Rimstone Laboratory is a consultation office for analytical and biophysical sciences |
Address:
Carlsbad, CA 92010, U.S.A.
phone & fax: 442-333-9098
e-mail: jans@rimstonelab.com
CV of Janos Sagi
head of Rimstone Laboratory
Education:
D.Sc., Biophysical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary, 2004.
Ph.D., Bioorganic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary, 1981;
Dr. Univ., Organic Chemistry, Science University of Szeged, Hungary, 1973;
MS, Chemistry, Science University of Szeged, Hungary, 1970;
Employment:
2005 – present: Head and CSO of Rimstone Laboratory, RLI, and CFO of RLI located in
Cheshire, Connecticut from 2005 to 2014, and from 2014 to present in Carlsbad, California,
USA
2003 – 2004: Consultant for BioBlocks, Inc., Carlsbad, California, and for Neuronal Gene
Expression Unit, Pain and Neurosensory Mechanism Branch, NIDCR, National Institute of
Health, Bethesda, Maryland
2002–2003: Chemist Scientist, Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc., San Diego, California
2000–2001: Research Chemist, Cambridge Discovery Chemistry, Inc., Richmond, California
1996-2000: Chemist, Scientist, Donner Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
1983-1996: Senior Research Scientist, Group Leader, Research Group for Bioorganic
Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, Central Research Institute for Chemistry, Academy of Sciences,
Budapest, Hungary
1982-1983: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Laboratory of Chemical Biodynamics and
Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
1970-1982: Research Scientist, Central Research Institute for Chemistry, Academy of
Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
Professional society:
American Chemical Society
International Society of Nucleic Acids Chemistry
List of earlier publications:
M. Vorlíčková, I. Kejnovská, J. Sagi, D. Renčiuk, K. Bednářová, J. Motlová, J. Kypr,
Circular Dichroism and Guanine Quadruplexes. Methods 57, 64-75 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymeth.2012.03.011
J. Sagi, A.B. Guliaev and B. Singer: 15-mer DNA duplexes containing an abasic site are
thermodynamically more stable with adjacent purines than with pyrimidines. Biochemistry, 40,
3859-3868 (2001).
G. Bischoff, U. Gromann, S. Lindau, R. Skolziger, W. Witkowski, Ch. Bohley, S. Naumann, J.
Sagi, W-V. Meister, and S. Hoffmann: A structure-function study of nucleic acid-fluorenone
complexes. J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 18, 199-208 (2000).
J. Sagi, A. Perry, B. Hang and B. Singer: Differential destabilization of the DNA
oligonucleotide double helix by a T.G mismatch, 3,N4-ethenocytosine, 3,N4-ethanocytosine,
or an 8-(hydroxymethyl)-3,N4-ethenocytosine adduct incorporated into the same position.
Chemical Research in Toxicology 13, 839-845 (2000).
A.B. Guliaev, J. Sagi, and B. Singer: Sequence-dependent conformational perturbation in
DNA duplexes containing an epsilonA.T mismatch using molecular dynamics simulation.
Carcinogenesis, 21, 1727-36 (2000).
J. Sagi, B. Hang and B. Singer: Sequence-dependent repair of synthetic AP sites in 15-mer
and 35-mer oligonucleotides: Role of thermodynamic stability imposed by neighbor bases.
Chemical Research in Toxicology 12, 917-923 (1999).
J. Sagi and B. Singer: Thermal destabilization of DNA oligonucleotide duplexes by exocyclic
adducts on adenine or cytosine depends on both the base and the size of adduct. In: The
Role of Cyclic Adducts in Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis, Eds. B. Singer & H. Bartsch,
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Scientific Publications, No. 150, 191-
196 (1999).
L. Otvos, J. Sagi, Gy. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Base modified oligodeoxynucleotides. II. Increase
of stability to nucleases by 5-alkyl-, 5-(1-alkenyl)- and 5-(1-alkynyl)-pyrimidines. Nucleosides
& Nucleotides 18, 1929-1933 (1999).
L. Otvos, J. Sagi, Gy. Sagi, A. Szemzo, F.D. Toth, and A. Jeney: Enzymatic hydrolysis and
biological activity of oligonucleotides containing 5-substituted pyrimidine bases. Nucleosides
& Nucleotides 18, 1665-1666 (1999).
B. Hang, J. Sági, and B. Singer: Correlation between sequence-dependent glycosylase repair
and the thermal stability of oligonucleotide duplexes containing 1,N6-ethenoadenine. J. Biol.
Chem. 273, 33406-33413 (1998).
B. Hang, A. Chenna, J. Sagi and B. Singer: Differential repair of the benzene-derived adduct,
1,N6-benzetheno-dA, by the major human AP endonuclease HAP1 and the Escherichia coli
Endonuclease IV and Exonuclease III. Carcinogenesis, 19, 1339-1343 (1998).
J. Sagi, A. Chenna, B. Hang and B. Singer: A single cyclic p-benzoquinone adduct can
destabilize a DNA oligonucleotide duplex. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 11, 329-334
(1998).
B. Hang, D.G. Rothwell, J. Sagi, I.D. Hickson and B. Singer: Evidence for a common active
site for cleavage of an AP site and the benzene-derived exocyclic adduct, 3,N4-benzetheno-
dC, in the major human AP endonuclease. Biochemistry, 36, 15411-18 (1997).
V. Litinski, A. Chenna, J. Sagi and B. Singer: Sequence context is an important determinant in
the mutagenic potential of 1,N6-etheno-deoxyadenosine (eA): formation of eA basepairs and
elongation in defined templates. Carcinogenesis, 18, 1609-1615 (1997).
E. Uhlmann, L. Hornung, S. Hein, S. Augustin, A. Peyman, D.W. Will, M. Helsberg, J. Sagi, L.
Otvos, J.O. Ojwang, S. Mustain and R.F. Rando: Enhanced biological activity of antisense
oligonucleotides containing 5-(1-hexynyl)-substituted pyrimidine nucleotides. Nucleosides &
Nucleotides, 16, 1717-1720 (1997).
B. Fekete, J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, L. Kovacs, K. Paloczi, K. Tamassy, A. Falus: Inhibition of IgE
production by epsilon chain-specific antisense oligonucleotides studied on human myeloma
cell line U266 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient with hypereosinophilia.
Immunology Letters., 58, 181-190 (1997).
J. Sagi, E. Szakonyi, M. Vorlickova and J.Kypr: Unusual contribution of 2-aminoadenine to the
thermostability of DNA. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 13, 1035-1041 (1996).
J. Kypr, J. Chladkova, L. Arnold, J. Sagi, A. Szemzo and M. Vorlickova: The unusual X-form
DNA in oligodeoxynucleotides: dependence of stability on the base sequence and length.
J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 13, 999-1006 (1996).
Y. Merle, E. Bonneil, L. Merle, J. Sagi, A. Szemzo: Acyclic oligonucleotide analogues. Int. J.
Biol. Macromol. 17, 239-246 (1995).
