DNA损伤的光电化学传感器检测

DNA是生物体主要的遗传物质,DNA损伤在生物体内经常发生。一些内源性和外源性物质可对细胞核内DNA造成氧化和修饰等结构性损伤。未经修复的损伤DNA可导致基因突变甚至癌症的发生。DNA电化学传感器具有快速、灵敏、低成本和易于小型化等优势,非常适用于化学品和环境化合物致DNA损伤毒性的快速筛查。本文首先简要介绍目前流行的DNA电化学传感器的类型和工作原理,然后以我们实验室的工作为基础,重点论述针对DNA损伤检测的电化学和光电化学传感器,包括用于化合物基因毒性快速鉴定的通用型传感器和特定DNA损伤产物（8-羟基脱氧鸟苷,甲基化DNA碱基）定量检测的专用型传感器。最后对DNA损伤电化学传感器目前存在的问题和未来可能的发展方向进行展望。     

金表面巯基化DNA单层性能的影响因素研究

巯基化DNA在金表面上吸附构建的自组装单层（self-assembled monolayers,SAMs）为DNA研究的理想异相体系,在DNA内电子传递的机制探讨、高灵敏DNA传感器设计以及DNA碱基错配点识别等方面有着广泛的应用。对于不同的研究对象应构建性能适合的DNA单层,以满足研究需要。为了可控构建DNA单层,应理解不同因素对金表面上DNA单层性能的影响。本文从金表面状况、DNA特性以及周围环境三个方面对金表面上巯基化DNA单层性能的影响因素研究进行了系统综述。     

DNA机械技术的研究进展

近年来DNA机械技术得到了广泛的关注和深入的研究。DNA独特的分子结构和理化性质使构建DNA机械装置成为可能。通过设计更加精巧的机械装置可以产生更加复杂的机械行为或功能。DNA机械技术在研究感知、传递和产生pN力的生物分子的基本特性方面也发挥了重要作用,这些力学研究对于揭示它们的功能至关重要。本文总结了近年来DNA机械技术的研究进展。首先简要介绍DNA的机械力学基础,然后重点阐述几种DNA机械装置,最后讨论了DNA机械技术的挑战与展望。     

表面活性剂中DNA构象变化的研究

以荧光探针法研究了表面活性剂与小牛胸腺DNA的相互作用，结果表明：阳离子表面活性剂主要通过静电引力和疏水方式与DNA作用；阴离子表面活性剂与DNA之间存在静电排斥力，两者之间的相互作用不太明显；而非离子表面活性剂与DNA的相互作用类似于有机溶剂对DNA的影响，即通过溶液的极性、粘度和介电常数来影响DNA的构象，表面活性剂使得DNA构象发生较大的变化，预示了它可能使DNA的生物功能发生较大的变化。     

二维DNA晶体的程序化设计与自组装的研究进展

按照Watson-Crick的碱基配对原则，在理论上能够人工设计与合成DNA碱基序列并自组装成任何一维和二维结构的DNA晶体。DNA分子这种底端向上(bottom-up)的自组装模式为我们提供了一种精确合成纳米材料的方法。本文将从程序化设计、合成刚性的DNA分子瓦(DNA tile)、分子瓦自组装成二维DNA晶体以及二维DNA晶体作为模板在纳米技术中的应用等方面展开，简述这一新奇的并且有着潜在应用前景的研究领域的最新进展。     

二维DNA晶体的多重熔解过程研究

可人工编程设计的刚性DNA分子瓦(DNA tile)中的DX分子(double-crossover，双交叉)能自组装形成二维DNA晶体。将含有二维DNA晶体的缓冲溶液程序升温，用紫外-可见分光光度计在260 nm处测定二维DNA晶体的熔解曲线，观测到了DNA晶体的多重熔解过程。AFM显微镜的研究也观测到了二维DNA晶体受热解体后的图像，表明二维DNA晶体的熔解过程首先发生在DX分子瓦间的黏性末端，然后是DX分子瓦的解体，由此推测，在DNA晶体生长过程中单链DNA相互结合成分子瓦后，分子瓦进一步自组装成晶体。     

