6-Thio-dG (S6-dG)

6-Thio-deoxyGuanosine (6-Thio-dG) is a nucleoside that, when incorporated into either DNA or RNA in the cell, exhibits potent cytotoxicity. Such cytotoxicity is most likely due to the 6-Thio-dG either inducing strand breakage or cross-linking to both DNA and proteins (1). The cytotoxic properties of 6-Thio-dG make it an effective cytotoxic agent for treating human leukemias. Its ability to photochemically cross-link to both nucleic acids and proteins also make 6-Thio-dG-modified oligonucleotides desirable reagents for use in studying binding interactions between DNA and DNA-binding proteins. In one study, 6-Thio-dG was shown to efficiently cross-link with EcoRV endonuclease and methyltransferase (2). Cross-linking was achieved with 340 nm UV light; because this wavelength is considerably removed from the UV absorbance maxima of the natural bases (260 nm), cross-linking can be achieved without additional UV damage to the DNA.

6-Thio-dG can also be used to study the properties of G-rich triple-helix forming oligonucleotides. For example, substitution of 6-Thio-dG for some or all dGs in such oligos results in inhibition of both oligo self-association and G-quartet formation, thereby favoring normal formation of triple helices (3).

In addition, because the thiol group of 6-Thio-dG is active, incorporation of this modified nucleoside into an oligo also incorporates a reactive thiol at that position, which can be utilized to selectively alkylate the sulfur at that position (4).

References
1. Christopherson, M.S., Broom, A.D. Synthesis of oligonucleotides containing 2’-deoxy-6-thioguanosine at a predetermined site. Nucleic Acids Res. (1991), 19: 5719-5724.
2. Nikiforov, T.T., Connolly, B.A. Oligodeoxynucleotides containing 4-thiothymidine and 6-thiodeoxyguanosine as affinity labels for the Eco RV restriction endonuclease and modification methylase. Nucleic Acids Res. (1992), 20: 1209-1214.
3. Rao, T.S., Durland, R.H., Seth, D.M., Myrick, M.A., Bodepudi, V., Revankar, G.R. Incorporation of 2’-Deoxy-6-thioguanosine into G-Rich Oligodeoxyribonucleotides Inhibits G-Tetrad Formation and Facilitates Triplex Formation.Biochemistry (1995), 34: 765-772.
4. Coleman, R.S., Pires, R.M. Covalent cross-linking of duplex DNA using 4-thio-2’-deoxyuridine as a readily modifiable platform for introduction of reactive functionality into oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acids Res. (1997), 25: 4771-4777.
- 6-Thio-dG (S6-dG)