N.M. Akimenko, A.V. Garabadgiu, I.Ya. Skuratovskii, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs and K. Ebinger:
Interaction specificity of benzimidazol group compounds with AT-containing polynucleotides.
J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 12, 1121-1127 (1995).
J. Kypr, H. Penazova, J. Sagi, S. Pospisilova and M. Vorlickova: UV light-induced crosslinking
of the strands of poly(dA-dT) and related alternating purine-pyrimidine DNAs. J. Biomolec.
Struct. Dyn. 11, 1225-1236 (1994).
J. Kypr, J. Sagi, E. Szakonyi, K. Ebinger, H. Penazova, J. Chladkova and M. Vorlickova:
Thymine methyl groups strongly stabilize the putative A-form of poly(amino2dA-dT).
Biochemistry 33, 3801-3806 (1994).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, J. Chladkova and J. Kypr: Probing conformational isomerizations of
double-stranded poly(dA-dT) by a substitution of minor amounts of the thymine methyls with
bulky hydrophobic isopropyl groups. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 11, 731-739 (1994).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, K. Ebinger, I. Fellegvari and J. Kypr: Conformational
isomerizations of poly(dA-dT) are dramatically influenced by a substitution of a minor amount
of adenine by purine or amino2purine. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 10, 681-692 (1993).
P. Garriga, D. Garcia-Quintana, J. Sagi and J. Manyosa: An A-form of poly(amino2dA-dT).poly
(amino2dA-dT) induced by polyamines. Biochemistry 32, 1067-1071 (1993).
L. Merle, G. Spach, Y. Merle, J. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Some biochemical properties of an
acyclic oligonucleotide analogue. A plausible ancestor of the DNA? Origin of Life & Evolution
of the Biosphere 23, 91-103 (1993).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, K. Ebinger, A. Szabolcs, Gy. Sagi, E. Ruff and L. Otvos: Base-modified
oligodeoxynucleotides. I. Effect of 5-alkyl, 5-(1-alkenyl) and 5-(1-alkynyl) substitution of the
pyrimidines on duplex stability and hydrophobicity. Tetrahedron Letters 34, 2191-2194
(1993).
P. Garriga, J. Sagi, D. Garcia-Quintana and J. Manyosa: FT-IR spectroscopic study of the poli
(amino2dA-dT) duplex in Mg2+-containing solution and in films. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 9,
899-910 (1992).
J. Sagi, J. Stokrova, M. Vorlickova, A. Spanova, J. Kypr, E. Ruff and L. Otvos: Structures of
poly(dA-dT,ip5dU) containing various small amounts of the antiherpetic 5-isopropyl-2'-
deoxyuridine. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 185, 96-102 (1992).
E.A. Lesnik, Zh.A. Beschetnikova, J. Sagi, R.N. Maslova and Ya.M. Varshavsky:
Conformational peculiarity of the high-salt form of poly(amino2dA-dT) judged by the H1-H3
exchange between water and C8H-groups of its adenylic residues. Mol. Biol. 26, 1128-1133
(1992).
M. Vorlickova and J. Sagi: Transitions of poly(dI-dC), poly(dI-methyl5dC) and poly(dI-
bromo5dC) among and within the B, Z, A and X-DNA families of conformations. Nucleic Acids
Res. 19, 2343-2347 (1991).
J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, K. Ebinger, L. Otvos, J. Balzarini and E. De Clercq: Effect of 2-amino
substitution on the antiviral effect of 5-ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine and (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-
deoxyuridine and their incorporation into DNA. Nucleosides & Nucleotides 10, 1729-1742
(1991).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, L. Otvos, M. Vorlickova and J. Kypr: Destabilization of the duplex and the
high-salt Z-form of poli(dG-methyl5dC) by substitution of ethyl for the 5-methyl group. Int. J.
Biol. Macromol. 13, 329-336 (1991).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, I. Hejtmankova and J. Kypr: Alkyl substituent in place of the thymine
methyl group controls the A-X conformational bimorphism in poly(dA-dT). J. Biomolec. Struct.
Dyn. 9, 571-578 (1991).
A. Szemzo, J. Szecsi, J. Sagi and L. Otvos: First synthesis of carbocyclic oligothymidylates.
Tetrahedron Lett. 31, 1463-1466 (1990).
K. Valko, T. Cserhati, I. Fellegvari, J. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Application of chromatographic
retention data in an investigation of a quantitative structure-nucleotide incorporation rate
relationship. J. Chromatogr. 506, 35-44 (1990).
J. Sagi, K. Ebinger, M. Vorlickova, J. Kypr and L. Otvos: Replication, transcription and
nuclease digestion of the unusual X-DNA double helix of poly(amino2dA-dT). J. Biomolec.
Struct. Dyn. 7, 1073-1082 (1990).
D.G. Alexeev, N.M. Akimenko, L.I. Volkova, I.Ya. Skuratovskii, M. Vorlickova, J. Kypr and J.
Sagi: The X-form of poly(amino2dA-dT). Preliminary results of an X-ray fibre diffraction study.
Studia Biophys. 136, 189-192 (1990).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, J. Szecsi and L. Otvos: Biochemical properties of oligo[carbocyclic-
thymidylates) and their complexes. Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 2133-2140 (1990).
P. Garriga, J. Sagi, D. Garcia-Quintana, M. Sabas and J. Manyosa: Conformational
isomerization of the poly(dA-dT) and poly(amino2dA-dT) duplexes involving the unusual X-
DNA double helix: A fourth derivative spectrophotometric study. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 7,
1061-1071 (1990).
J. Kypr, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, K. Ebinger, L. Otvos and M. Vorlickova: Two distinct conformers
coexist in a synthetic DNA poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) in low-salt aqueous solution. Gen.
Physiol. Biophys. 9, 415-418 (1990).
J. Sagi, M. Vorlickova, J. Kypr and L. Otvos: Recognition and use of the unusual X-DNA as a
primer-template by Klenow DNA polymerase enzyme. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 161,
1204-1212 (1989).
M. Vorlickova and J. Sagi: Divalent cations are not required for the stability of the low-salt Z-
DNA conformation in poly(dG-ethyl5dC). J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 7, 329-334 (1989).
K. Valko, I. Fellegvari, J. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Correlation of nucleotide incorporation rate and
HPLC retention parameters of substituted nucleosides. J. Liquid Chromatogr. 12, 2103-2116
(1989).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo, L. Otvos and J. Kypr: Conformation of the
synthetic DNA poly(amino2dA-dT) duplex in high-salt and aqueous alcohol solutions. Nucleic
Acids Res. 16, 279-289 (1988).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo, L. Otvos and J. Kypr: Poly(amino2dA-dT)
isomerizes into the unusual X-DNA double helix at physiological conditions inducing Z-DNA in
poly(dG-methyl5dC). J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 6, 503-510 (1988).
