CaltechTHESIS
  A Caltech Library Service

I. Molecular Recognition of Nucleic Acid by BMSP. II. Sequence Specific B → H → A Allosteric Transitions in DNA

Citation

Becker, Michael McClellan (1982) I. Molecular Recognition of Nucleic Acid by BMSP. II. Sequence Specific B → H → A Allosteric Transitions in DNA. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/s7mc-ka23. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05102018-162757284

Abstract

Chapter One

Bis(methidium)spermine (BMSp), a dimer of two intercalating monomers of ethidium bromide (EB) connected by a spermine link has been synthesized and characterized. The results of these studies clearly demonstrate that both monomers of BMSp simultaneously intercalate nucleic acid, substantially enhancing both its binding affinity and specificity. Under physiological conditions both the binding affinity and specificity of BMSp are similar to DNA binding regulatory proteins. Thus BMSp represents one of the first rationally designed drugs which may selectively inhibit or alter gene expression.

The binding affinity, binding cooperativity, binding site size, and visible spectrum of BMSp are found to vary with nucleic acid conformation. Both BMSp and EB are shown to bind H and A conformations of nucleic acid much more tightly than B conformations. As a result, both compounds induce sequence specific B → H → A allosteric transitions in DNA.

Chapter Two

A sensitive experimental technique which can accurately estimate equilibrium binding isotherms is described. Ligand-macromolecule interactions are monitored by classical indirect techniques over a broad ratio of LT/M, where LT is the total ligand concentration and M is the macromolecule concentration. When analyzed at constant X, where X is some physical property of ligand which is proportional to its concentration, the dependence of LT on M can be used to estimate the binding densities and free ligand concentrations characterizing the ligand-macromolecule interaction. In contrast to classical indirect and direct techniques, accurate binding isotherms can be estimated over a wide range of binding densities for tightly or weakly bound ligands. When the binding of ethidium bromide to polyd(C-G) and polydCdG is examined by this technique, previously undetected allosteric transitions are revealed.

Chapter Three

Evidence for a new conformational family of Watson-Crick DNA is presented. Termed H or hybrid DNA, such DNA is postulated to be an intermediate in the interfamily B → A transition. Hybrid DNA is characterized by a 2'-endo (3' → 5') 3'-endo alteration in sugar pucker every base pair and may also be an intermediate in DNA melting, DNA kinking, and drug intercalation. The ease with which DNA undergoes a B → H → A transition is found to vary greatly with its sequence. On the basis of these results, the equilibrium stability, rather than the structure of Watson-Crick DNA is postulated to vary greatly with base sequence.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:Chemistry
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Major Option:Chemistry
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Evans, David A.
Thesis Committee:
  • Evans, David A. (chair)
  • Dervan, Peter B.
  • Grubbs, Robert H.
  • Hopfield, John J.
Defense Date:27 March 1981
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NIHUNSPECIFIED
Eli Lilly CompanyUNSPECIFIED
American Cancer SocietyUNSPECIFIED
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:05102018-162757284
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05102018-162757284
DOI:10.7907/s7mc-ka23
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:10874
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Mel Ray
Deposited On:11 May 2018 21:18
Last Modified:02 Dec 2020 01:16

Thesis Files

[img]
Preview
PDF - Final Version
See Usage Policy.

111MB

Repository Staff Only: item control page