Abstract
The uranyl-(VI) cation (UO(2) (2+)) forms strong complexes with accessible phosphates of nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) backbones. Upon excitation with long wavelength ultraviolet light (lambda = 300-420 nm), uranyl ions bound to backbone phosphates oxidize proximal sugars and induce nucleic acid backbone cleavage. Thus the uranyl(VI) ion functions as a very specific and efficient photochemical probe for identifying ligand(protein)-phosphate contacts in nucleic acid complexes as well as potential (high affinity) cation (e.g., Mg(2+))-binding sites in folded nucleic acids. Finally, the cleavage modulation of duplex DNA reflects helix conformation in terms of minor groove width, due to preferential affinity/oxidation efficiency for such regions of the DNA helix.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) |
| Volume | 543 |
| Pages (from-to) | 87-96 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISSN | 1064-3745 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Cattle
- DNA Footprinting/methods
- Deoxyribonuclease I/metabolism
- Light
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Operator Regions, Genetic
- Repressor Proteins/metabolism
- Uranium Compounds/chemistry
- Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins/metabolism