L. Otvos, J. Sagi, T. Kovacs and R.T. Walker: Substrate specificity of DNA polymerases. I.
Enzyme-catalysed incorporation of 5-(1-alkenyl)-2'-deoxyuridines into DNA. Nucleic Acids
Res. 15, 1763-1777 (1987).
M. Vorlickova, J. Kypr, J. Sagi, L. Otvos and V. Sklenar: Aliphatic substituents in place of
thymine methyl promote zig-zag character of the poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) backbone. Int. J.
Biol. Macromol. 9, 131-136 (1987).
L. Otvos, J. Szecsi, J. Sagi and T. Kovacs: Substrate specificity of DNA polymerases. II. 5-(1-
alkynyl)-dUTPs as Substrates of the Klenow DNA polymerase enzyme. Nucleic Acids Res.,
Symp. Series 18, 125-129 (1987).
J. Sagi, J. Szecsi, A. Szemzo, Gy. Sagi and L. Otvos: Carbocyclic analogues of dTTP and
UTP: properties in polymerase enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Nucleic Acids Res., Symp. Series
18, 131-135 (1987).
B. Singer, S.J. Spengler, F. Chavez, J. Sagi, J.T. Kusmierek, B.D. Preston and L.A. Loeb: "O-
Alkyl deoxythymidines are recognized by DNA polymerase I as deoxythymidine or
deoxycytidine. in: N-Nitroso Compounds: Occurrence, Biological Effects and Relevance to
Human Cancer (eds. J.K. O'Neill et al.) IARC, vol. 84, pp. 37-41, Lyon (1987).
J. Sagi, E. De Clercq, A. Szemzo, A. Csarnyi, T. Kovacs and L. Otvos: Incorporation of the
carbocyclic analogue of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate into a synthetic
DNA. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 147, 1105-1112 (1987).
J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. VII. Impaired integrity
of a DNA containing the antiherpetic agent 5-isopropyl-2'-deoxyuridine. Nucleic Acids Res.
14, 3449-3462 (1986).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, A. Szabolcs and L. Otvos: Substrate specificity of E. coli RNA polymerase
for 5-alkyl-UTPs. in Bio-Organic Heterocycles, van der Plas H.C., Otvos L. and Simonyi M.,
eds., pp. 355-361, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1984.
T. Kovacs, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: Stereochemical investigation of (E)
-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxy-uridine 5'-triphosphate analogues in DNA polymerase reaction.
Nucleic Acids Res., Symp. Ser. 14, 269-270 (1984).
L. Otvos, T. Kovacs, J. Sagi, A. Szemzo and A. Szabolcs: Steric structure - substrate
properties of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate analogues in DNA
polymerization reaction. in Bio-Organic Heterocycles, van der Plas H.C., Otvos L. and
Simonyi M., eds., pp. 349-354, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1984.
B. Singer, J. Sagi and J.T. Kusmierek: Escherichia coli polymerase I can use O2-
methyldeoxythymidine or O4-methyldeoxythymidine in place of deoxythymidine in primed poly
(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) synthesis. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 80, 4884-4888 (1983).
J. Sagi, A. Czuppon, M. Kajtar, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzoand L. Otvos: Modified
polynucleotides. I. Properties of a DNA containing the anti-herpes agent (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)
-2'-deoxyuridine. Nucleic Acids Res. 10, 6051-6066 (1982).
A.H. Csarnyi, M. Vajda and J. Sagi: Separation of 5-alkyluracils and purine bases in
hydrolysates of enzymatically synthesized nucleic acids by high-performance ion-pair liquid
chromatography. J. Chromatogr. 204, 213-218 (1981).
J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: (E)-5-2(bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-
triphosphate as a DNA polymerase substrate. Nucleic Acids Res. 9, 6985-6994 (1981).
A. Szemzo, A. Szabolcs, J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Unnatural nucleosides and nucleotides. IV.
Preparation of 5-alkyluridines and their 5'-mono and triphosphates. J. Carbohydrates,
Nucleosides, Nucleotides 7, 365-379 (1980).
J. Sagi, R. Nowak, B. Zmudzka, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: A study of substrate specificity of
mammalian and bacterial DNA polymerases with 5-alkyl-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphates.
Biochim. Biophys. Acta 606, 196-201 (1980).
J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. V. Slow-down of nuclease action by 5-
alkyluracil-containing DNAs. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 95, 156-162 (1980).
J. Sagi, S. Brahms, J. Brahms and L. Otvos: Effect of 5-alkyl substitution of uracil on the
thermal stability of poly[d(A-r5U)] copolymers. Nucleic Acids Res. 6, 2839-2848 (1979).
J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. IV. Template activity of 5-alkyluracil-
containing poly[d(A-r5U)] copolymers for DNA and RNA polymerases. Nucleic Acids Res. 7,
1593-1602 (1979).
M. Czugler, A. Kalman, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs and L. Otvos: Crystal and molecular structure of
beta-5-isopropyl-2'-deoxyuridine. Acta Cryst. B35, 1626-1629 (1979).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. III. De novo synthesis and
hydrolysis of poly[d(A-r5U) copolymers. Nucleic Acids Res., Spec. Publ. 4, 155-159 (1978).
A. Szabolcs, G. Kruppa, J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Unnatural nucleosides and nucleotides. III.
Preparation of [2-14C] and [4-14C] labelled 5-alkyluracils and 5-alkyl-2'-deoxyuridines. J.
Labelled Comp. Radiopharm. 14, 713-726 (1978).
J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. I. Investigation of the
enzymatic polymerization of 5-alkyl-dUTP-s. Nucleic Acids Res. 4, 2767-2779 (1977).
L. Otvos, A. Szabolcs, J. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Study of the synthesis of 5-alkyl and 5-halogen
substituted 2'-deoxyuridines. Nucleic Acids Res., Spec. Publ. 1, 49-52 (1975).
A. Szabolcs, J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Synthesis of 5-alkyl-2'-deoxyuridines. J. Carbohydrates,
Nucleosides, Nucleotides 2, 197-211 (1975).
M. Szekerke, J. Erchegyi and J. Sagi: Peptides as carriers of cytotoxic groups: interaction
specificity of the peptide moiety with DNA. Acta Chim. Acad. Sci. Hung. 80, 183-192 (1974).
Patents:
Otvos, L., Sagi, J., Szemzo, A., et al: Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to the splice donor
region of HIV RNA, containing 5-(n-alkyn-1-yl)pyrimidine bases. Hung. Patent Application # P
95 02742, 1995.
Otvos, L., Sagi, J., Szemzo, A., Sagi, Gy., Szabolcs, O., Ruff, E., Ebinger, K., Tudos, F., and
Fellegvari, I.: Oligodeoxynucleotides containing 5-alkyl-, 5-(1-alkenyl)- and 5-(1-alkynyl)
pyrimidines. Hungarian Patent # 212 717, 1993-1996, and US Patent # 5,767,264; 1998.
