Configuration of the 5′-Methyl Group Modulates the Biophysical and Biological Properties of Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) Oligonucleotides

As part of a program aimed at exploring the structure activity relationships of 2',4'-bridged nucleic acid (BNA) containing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), we report the synthesis and biophysical and biological properties of R- and S-5'-Me LNA modified oligonucleotides. We show that introduction of a methyl group in the (S) configuration at the 5'-position is compatible with the high affinity recognition of complementary nucleic acids observed with LNA. In contrast, introduction of a methyl group in the (R) configuration reversed the stabilization effect of LNA. NMR studies indicated that the R-5'-Me group changes the orientation around torsion angle gamma from the +sc to the ap range at the nucleoside level, and this may in part be responsible for the poor hybridization behavior exhibited by this modification. In animal experiments, S-5'-Me-LNA, modified gapmer antisense olignucleotides showed slightly reduced potency relative to the sequence matched LNA ASOs while improving the therapeutic profile.