deazaguanosine

Deazaguanosine is a modified nucleoside that is structurally similar to guanosine. The primary difference lies in the replacement of the nitrogen atom at position 7 of the guanine base with a carbon atom. This structural modification has significant implications for its biochemical properties and interactions. The deaza modification affects the hydrogen bonding capabilities of the base and can alter the way it pairs with its complementary base, cytosine, during nucleic acid formation. Deazaguanosine and its derivatives have found applications in various fields, particularly in molecular biology and diagnostics. For instance, they can be incorporated into synthetic oligonucleotides to enhance their stability or to alter their hybridization properties. These modified oligonucleotides are employed in techniques such as PCR, DNA sequencing, and antisense therapy. The altered electronic and steric properties conferred by the deaza modification can also influence enzyme recognition and activity, making deazaguanosine-containing probes useful in specific enzymatic assays. Research continues to explore the potential of deazaguanosine and its analogs in developing novel therapeutic agents and diagnostic tools.