柔红霉素与DNA相互作用的机理研究

本文以循环伏安、光谱电化学和原子力显微镜方法从DNA角度研究柔红霉素与天然鱼精DNA和热变性DNA之间相互作用的机理。并对柔红霉素与鱼精DNA和热变性DNA复合物的组成及复合物的形成常数作了测定。研究发现嵌入作用是柔红霉素和天然DNA之间的主要作用方式；并且柔红霉素和天然DNA之间的作用要强于和热变性单链DNA之间的作用。对这两种复合物的光谱电化学和原子力显微镜研究表明，在体内氧化还原代谢条件下，柔红霉素还原过程中产生的半醌自由基可引发自由基链反应，造成DNA链的解链、断裂等损伤。     

2,9-双甲基苯并噻唑乙烯基邻菲罗琳与DNA 的相互作用及应用研究

设计合成了基于2,9-双苯并噻唑乙烯基取代的邻菲罗琳荧光分子—PMBT。通过吸收光谱、荧光光谱、圆二色光谱探讨了PMBT与不同DNA的相互作用。发现PMBT与DNA存在两种不同的相互作用模式。 由于PMBT分子中带有两个正电荷,当PMBT与DNA的浓度比值较高（大于4）时,PMBT以DNA为模板按一定方向在DNA上聚集;当PMBT与DNA的浓度比小于2时,PMBT通过嵌插或末端堆积的方式分别与单/双链DNA和G-四链体DNA结合。PMBT与DNA结合导致其荧光淬灭,利用该特性将PMBT与DNA结合构建荧光增强型检测平台,可用于DNA酶活性以及DNA降解的动力学研究。     

2,9-双甲基苯并噻唑乙烯基邻菲咯啉与DNA的相互作用及应用研究

设计合成了基于2,9-双苯并噻唑乙烯基取代的邻菲咯啉荧光分子PMBT。通过吸收光谱、荧光光谱、圆二色谱探讨了PMBT与不同DNA的相互作用,发现PMBT与DNA存在两种不同的相互作用模式。由于PMBT分子中带有2个正电荷,当PMBT与DNA的浓度比值较高(大于4)时,PMBT以DNA为模板按一定方向在DNA上聚集;当PMBT与DNA的浓度比小于2时,PMBT通过嵌插或末端堆积的方式分别与单/双链DNA和G-四链体DNA结合。PMBT与DNA结合导致其荧光猝灭,利用该特性将PMBT与DNA结合构建荧光增强型检测平台,可用于DNA酶活性以及DNA降解的动力学研究。     

嗪草酮与脱氧核糖核酸相互作用的研究

采用电化学方法,结合紫外-可见分光光度法、荧光光度法、粘度法和与变性脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)的作用研究了嗪草酮(M)与DNA的作用机制,并通过研究嗪草酮对溴化乙锭-天然DNA体系的影响,以及天然DNA和变性DNA与嗪草酮的作用的不同,得出嗪草酮与DNA分子发生类似溴化乙锭(EB)嵌插作用的结论,形成DNA-M 1∶1型的超分子化合物DNA-M。求得结合常数β=1.8×105L/mol。DNA加入量在1×10-5~1.5×10-4mol/L范围内,DNA浓度与峰电流降低值之间存在线性关系。     

SEDIMENTATION ANALYSIS OF DNA PHOTOOXIDIZED IN THE PRESENCE OF THIOPYRONINE

Abstract. Illumination of single-stranded φ×174 phage DNA with visible lightλ > 500 nm) in the presence of the sensitizer thiopyronine results in both chain scissions detectable by velocity sedimentation in neutral medium and in alkali-labile bonds which yield secondary strand breaks after alkaline treatment. Compared with the generation of primary strand breaks, the formation of alkali-labile sites seems to be the predominant reaction.
Photodynamic treatment of homogeneous double-stranded Ta, phage DNA leads to changes in the overall conformation of DNA as revealed by an initial increase of the sedimentation coefficient. The simultaneous occurrence of different effects (decrease of molecular weight, increase of effective DNA flexibility) is particularly evident from changes in the sedimentation coefficient distribution. The fact that both processes influence the sedimentation behaviour questions the common procedure of calculating double-strand break numbers from sedimentation coefficient distributions on the basis of s#-M relations which are valid for intact DNA only.
Photooxidized double-stranded DNA exhibits an increased sensitivity against shear forces.     

