A Nucleoside That Contains a Rigid Nitroxide Spin Label: A Fluorophore in Disguise

Abstract

Take a spin: The nucleoside Ç (C-spin), which contains a rigid nitroxide spin label, allows the structure and dynamics of nucleic acids into which it is incorporated to be studied by EPR spectroscopy (left spectrum). Reduction of the nitroxide with a mild reducing agent renders the nucleoside fluorescent (right spectrum). Thus, the same nucleic acid can be studied with two complementary spectroscopic techniques.