Probing DNA Secondary Structure in vivo with Chiral Metal Complexes

这个项目是在生命过程的化学倡议 在化学特别项目办公室工作 它受到 杰奎琳·巴顿（化学）和劳伦斯· Chasin（生物科学），并涉及寻找 理解不同的DNA构象和映射 细胞外和细胞内介质中的结合位点。 这 研究对于理解改变的DNA很重要 结构和沿沿着DNA链局部构象。 本研究的总体目标是将一致性- 在体外观察到的DNA多态性， 在生物环境中。 手性金属络合物 识别和区分A、B和Z构象 在光活化后，将使用1000 μ L的DNA来切割DNA 股。 切割点将通过电- 电泳 这将为比较 DNA的体内构象与以前在 体外 这项研究的结果将回答一些问题 关于DNA的选定区域是否受到保护， 以及局部构象的变化是否与 基因表达的影响。

This project is in the Chemistry of Life Processes Initiative in the Office of Special Projects in Chemistry. It is under the co-direction on Jacqueline Barton (Chemistry) and Lawrence Chasin (Biological Sciences) and involves the search for understanding of distinct DNA conformations and the mapping of binding sites in extra cellular and intra cellular media. This research is important to the understanding of altered DNA structure and local conformation along DNA strands. The overall objective of this research is to relate conforma- tional polymorphism of DNA which has been observed in vitro to that in the biological environment. Chiral metal complexes which recognize and distinguish the A, B, and Z conformations of DNA will be used, upon photoactivation, to cleave the DNA strands. The points of cleavage will be identified by electro- phoresis. This will provide the basis for comparison of in vivo conformations of DNA with those previously observed in vitro. Results from this research will answer questions concerning whether selected regions of DNA are protected or accessible and whether variations in local conformation relate to gene expression.