Szabolcs, O., Dekany, Gy., Rakoczi, J., Otvos, L., Sagi, J., et al: Process for a large scale and
stereoselective synthesis of 5-alkyl-2'-deoxy-beta-uridines. Hung. Patent # 207524, 1991-
1994.
Szemzo, A., Sagi, J., and Otvos, L.: Process for the synthesis of oligonucleotides containing
carbocyclic nucleotides and their use in therapy and biotechnology. Hung. Patent Application
# 30375/89
Szabolcs, O., Otvos, L., Sagi, J., Tudos, F., et al: An ointment containing 5-isopropyl-2'-
deoxyuridine and accumulating in the skin for the treatment herpes virus infections. Hung.
Patent # 196038, 1987-1988.
Gruber, L., Nagy, K., Szabolcs, O., Sagi, J., et al: Process for the preparation of 5-substituted
3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides. Hung. Patent # 198949, 1987-1990.
Tudos, F., Ratonyi, Z., Gal, T., Szabolcs, O., Otvos, L., Voroshazy, L., Daroczy, I., Sagi, J., D.
Barwolff, J. Reefschlager and H. Just: Process for the synthesis of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-
deoxyuridine and its O-acyl derivatives. Hung. Patent # 187736, 1982-1988.
Szabolcs, O., Otvos, L., Sagi, J., Szemzo, A., et al: Process for the synthesis of (E)-5-(2-
bromovinyl)uridine and its derivatives. Hung. Patent #183567, 1981-1987.
Sagi, J., Otvos, L., et al.: Process for the immobilization of DNA polymerase enzymes and the
use of these for synthesis of polydeoxynucleotides. Hung. Patent #179770, 1979-1987.
Otvos, L., Szabolcs, O., Sagi, J., et al: Process for the synthesis of pure isomers of 2'-
deoxyuridines. Hung. Patent #171306 l, 1975-1980.
Earlier reviews:
Sagi, J. "DNA polymerases - DNA biosynthesis", in Actual Problems in Biology (A Biologia
Aktualis Problemai), Csaba, Gy., Ed., 15, 11- 77, Medicina, Budapest, 1979, in Hungarian.
Sagi, Janos: "Nucleic acids with modified components" in Actual Problems in Biology (A
Biologia Aktualis Problemai), Csaba, Gy., Ed., 18, 69-161, Medicina, Budapest, 1980, in
Hungarian.
Dissertations:
Application of chemically modified nucleotides in studying the structure-function relationship
of nucleic acids, 1995, Budapest, Hungary.
Synthesis, structure and template activity of synthetic DNAs containing nucleotide analogs,
1981, Budapest, Hungary.
Effect of aliphatic diamines on the stability of DNA and template activity of alkylated DNAs for
RNA polymerase enzyme, 1973, Budapest, Hungary.
 | Rimstone Laboratory, RLI | |
| Janos Sagi, Ph.D., D.Sc. |
Carlsbad, CA 92010, U.S.A.
phone & fax: 442-333-9098
e-mail: jans@rimstonelab.com
Collaboration Partners:
Laboratory of Prof. Dr. Michaela Vorlickova, DrSc.
Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno
Laboratory of Dr. Bo Hang, MD., Ph.D.
Department of Cancer & DNA Damage Responses, Life Sciences
Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California,
U.S.A.
Laboratory of Prof. Dr. Michaela Vorlickova, DrSc.
Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno
Laboratory of Dr. Bo Hang, MD., Ph.D.
Department of Cancer & DNA Damage Responses, Life Sciences
Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California,
U.S.A.
Current research interest of the Laboratory
Effect of natural base & sugar lesions on folding topology and stability of non-
canonical DNA structures, primarily of the G-quadruplexes formed by human
telomeric repeat sequences.
Our recent publications on this topic:
J. Sagi: “In what ways do synthetic nucleotides and natural base lesions alter the
structural stability of G-quadruplex nucleic acids?”, Chapter in “Top 10
Contributions on Biochemistry: 2nd Edition”, In Press: 2019, 128 pages; ISBN:
978-93-88170-26-0; www.avidscience.com.
Zuzana Dvorakova, Daniel Renciuk, Iva Kejnovska, Petra Skolakova, Klara
Bednarova, Janos Sagi and Michaela Vorlickova: “i-Motif of cytosine-rich human
telomere DNA fragments containing natural base lesions” Nucleic Acids
Research, 46 (2018) 1624-1634. doi: 10.1093/nar/gky035
J. Sagi: In what ways do synthetic nucleotides and natural base lesions alter the
structural stability of G-quadruplex nucleic acids? J. Nucleic Acids, 2017,
ID1641845, 45 pages.
I. Kejnovska, K. Bednarova, D. Renciuk, Z. Dvorakova, P. Skolakova, L.
Trantırek, R. Fiala, M. Vorlıckova, and J. Sagi: Clustered abasic lesions
profoundly change the structure and stability of human telomeric G-
quadruplexes. Nucleic Acids Research, 45 (2017) 4294–4305.
J. Sagi: Designing G-quadruplex topologies by focusing on sequence
modifications, pp 1-51 in G-Quadruplex Structures, Formation and Role in
Biology (Hannah Santos, Ed.), Nova Publishers, New York, 2016.
H. Konvalinova, Z. Dvorakova, D. Renciuk, K. Bednarova, I. Kejnovska, L.
Trantírek, M. Vorlíckova, J. Sagi: Diverse effects of naturally occurring base
lesions on the structure and stability of the human telomere DNA quadruplex.
Biochimie 118 (2015) 15-25.
M. Babinsky, R. Fiala, I. Kejnovska, K. Bednařova, R. Marek, J. Sagi, V. Sklenař,
M. Vorličkova: Loss of loop adenines alters human telomere d[AG3(TTAG3)3]
quadruplex foling. Nucleic Acids Research 42 (2014) 14031-14041.
I. Kejnovská, M. Vorlíčková, M. Brázdová, J. Sagi: Stability of human telomere
quadruplexes at high DNA concentrations. Biopolymers, 101 (2014) 428-438.
J. Sagi: G-quadruplexes incorporating modified constituents: a review.
J. Biomolec. Struct. & Dynamics, 32 (2014) 477-511.
M. Vorlíčková, I. Kejnovská, J. Sagi, D. Renčiuk, K. Bednářová, J. Motlová, J. Kypr:
Circular Dichroism and Guanine Quadruplexes. Methods 57 (2012) 64-75.
M. Vorlickova, M. Tomasko, A.J. Sagi, K. Bednarova, J. Sagi: 8-Oxoguanine in a
quadruplex of the human telomere DNA sequence. FEBS J. 279 (2012) 29-39.
P. Skolakova, K. Bednarova, M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi: Quadruplexes of human
telomere dG3(TTAG3)3 sequences containing guanine abasic sites. Biochem.
Biophys. Res. Commun. 399 (2010) 203-208.
