Probing the structure of nucleic acids with Ni(II) complexes
The structure of nucleic acids determines their biological function. Interest in the development of novel probes from structures of nucleic acid has led to the discovery of conformation-specific oxidation of guanine sites in DNA and RNA using Ni(II) complexes. The reaction is highly dependent upon the nature of Ni(II) complexes with the most important feature of a strong in-plane ligand field. The unique properties of Ni(II) complexes combining redox and coordination features provide sensitive probes for nucleic acid conformation. One of these nickel complexes, NiCR, has been shown to selectively promote cleavage of DNA at guanine sites held accessible through the formation of unusual secondary structures such as ends, mismatches, bulges and loops. An unique mechanism for the base and conformation-specific oxidation of DNA promoted by Ni(II) complexes is proposed, involving direct ligation of nickel to N-7 of guanine delivering a non-diffusible oxidizing species. NiCR has been proved to be a sensitive and predictable probe for the tertiary structure of RNAs. The specific sites of oxidation of tRNS[sup phe] promoted by NiCR correspond to the most accessible guanine residues determined by theoretic calculations. NiCR has also been successfully applied to probe the tertiary structure of self-splicing Tetrahymena pre-rRNA intron, and has provided important information about the folding of this intron, especially in the region of the catalytic core.
- Research Organization:
- State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook, NY (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6976194
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GUANINE
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
OXIDATION
NICKEL COMPLEXES
NUCLEIC ACIDS
CONFORMATIONAL CHANGES
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
AMINES
AROMATICS
AZAARENES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPLEXES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KINETICS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PURINES
REACTION KINETICS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
550200* - Biochemistry