Aminopropyl-CPG; 2000 Å

We studied the use of an immobilized enzyme, covalently bound to aminopropyl-CPG, in the analysis of individual delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid sulphates. A microcolumn with immobilized 3 beta,17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was prepared and used together with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide produced from delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroids by this enzyme was fluorimetrically determined. The immobilized enzyme was sufficiently stable for at least one month or for 180 tests when used repeatedly. A clinical trial demonstrated that this HPLC-immobilized enzyme method is superior to the soluble enzyme method, giving reliable and reproducible results at a low cost.

A general method is described for the solid phase supported synthesis of DNA containing 3'-terminal phosphodiesters modified with linkers bearing either amino, thiol, or hydroxyl groups. These products are all made from a common intermediate, obtained by the reaction of trimellitic anhydride chloride with aminopropyl CPG. The anhydride-derivatized support was then reacted with three appropriate bifunctional spacers, giving DMT-protected hydroxyl solid supports bearing the masked functionality as an ester, amide, or thioester. DNA synthesis was then performed, followed by ammonia cleavage and deprotection, giving the hydroxyl-, amino-, or thiol-functionalized DNA 3'-phosphate diesters, respectively. Test mononucleotides synthesized with each of the new supports were identical with control mononucleotides made with 5'-immobilized nucleosides and alkylhydroxyl, alkylamino, and alkylthio phosphoramidites. The new supports were then used to prepare several 3'-modified oligonucleotides, which were characterized by gel electrophoresis, HPLC, and MALDI mass spectroscopy. The amino- and thiol-functionalized DNAs were conjugated with chromophores, and purification of these products was facilitated by use of reversed phase cartridges.