J. Sagi, D. Renciuk, M. Tomasko and M. Vorlickova: Quadruplexes of human
telomere DNA analogs designed to contain G:A:G:A, G:G:A:A, and A:A:A:A
tetrads.
Biopolymers, 93 (2010) 880-886.
M. Tomasko, M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi: Substitution of adenine for guanine in the
quadruplex-forming human telomere DNA sequence G3(T2AG3)3. Biochimie, 91
(2009) 171-179.
Effect of natural base & sugar lesions on folding topology and stability of non-
canonical DNA structures, primarily of the G-quadruplexes formed by human
telomeric repeat sequences.
Our recent publications on this topic:
J. Sagi: “In what ways do synthetic nucleotides and natural base lesions alter the
structural stability of G-quadruplex nucleic acids?”, Chapter in “Top 10
Contributions on Biochemistry: 2nd Edition”, In Press: 2019, 128 pages; ISBN:
978-93-88170-26-0; www.avidscience.com.
Zuzana Dvorakova, Daniel Renciuk, Iva Kejnovska, Petra Skolakova, Klara
Bednarova, Janos Sagi and Michaela Vorlickova: “i-Motif of cytosine-rich human
telomere DNA fragments containing natural base lesions” Nucleic Acids
Research, 46 (2018) 1624-1634. doi: 10.1093/nar/gky035
J. Sagi: In what ways do synthetic nucleotides and natural base lesions alter the
structural stability of G-quadruplex nucleic acids? J. Nucleic Acids, 2017,
ID1641845, 45 pages.
I. Kejnovska, K. Bednarova, D. Renciuk, Z. Dvorakova, P. Skolakova, L.
Trantırek, R. Fiala, M. Vorlıckova, and J. Sagi: Clustered abasic lesions
profoundly change the structure and stability of human telomeric G-
quadruplexes. Nucleic Acids Research, 45 (2017) 4294–4305.
J. Sagi: Designing G-quadruplex topologies by focusing on sequence
modifications, pp 1-51 in G-Quadruplex Structures, Formation and Role in
Biology (Hannah Santos, Ed.), Nova Publishers, New York, 2016.
H. Konvalinova, Z. Dvorakova, D. Renciuk, K. Bednarova, I. Kejnovska, L.
Trantírek, M. Vorlíckova, J. Sagi: Diverse effects of naturally occurring base
lesions on the structure and stability of the human telomere DNA quadruplex.
Biochimie 118 (2015) 15-25.
M. Babinsky, R. Fiala, I. Kejnovska, K. Bednařova, R. Marek, J. Sagi, V. Sklenař,
M. Vorličkova: Loss of loop adenines alters human telomere d[AG3(TTAG3)3]
quadruplex foling. Nucleic Acids Research 42 (2014) 14031-14041.
I. Kejnovská, M. Vorlíčková, M. Brázdová, J. Sagi: Stability of human telomere
quadruplexes at high DNA concentrations. Biopolymers, 101 (2014) 428-438.
J. Sagi: G-quadruplexes incorporating modified constituents: a review.
J. Biomolec. Struct. & Dynamics, 32 (2014) 477-511.
M. Vorlíčková, I. Kejnovská, J. Sagi, D. Renčiuk, K. Bednářová, J. Motlová, J. Kypr:
Circular Dichroism and Guanine Quadruplexes. Methods 57 (2012) 64-75.
M. Vorlickova, M. Tomasko, A.J. Sagi, K. Bednarova, J. Sagi: 8-Oxoguanine in a
quadruplex of the human telomere DNA sequence. FEBS J. 279 (2012) 29-39.
P. Skolakova, K. Bednarova, M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi: Quadruplexes of human
telomere dG3(TTAG3)3 sequences containing guanine abasic sites. Biochem.
Biophys. Res. Commun. 399 (2010) 203-208.
J. Sagi, D. Renciuk, M. Tomasko and M. Vorlickova: Quadruplexes of human
telomere DNA analogs designed to contain G:A:G:A, G:G:A:A, and A:A:A:A
tetrads.
Biopolymers, 93 (2010) 880-886.
M. Tomasko, M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi: Substitution of adenine for guanine in the
quadruplex-forming human telomere DNA sequence G3(T2AG3)3. Biochimie, 91
(2009) 171-179.
| RIMSTONE LABORATORY |
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CV of Janos Sagi
head of Rimstone Laboratory
Education:
D.Sc., Biophysical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary, 2004.
Ph.D., Bioorganic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary, 1981;
Dr. Univ., Organic Chemistry, Science University of Szeged, Hungary, 1973;
MS, Chemistry, Science University of Szeged, Hungary, 1970;
Employment:
2005 – present: Head and CSO of Rimstone Laboratory, RLI, and CFO of RLI located in
Cheshire, Connecticut from 2005 to 2014, and from 2014 to present in Carlsbad, California,
USA
2003 – 2004: Consultant for BioBlocks, Inc., Carlsbad, California, and for Neuronal Gene
Expression Unit, Pain and Neurosensory Mechanism Branch, NIDCR, National Institute of
Health, Bethesda, Maryland
2002–2003: Chemist Scientist, Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc., San Diego, California
2000–2001: Research Chemist, Cambridge Discovery Chemistry, Inc., Richmond, California
1996-2000: Chemist, Scientist, Donner Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
1983-1996: Senior Research Scientist, Group Leader, Research Group for Bioorganic
Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, Central Research Institute for Chemistry, Academy of Sciences,
Budapest, Hungary
1982-1983: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Laboratory of Chemical Biodynamics and
Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
1970-1982: Research Scientist, Central Research Institute for Chemistry, Academy of
Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
Professional society:
American Chemical Society
International Society of Nucleic Acids Chemistry
List of earlier publications:
M. Vorlíčková, I. Kejnovská, J. Sagi, D. Renčiuk, K. Bednářová, J. Motlová, J. Kypr,
Circular Dichroism and Guanine Quadruplexes. Methods 57, 64-75 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymeth.2012.03.011
J. Sagi, A.B. Guliaev and B. Singer: 15-mer DNA duplexes containing an abasic site are
thermodynamically more stable with adjacent purines than with pyrimidines. Biochemistry, 40,
3859-3868 (2001).
G. Bischoff, U. Gromann, S. Lindau, R. Skolziger, W. Witkowski, Ch. Bohley, S. Naumann, J.
Sagi, W-V. Meister, and S. Hoffmann: A structure-function study of nucleic acid-fluorenone
complexes. J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 18, 199-208 (2000).
J. Sagi, A. Perry, B. Hang and B. Singer: Differential destabilization of the DNA
oligonucleotide double helix by a T.G mismatch, 3,N4-ethenocytosine, 3,N4-ethanocytosine,
or an 8-(hydroxymethyl)-3,N4-ethenocytosine adduct incorporated into the same position.
Chemical Research in Toxicology 13, 839-845 (2000).
A.B. Guliaev, J. Sagi, and B. Singer: Sequence-dependent conformational perturbation in
DNA duplexes containing an epsilonA.T mismatch using molecular dynamics simulation.
