Effect of Watson−Crick and Hoogsteen Base Pairing on the Conformational Stability of C8-Phenoxyl-2′-deoxyguanosine Adducts

Bulky DNA addition products (adducts) formed through attack at the C8 site of guanine can adopt the syn orientation about the glycosidic bond due to changes in conformational stability or hydrogen-bonding preferences directly arising from the bulky group. Indeed, the bulky substituent may improve the stability of (non-native) Hoogsteen pairs. Therefore, such adducts often result in mutations upon DNA replication. This work examines the hydrogen-bonded pairs between the Watson−Crick and Hoogsteen faces of the ortho or para C8-phenoxyl-2′-deoxyguanosine adduct and each natural (undamaged) nucleobase with the goal to clarify the conformational preference of this type of damage, as well as provide insight into the likelihood of subsequent mutation events. B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) hydrogen-bond strengths were determined using both nucleobase and nucleoside models for adduct pairs, as well as the corresponding complexes involving natural 2′-deoxyguanosine. In addition to the magnitude of the binding strengths, the R(C1′···C1′) distances and ∠(N9C1′C1′) angles, as well as the degree of propeller-twist and buckle distortions, were carefully compared to the values observed in natural DNA strands. Due to structural changes in the adduct monomer upon inclusion of the sugar moiety, the monomer deformation energy significantly affects the relative hydrogen-bond strengths calculated with the nucleobase and nucleoside models. Therefore, we recommend the use of at least a nucleoside model to accurately evaluate hydrogen-bond strengths of base pairs involving flexible, bulky nucleobase adducts. Our results also emphasize the importance of considering both the magnitude of the hydrogen-bond strength and the structure of the base pair when predicting the preferential binding patterns of nucleobases. Using our best models, we conclude that the Watson−Crick face of the ortho phenoxyl adduct forms significantly more stable complexes than the Hoogsteen face, which implies that the anti orientation of the damaged base will be favored by hydrogen bonding in DNA helices. Additionally, regardless of the hydrogen-bonding face involved, cytosine forms the most stable base pair with the ortho adduct, which implies that misincorporation due to this type of damage is unlikely. Similarly, cytosine is the preferred binding partner for the Watson−Crick face of the para adduct. However, Hoogsteen interactions with the para adduct are stronger than those with natural 2′-deoxyguano