THE FATE OF PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN THE DNA OF ULTRAVIOLET-IRRADIATED CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS

Abstract —As an aid to understanding the relationship between dimer repair and cellular recovery, we have studied dimer removal and replication of dimer-containing DNA in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells irradiated with ultraviolet light (254 nm). These investigations demonstrated that (1) dimers are not excised as polynucleotides of less than 500,000 mol. wt, (2) fractionation of the ultraviolet dose does not enhance dimer excision, (3) dimer-containing DNA is replicated in ultraviolet-irradiated CHO cells, and (4) the dimers are conserved in the replicated DNA. These findings support the proposed mechanism of bypass of photoproducts during DNA replication in mammalian cells.     

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE NEAR-UV EFFECT ON DNA IN THE PRESENCE OF 8-METHOXYPSORALEN: RENATURABILITY OF DNA.

Factors affecting the near-UV induced reaction of calf thymus DNA in the presence of 8-methoxypsoralen were examined. DNA became more renaturable with increasing concentration of 8-methoxypsoralen and fluence. Existence of paramagnetic ions, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, or Ni²⁺, largely repressed the photoreaction. It was ascertained that the highest renaturability was attained by the illumination with light between 310 and 345 nm.     

PHOTOCLEAVAGE OF DNA IN THE PRESENCE OF SYNTHETIC WATER-SOLUBLE PORPHYRINS

In the presence of oxygen and visible light, various synthetic water-soluble porphyrins cleave pBR 322 plasmid supercoiled DNA (form I) producing relaxed (form II) and linear (form III) DNA corresponding to single-strand and double-strand breaks respectively. Large variations are observed in the efficiency of the porphyrins containing a diamagnetic metal or no metal at all. Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) seems to be involved in the mechanism of cleavage consistent with the inhibitory effect of the azide anion, N^–₃. The higher efficiency of cationic porphyrins (as compared to anionic ones) is due to their greater affinity for DNA as shown by experiments carried out at either high ionic strength or in the presence of the surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate.     

ON THE NATURE OF INTERACTION BETWEEN PROFLAVINE and DNA

Abstract— The fluorescence decay of the mutagenic drug proflavine (PF) bound to DNA at a phosphate-to-drug ratio of 420 is found to be a non-exponential function of time. The deviation from exponentiality is shown to increase with increasing GC content of DNA. Thus, heterogeneity in the high affinity binding sites is clearly demonstrated. The nucleotides guanosine-5'-monophosphate (GMP) and cyti-dine-5'-monophosphate (CMP) are shown to form complexes with PF in 10^-3M sodium cacodylate buffer at pH 6.6. In addition, GMP quenches substantially the fluorescence of PF while CMP enhances it slightly. The fluorescence decay curves for 5 × I0^-6 M PF in the presence of GMP concentrations greater than 10^-2 M exhibit a deviation from exponentiality which parallels that exhibited by the fluorescence decay curves for PF bound to DNA of increasing GC content. It is inferred that (a) guanine is responsible for the quenching of the fluorescence of PF on binding to DNA; and (b) the forces involved in the interaction between PF and DNA are specific in nature. The implications of these findings concerning the mutagenic properties of acridine derivatives are discussed. Nanosecond depolarization studies reveal a quite fast depolarization of the fluorescence of bound PF; for the PF- Cl. perfringens DNA complex the rotational correlation time is about 26 ns. Time-resolved emission spectroscopy in the nanosecond scale demonstrates that, despite the change in the orientation of the drug, the electronic structure of the PF-DNA complex is not substantially altered during the lifetime of the excited singlet electronic state of the drug.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL INACTIVATION OF SINGLE-STRANDED VIRAL DNA IN THE PRESENCE OF UROCANIC ACID*