Carcinogenesis, 21, 1727-36 (2000).
J. Sagi, B. Hang and B. Singer: Sequence-dependent repair of synthetic AP sites in 15-mer
and 35-mer oligonucleotides: Role of thermodynamic stability imposed by neighbor bases.
Chemical Research in Toxicology 12, 917-923 (1999).
J. Sagi and B. Singer: Thermal destabilization of DNA oligonucleotide duplexes by exocyclic
adducts on adenine or cytosine depends on both the base and the size of adduct. In: The
Role of Cyclic Adducts in Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis, Eds. B. Singer & H. Bartsch,
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Scientific Publications, No. 150, 191-
196 (1999).
L. Otvos, J. Sagi, Gy. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Base modified oligodeoxynucleotides. II. Increase
of stability to nucleases by 5-alkyl-, 5-(1-alkenyl)- and 5-(1-alkynyl)-pyrimidines. Nucleosides
& Nucleotides 18, 1929-1933 (1999).
L. Otvos, J. Sagi, Gy. Sagi, A. Szemzo, F.D. Toth, and A. Jeney: Enzymatic hydrolysis and
biological activity of oligonucleotides containing 5-substituted pyrimidine bases. Nucleosides
& Nucleotides 18, 1665-1666 (1999).
B. Hang, J. Sági, and B. Singer: Correlation between sequence-dependent glycosylase repair
and the thermal stability of oligonucleotide duplexes containing 1,N6-ethenoadenine. J. Biol.
Chem. 273, 33406-33413 (1998).
B. Hang, A. Chenna, J. Sagi and B. Singer: Differential repair of the benzene-derived adduct,
1,N6-benzetheno-dA, by the major human AP endonuclease HAP1 and the Escherichia coli
Endonuclease IV and Exonuclease III. Carcinogenesis, 19, 1339-1343 (1998).
J. Sagi, A. Chenna, B. Hang and B. Singer: A single cyclic p-benzoquinone adduct can
destabilize a DNA oligonucleotide duplex. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 11, 329-334
(1998).
B. Hang, D.G. Rothwell, J. Sagi, I.D. Hickson and B. Singer: Evidence for a common active
site for cleavage of an AP site and the benzene-derived exocyclic adduct, 3,N4-benzetheno-
dC, in the major human AP endonuclease. Biochemistry, 36, 15411-18 (1997).
V. Litinski, A. Chenna, J. Sagi and B. Singer: Sequence context is an important determinant in
the mutagenic potential of 1,N6-etheno-deoxyadenosine (eA): formation of eA basepairs and
elongation in defined templates. Carcinogenesis, 18, 1609-1615 (1997).
E. Uhlmann, L. Hornung, S. Hein, S. Augustin, A. Peyman, D.W. Will, M. Helsberg, J. Sagi, L.
Otvos, J.O. Ojwang, S. Mustain and R.F. Rando: Enhanced biological activity of antisense
oligonucleotides containing 5-(1-hexynyl)-substituted pyrimidine nucleotides. Nucleosides &
Nucleotides, 16, 1717-1720 (1997).
B. Fekete, J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, L. Kovacs, K. Paloczi, K. Tamassy, A. Falus: Inhibition of IgE
production by epsilon chain-specific antisense oligonucleotides studied on human myeloma
cell line U266 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient with hypereosinophilia.
Immunology Letters., 58, 181-190 (1997).
J. Sagi, E. Szakonyi, M. Vorlickova and J.Kypr: Unusual contribution of 2-aminoadenine to the
thermostability of DNA. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 13, 1035-1041 (1996).
J. Kypr, J. Chladkova, L. Arnold, J. Sagi, A. Szemzo and M. Vorlickova: The unusual X-form
DNA in oligodeoxynucleotides: dependence of stability on the base sequence and length.
J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 13, 999-1006 (1996).
Y. Merle, E. Bonneil, L. Merle, J. Sagi, A. Szemzo: Acyclic oligonucleotide analogues. Int. J.
Biol. Macromol. 17, 239-246 (1995).
N.M. Akimenko, A.V. Garabadgiu, I.Ya. Skuratovskii, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs and K. Ebinger:
Interaction specificity of benzimidazol group compounds with AT-containing polynucleotides.
J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 12, 1121-1127 (1995).
J. Kypr, H. Penazova, J. Sagi, S. Pospisilova and M. Vorlickova: UV light-induced crosslinking
of the strands of poly(dA-dT) and related alternating purine-pyrimidine DNAs. J. Biomolec.
Struct. Dyn. 11, 1225-1236 (1994).
J. Kypr, J. Sagi, E. Szakonyi, K. Ebinger, H. Penazova, J. Chladkova and M. Vorlickova:
Thymine methyl groups strongly stabilize the putative A-form of poly(amino2dA-dT).
Biochemistry 33, 3801-3806 (1994).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, J. Chladkova and J. Kypr: Probing conformational isomerizations of
double-stranded poly(dA-dT) by a substitution of minor amounts of the thymine methyls with
bulky hydrophobic isopropyl groups. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 11, 731-739 (1994).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, K. Ebinger, I. Fellegvari and J. Kypr: Conformational
isomerizations of poly(dA-dT) are dramatically influenced by a substitution of a minor amount
of adenine by purine or amino2purine. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 10, 681-692 (1993).
P. Garriga, D. Garcia-Quintana, J. Sagi and J. Manyosa: An A-form of poly(amino2dA-dT).poly
(amino2dA-dT) induced by polyamines. Biochemistry 32, 1067-1071 (1993).
L. Merle, G. Spach, Y. Merle, J. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Some biochemical properties of an
acyclic oligonucleotide analogue. A plausible ancestor of the DNA? Origin of Life & Evolution
of the Biosphere 23, 91-103 (1993).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, K. Ebinger, A. Szabolcs, Gy. Sagi, E. Ruff and L. Otvos: Base-modified
oligodeoxynucleotides. I. Effect of 5-alkyl, 5-(1-alkenyl) and 5-(1-alkynyl) substitution of the
pyrimidines on duplex stability and hydrophobicity. Tetrahedron Letters 34, 2191-2194
(1993).
P. Garriga, J. Sagi, D. Garcia-Quintana and J. Manyosa: FT-IR spectroscopic study of the poli
(amino2dA-dT) duplex in Mg2+-containing solution and in films. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 9,
899-910 (1992).
J. Sagi, J. Stokrova, M. Vorlickova, A. Spanova, J. Kypr, E. Ruff and L. Otvos: Structures of
poly(dA-dT,ip5dU) containing various small amounts of the antiherpetic 5-isopropyl-2'-
deoxyuridine. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 185, 96-102 (1992).
E.A. Lesnik, Zh.A. Beschetnikova, J. Sagi, R.N. Maslova and Ya.M. Varshavsky:
Conformational peculiarity of the high-salt form of poly(amino2dA-dT) judged by the H1-H3
exchange between water and C8H-groups of its adenylic residues. Mol. Biol. 26, 1128-1133
(1992).
