Probing DNA Secondary Structure in vivo with Chiral Metal Complexes

这个项目属于化学特别项目办公室的生命过程化学计划。它是在Jacqueline Barton（化学）和Lawrence Chasin（生物科学）的共同指导下进行的，涉及对细胞外和细胞内介质中不同DNA构象的理解和结合位点的定位。这项研究对了解DNA结构的改变和DNA链的局部构象具有重要意义。本研究的总体目的是将体外观察到的DNA构象多态性与生物环境中的DNA构象多态性联系起来。手性金属配合物识别和区分DNA的A， B和Z构象，在光激活后，将被用来切割DNA链。解理点将通过电泳来确定。这将为体内DNA构象与先前在体外观察到的DNA构象的比较提供基础。这项研究的结果将回答有关DNA的选定区域是否受到保护或可接近以及局部构象的变化是否与基因表达有关的问题。

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.