin reagents and palladium complexes as catalyst. The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine and stannylated heteroaromatics was optimized for the synthesis of the 5-thien-3-yl-2'-deoxyuridine and 5-furan-3-yl-2'-deoxyuridine. 5-(5-Iodothien-2-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine was used as starting material for the synthesis of 5-(5-methylthien-2-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine, 5-(5-vinylthien-2-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine, and 5-(5-ethynylthien-2-yl)-2'- deoxyuridine. 5-(5-Nitrothien-2-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine was synthesized using ceric ammonium nitrate as reagent. 5-(Isoxazol-5-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine was synthesized from 5-(3-oxopropyn-1-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine. Finally, 5-(5-chlorothien-2-yl)-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil and 5-(5-bromothien-2-yl)-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil were obtained by halogenation of 5-thien-2-yl-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil. Introduction of an alkyl substituent in the 5-position of the thienyl group of 5-thien-2-yl-2'-deoxyuridine or substitution of the 2-deoxyribofuranose ring by an arabinofuranose moiety gave decreased activity against HSV-1 and VZV replication when compared with the 5"-halogenated-5-thien-2-yl-2'-deoxyuridines. 5-(5-Bromothien-2-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine caused prompt healing of HSV-1 keratitis when administered as eye drops (0.2%) to rabbits.