Synthesis of new photocross-linking 5-C-base-substituted UTP analogs and their application in highly selective affinity labelling of the tick-borne encephalitis virus RNA replicase proteins.

A new photocross-linking 5-C-base-substituted UTP analogs, carrying 4-azidoperfluorobenzoyl and 4-azidoaniline residues were synthesized. Two flavivirus proteins NS5 and NS3 are shown to be labelled after RNA synthesis in the presence of the analogs, irradiation (lambda > 300 nm) and subsequent [alpha-32P]NTP incorporation.