Abstract— Urocanic acid (UA) has previously been shown to react photochemically in vitro with N,N-dimethylthymine. In this study, mixtures of UA and phage G4 single-stranded DNA have been irradiated with UV light (λ≥ 254 nm) and the DNA assayed for infectivity. At the concentrations of UA employed (typically 5.4 × 10^-3 M ) there is extensive absorption of the incident light by the UA. The DNA is inactivated at rates greater than that predicted from the calculated shielding by UA, indicating that photosensitization is occurring. Photosensitization is also indicated by the fact that at high UA concentrations the inactivation rate does not decrease to zero but approaches a residual value. Furthermore, the ability to photoreactivate DNA that has been photolyzed in the presence of UA is much reduced relative to that observed upon photolysis of the DNA alone. UA is therefore responsible for the production of UV-induced DNA lesions, which are resistant to photoreactivation.
A general analysis of the effects of photosensitization on the kinetics of UV inactivation is presented in an appendix.     

THE RATE OF REMOVAL OF SUNLIGHT-INDUCED PYRIMIDINE DIMERS FROM THE DNA OF CULTURED HUMAN DIPLOID FIBROBLASTS

Abstract The rate of excision of sunlight-induced pyrimidine dimers in DNA of exposed human cells was determined. Two normal excision repair-proficient human diploid fibroblast strains (WS-1 and KD) and a repair-deficient strain (XP12BE, group A) maintained in a nondividing state were exposed to summer noon-time sunlight for times (5 and 20 min) that induced numbers of dimers equivalent to far UV (254 nm) exposures of 1 and 4 J/m². Pyrimidine dimers were quantified in extracted DNA using a U V-endonuclease-alkaline sedimentation assay. The excision rates of these dimers were similar to those observed for the excision of UV-induced pyrimidine dimers. No sunlight-induced inhibition or stimulation of DNA repair was observed in either strain at these low exposures.     

KINETIC FORMALDEHYDE ANALYSIS OF DNA ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATED IN THE PRESENCE OF SILVER IONS*

Abstract— DNA from Escherichia coli was irradiated at 254 nm in the presence of silver in order to preferentially enhance the rate of formation of pyrimidine-dimer damage over nondimer damage. The irradiated DNA was treated with formaldehyde in order to measure the unwinding velocity of the defects associated with the pyrimidine dimers. This velocity was found to be 0.18 base pairs/min per pyrimidine dimer, which is nearly 8 times less than that found for a double-strand break (1.37 base pairs/min) obtained by use of sheared DNA whose size was determined by electron microscopy. The rate of reaction of the DNA with formaldehyde varied linearly with the pyrimidine dimer concentration and showed no inflection due to clustering. Treatment of irradiated DNA with UV endonuclease enhanced the formaldehyde reaction by ? 7-fold, consistent with the conversion of a dimer into the faster-reacting defect associated with a single-strand break. These results indicate that the distribution of dimers in DNA is random and not clustered, and that previous interpretations of clustering were based on the false assumption that dimer and chain break defects unwind with similar velocities when treated with formaldehyde.     

ROLE OF COMPLEX FORMATION IN THE PHOTOSENSITIZED DEGRADATION OF DNA INDUCED BY N'-FORMYLKYNURENINE

Abstract— N'-Formylkynurenine derivatives efficiently bind to DNA or polynucleotides. Homopolynucleotides and DNA display marked differences in the binding process. Association constants are derived which indicate that the oxidized indole ring is more strongly bound to DNA than the unoxidized one. Irradiation of such complexes with wavelengths greater than 320 nm induces pyrimidine dimer formation as well as DNA chain breaks. Complex formation is shown to play an important role in these photosensitized reactions.
The photodynamic action of N'-formylkynurenine on DNA constituents is negligible at neutral pH but guanine and xanthine derivatives are sensitizable at higher pH. Thymine dimer splitting can occur in aggregated frozen aqueous solutions of N'-formylkynurenine and thymine dimer but this photosensitized splitting is negligible in liquid solutions at room temperature.