M. Vorlickova and J. Sagi: Transitions of poly(dI-dC), poly(dI-methyl5dC) and poly(dI-
bromo5dC) among and within the B, Z, A and X-DNA families of conformations. Nucleic Acids
Res. 19, 2343-2347 (1991).
J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, K. Ebinger, L. Otvos, J. Balzarini and E. De Clercq: Effect of 2-amino
substitution on the antiviral effect of 5-ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine and (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-
deoxyuridine and their incorporation into DNA. Nucleosides & Nucleotides 10, 1729-1742
(1991).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, L. Otvos, M. Vorlickova and J. Kypr: Destabilization of the duplex and the
high-salt Z-form of poli(dG-methyl5dC) by substitution of ethyl for the 5-methyl group. Int. J.
Biol. Macromol. 13, 329-336 (1991).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, I. Hejtmankova and J. Kypr: Alkyl substituent in place of the thymine
methyl group controls the A-X conformational bimorphism in poly(dA-dT). J. Biomolec. Struct.
Dyn. 9, 571-578 (1991).
A. Szemzo, J. Szecsi, J. Sagi and L. Otvos: First synthesis of carbocyclic oligothymidylates.
Tetrahedron Lett. 31, 1463-1466 (1990).
K. Valko, T. Cserhati, I. Fellegvari, J. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Application of chromatographic
retention data in an investigation of a quantitative structure-nucleotide incorporation rate
relationship. J. Chromatogr. 506, 35-44 (1990).
J. Sagi, K. Ebinger, M. Vorlickova, J. Kypr and L. Otvos: Replication, transcription and
nuclease digestion of the unusual X-DNA double helix of poly(amino2dA-dT). J. Biomolec.
Struct. Dyn. 7, 1073-1082 (1990).
D.G. Alexeev, N.M. Akimenko, L.I. Volkova, I.Ya. Skuratovskii, M. Vorlickova, J. Kypr and J.
Sagi: The X-form of poly(amino2dA-dT). Preliminary results of an X-ray fibre diffraction study.
Studia Biophys. 136, 189-192 (1990).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, J. Szecsi and L. Otvos: Biochemical properties of oligo[carbocyclic-
thymidylates) and their complexes. Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 2133-2140 (1990).
P. Garriga, J. Sagi, D. Garcia-Quintana, M. Sabas and J. Manyosa: Conformational
isomerization of the poly(dA-dT) and poly(amino2dA-dT) duplexes involving the unusual X-
DNA double helix: A fourth derivative spectrophotometric study. J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 7,
1061-1071 (1990).
J. Kypr, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, K. Ebinger, L. Otvos and M. Vorlickova: Two distinct conformers
coexist in a synthetic DNA poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) in low-salt aqueous solution. Gen.
Physiol. Biophys. 9, 415-418 (1990).
J. Sagi, M. Vorlickova, J. Kypr and L. Otvos: Recognition and use of the unusual X-DNA as a
primer-template by Klenow DNA polymerase enzyme. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 161,
1204-1212 (1989).
M. Vorlickova and J. Sagi: Divalent cations are not required for the stability of the low-salt Z-
DNA conformation in poly(dG-ethyl5dC). J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 7, 329-334 (1989).
K. Valko, I. Fellegvari, J. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Correlation of nucleotide incorporation rate and
HPLC retention parameters of substituted nucleosides. J. Liquid Chromatogr. 12, 2103-2116
(1989).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo, L. Otvos and J. Kypr: Conformation of the
synthetic DNA poly(amino2dA-dT) duplex in high-salt and aqueous alcohol solutions. Nucleic
Acids Res. 16, 279-289 (1988).
M. Vorlickova, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo, L. Otvos and J. Kypr: Poly(amino2dA-dT)
isomerizes into the unusual X-DNA double helix at physiological conditions inducing Z-DNA in
poly(dG-methyl5dC). J. Biomolec. Struct. Dyn. 6, 503-510 (1988).
L. Otvos, J. Sagi, T. Kovacs and R.T. Walker: Substrate specificity of DNA polymerases. I.
Enzyme-catalysed incorporation of 5-(1-alkenyl)-2'-deoxyuridines into DNA. Nucleic Acids
Res. 15, 1763-1777 (1987).
M. Vorlickova, J. Kypr, J. Sagi, L. Otvos and V. Sklenar: Aliphatic substituents in place of
thymine methyl promote zig-zag character of the poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) backbone. Int. J.
Biol. Macromol. 9, 131-136 (1987).
L. Otvos, J. Szecsi, J. Sagi and T. Kovacs: Substrate specificity of DNA polymerases. II. 5-(1-
alkynyl)-dUTPs as Substrates of the Klenow DNA polymerase enzyme. Nucleic Acids Res.,
Symp. Series 18, 125-129 (1987).
J. Sagi, J. Szecsi, A. Szemzo, Gy. Sagi and L. Otvos: Carbocyclic analogues of dTTP and
UTP: properties in polymerase enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Nucleic Acids Res., Symp. Series
18, 131-135 (1987).
B. Singer, S.J. Spengler, F. Chavez, J. Sagi, J.T. Kusmierek, B.D. Preston and L.A. Loeb: "O-
Alkyl deoxythymidines are recognized by DNA polymerase I as deoxythymidine or
deoxycytidine. in: N-Nitroso Compounds: Occurrence, Biological Effects and Relevance to
Human Cancer (eds. J.K. O'Neill et al.) IARC, vol. 84, pp. 37-41, Lyon (1987).
J. Sagi, E. De Clercq, A. Szemzo, A. Csarnyi, T. Kovacs and L. Otvos: Incorporation of the
carbocyclic analogue of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate into a synthetic
DNA. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 147, 1105-1112 (1987).
J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. VII. Impaired integrity
of a DNA containing the antiherpetic agent 5-isopropyl-2'-deoxyuridine. Nucleic Acids Res.
14, 3449-3462 (1986).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo, A. Szabolcs and L. Otvos: Substrate specificity of E. coli RNA polymerase
for 5-alkyl-UTPs. in Bio-Organic Heterocycles, van der Plas H.C., Otvos L. and Simonyi M.,
eds., pp. 355-361, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1984.
T. Kovacs, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: Stereochemical investigation of (E)
-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxy-uridine 5'-triphosphate analogues in DNA polymerase reaction.
Nucleic Acids Res., Symp. Ser. 14, 269-270 (1984).
L. Otvos, T. Kovacs, J. Sagi, A. Szemzo and A. Szabolcs: Steric structure - substrate
properties of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate analogues in DNA
polymerization reaction. in Bio-Organic Heterocycles, van der Plas H.C., Otvos L. and
Simonyi M., eds., pp. 349-354, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1984.
B. Singer, J. Sagi and J.T. Kusmierek: Escherichia coli polymerase I can use O2-
methyldeoxythymidine or O4-methyldeoxythymidine in place of deoxythymidine in primed poly
(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) synthesis. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 80, 4884-4888 (1983).
J. Sagi, A. Czuppon, M. Kajtar, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzoand L. Otvos: Modified
polynucleotides. I. Properties of a DNA containing the anti-herpes agent (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)
-2'-deoxyuridine. Nucleic Acids Res. 10, 6051-6066 (1982).
A.H. Csarnyi, M. Vajda and J. Sagi: Separation of 5-alkyluracils and purine bases in
hydrolysates of enzymatically synthesized nucleic acids by high-performance ion-pair liquid
chromatography. J. Chromatogr. 204, 213-218 (1981).
J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: (E)-5-2(bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-
triphosphate as a DNA polymerase substrate. Nucleic Acids Res. 9, 6985-6994 (1981).
A. Szemzo, A. Szabolcs, J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Unnatural nucleosides and nucleotides. IV.
Preparation of 5-alkyluridines and their 5'-mono and triphosphates. J. Carbohydrates,
Nucleosides, Nucleotides 7, 365-379 (1980).
J. Sagi, R. Nowak, B. Zmudzka, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: A study of substrate specificity of
mammalian and bacterial DNA polymerases with 5-alkyl-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphates.
Biochim. Biophys. Acta 606, 196-201 (1980).
J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. V. Slow-down of nuclease action by 5-
alkyluracil-containing DNAs. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 95, 156-162 (1980).
J. Sagi, S. Brahms, J. Brahms and L. Otvos: Effect of 5-alkyl substitution of uracil on the
thermal stability of poly[d(A-r5U)] copolymers. Nucleic Acids Res. 6, 2839-2848 (1979).
J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. IV. Template activity of 5-alkyluracil-
containing poly[d(A-r5U)] copolymers for DNA and RNA polymerases. Nucleic Acids Res. 7,
1593-1602 (1979).
M. Czugler, A. Kalman, J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs and L. Otvos: Crystal and molecular structure of
beta-5-isopropyl-2'-deoxyuridine. Acta Cryst. B35, 1626-1629 (1979).
J. Sagi, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. III. De novo synthesis and
hydrolysis of poly[d(A-r5U) copolymers. Nucleic Acids Res., Spec. Publ. 4, 155-159 (1978).
A. Szabolcs, G. Kruppa, J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Unnatural nucleosides and nucleotides. III.
Preparation of [2-14C] and [4-14C] labelled 5-alkyluracils and 5-alkyl-2'-deoxyuridines. J.
Labelled Comp. Radiopharm. 14, 713-726 (1978).
J. Sagi, A. Szabolcs, A. Szemzo and L. Otvos: Modified polynucleotides. I. Investigation of the
enzymatic polymerization of 5-alkyl-dUTP-s. Nucleic Acids Res. 4, 2767-2779 (1977).
L. Otvos, A. Szabolcs, J. Sagi and A. Szemzo: Study of the synthesis of 5-alkyl and 5-halogen
substituted 2'-deoxyuridines. Nucleic Acids Res., Spec. Publ. 1, 49-52 (1975).
A. Szabolcs, J. Sagi and L. Otvos: Synthesis of 5-alkyl-2'-deoxyuridines. J. Carbohydrates,
Nucleosides, Nucleotides 2, 197-211 (1975).
M. Szekerke, J. Erchegyi and J. Sagi: Peptides as carriers of cytotoxic groups: interaction
specificity of the peptide moiety with DNA. Acta Chim. Acad. Sci. Hung. 80, 183-192 (1974).
Patents:
Otvos, L., Sagi, J., Szemzo, A., et al: Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to the splice donor
region of HIV RNA, containing 5-(n-alkyn-1-yl)pyrimidine bases. Hung. Patent Application # P
95 02742, 1995.
Otvos, L., Sagi, J., Szemzo, A., Sagi, Gy., Szabolcs, O., Ruff, E., Ebinger, K., Tudos, F., and
Fellegvari, I.: Oligodeoxynucleotides containing 5-alkyl-, 5-(1-alkenyl)- and 5-(1-alkynyl)
pyrimidines. Hungarian Patent # 212 717, 1993-1996, and US Patent # 5,767,264; 1998.
Szabolcs, O., Dekany, Gy., Rakoczi, J., Otvos, L., Sagi, J., et al: Process for a large scale and
stereoselective synthesis of 5-alkyl-2'-deoxy-beta-uridines. Hung. Patent # 207524, 1991-
1994.
Szemzo, A., Sagi, J., and Otvos, L.: Process for the synthesis of oligonucleotides containing
carbocyclic nucleotides and their use in therapy and biotechnology. Hung. Patent Application
# 30375/89
Szabolcs, O., Otvos, L., Sagi, J., Tudos, F., et al: An ointment containing 5-isopropyl-2'-
deoxyuridine and accumulating in the skin for the treatment herpes virus infections. Hung.
Patent # 196038, 1987-1988.
Gruber, L., Nagy, K., Szabolcs, O., Sagi, J., et al: Process for the preparation of 5-substituted
3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides. Hung. Patent # 198949, 1987-1990.
Tudos, F., Ratonyi, Z., Gal, T., Szabolcs, O., Otvos, L., Voroshazy, L., Daroczy, I., Sagi, J., D.
Barwolff, J. Reefschlager and H. Just: Process for the synthesis of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-
deoxyuridine and its O-acyl derivatives. Hung. Patent # 187736, 1982-1988.
Szabolcs, O., Otvos, L., Sagi, J., Szemzo, A., et al: Process for the synthesis of (E)-5-(2-
bromovinyl)uridine and its derivatives. Hung. Patent #183567, 1981-1987.
Sagi, J., Otvos, L., et al.: Process for the immobilization of DNA polymerase enzymes and the
use of these for synthesis of polydeoxynucleotides. Hung. Patent #179770, 1979-1987.
Otvos, L., Szabolcs, O., Sagi, J., et al: Process for the synthesis of pure isomers of 2'-
deoxyuridines. Hung. Patent #171306 l, 1975-1980.
Earlier reviews:
Sagi, J. "DNA polymerases - DNA biosynthesis", in Actual Problems in Biology (A Biologia
Aktualis Problemai), Csaba, Gy., Ed., 15, 11- 77, Medicina, Budapest, 1979, in Hungarian.
Sagi, Janos: "Nucleic acids with modified components" in Actual Problems in Biology (A
Biologia Aktualis Problemai), Csaba, Gy., Ed., 18, 69-161, Medicina, Budapest, 1980, in
Hungarian.
Dissertations:
Application of chemically modified nucleotides in studying the structure-function relationship
of nucleic acids, 1995, Budapest, Hungary.
Synthesis, structure and template activity of synthetic DNAs containing nucleotide analogs,
1981, Budapest, Hungary.
Effect of aliphatic diamines on the stability of DNA and template activity of alkylated DNAs for
RNA polymerase enzyme, 1973, Budapest, Hungary.