稀土及其配合物对核酸的断裂作用

人工核酸酶是一类具有限制性内切酶的功能、能高效高选择性地催化水解DNA 或RNA 的断裂工具。它们一般由核酸结构识别系统及催化断裂系统组成, 将两种功能有效地结合起来, 可模拟核酸的酶切反应。本文综述了稀土及其配合物对核酸的断裂作用, 并对其断裂机制进行了探讨。     

金属有机配合物对DNA的断链作用

过渡金属配合物催化DNA、RNA的断链反应研究是近年来最为活跃的前沿研究领域之一,因某些金属配合物具有核酸酶特异性催化DNA、RNA断链的功能,因而该研究对新型抗肿瘤、抗艾滋病化学药物的定向设计及其基因治疗和分子生物学研究中DNA、RNA的高度专一性定点断裂、染色体图谱分析及DNA定位诱变、基因工程中足迹技术(footprinting)以及DNA构象识别等方面均具有重要意义和应用前景,文献已报道了一些具有断裂DNA、RNA功能的金属配合物,但其中很少有含金属-碳σ键的金属有机化合物,本文首次报道了二茂铁鎓离子三氯乙酸盐和二氯二茂钛对DNA的断链作用。     

金属配合物-寡聚核苷酸定位断裂剂研究进展

核酸切割试剂与寡聚核苷酸(ODN)偶联制得的人工核酸酶能在特定位点断裂DNA或RNA,为人工核酸酶的分子设计提供了一种新方法.本文综述了金属配合物-ODN识别切割试剂的偶联方式及其与靶分子的作用机制,并指出了今后的研究方向.     

钌(Ⅱ)多吡啶配合物光断裂DNA的实验研究

研究了一系列钌(Ⅱ)多吡啶配合物对pBR 322DNA的光断裂作用,并与光谱法和粘度法的研究结果进行了对比．实验结果表明,钌(Ⅱ)多吡啶配合物光断裂DNA的能力不仅与配合物与DNA相互作用的结合模式和结合强度有关,还与配合物自身的电子结构有关;钌(Ⅱ)多吡啶配合物对DNA的光断裂存在立体选择性;其断裂机理是激发态的配合物与溶液中的氧分子发生能量转移生成单线态氧活性氧化物种,将鸟嘌呤碱基氧化而导致DNA断裂．本研究对于遗传工程中的化学核酸酶以及以DNA为靶标的药物设计有重要的意义．     

钌(II)多吡啶配合物光断裂DNA的实验研究

研究了一系列钌(II)多吡啶配合物对pBR 322 DNA 的光断裂作用, 并与光谱法和粘度法的研究结果进行了对比. 实验结果表明, 钌(II)多吡啶配合物光断裂DNA的能力不仅与配合物与DNA相互作用的结合模式和结合强度有关, 还与配合物自身的电子结构有关; 钌(II)多吡啶配合物对DNA的光断裂存在立体选择性; 其断裂机理是激发态的配合物与溶液中的氧分子发生能量转移生成单线态氧活性氧化物种, 将鸟嘌呤碱基氧化而导致DNA断裂. 本研究对于遗传工程中的化学核酸酶以及以DNA为靶标的药物设计有重要的意义.     

两亲性大环多胺La(III)配合物的合成、表征及催化质粒DNA水解的研究

近年来,人工核酸切割试剂的研究一直是化学生物学、生物化学和分子生物学中最为活跃的前沿领域之一。最近的研究结果表明大环多胺金属配合物在磷酸二酯水解方面表现出独特的催化性能,能作为化学核酸酶有效的催化DNA和RNA的磷酸二酯键的水解[1-2]。尤其是电荷较高的金属阳离子形     

铜配合物促进的DNA氧化断裂

本文首先对铜配合物催化DNA氧化断裂的机制及相关因素包括DNA结合能力与方式、活性氧物种形成和活性氧物种对底物的损伤展开了讨论;其次结合我们课题组的工作对配合物的结构对其DNA切割性能的影响分别进行了总结,分别探讨了核数、核的种类、位阻、电荷、结合方式以及氧化还原电位等因素的影响;同时还对光激发铜配合物断裂DNA的机制和性能进行分析;最后对特异性含铜DNA断裂试剂的不同设计策略及其相关切割行为进行的系统地总结. 这些总结不仅有利于对铜配合物促进DNA 断裂行为的系统理解,而且对于进一步设计高效含铜人工核酸酶实现DNA的特异性断裂具有良好的指导意义.     

β-K4H3[SiW9O37(CpTi)3]·11H2O环戊二烯钛多酸衍生物与DNA作用研究

某些过渡金属配合物具有特异性催化DNA和RNA断裂的功能, 因而研究过渡金属配合物对DNA和RNA的断链反应对新型抗肿瘤、抗艾滋病化学药物的定向设计及其基因治疗和分子生物学中DNA和RNA的高度专一性定点断裂、 DNA定位诱变和构象识别具有重要意义和应用前景[1,2]. 我们对二茂钛多酸有机金属衍生物合成及抗肿瘤活性研究表明, 环戊二烯钛多氧金属酸盐衍生物具有很高的抗肿瘤活性和较好的水溶性及稳定性, 有潜在的抗肿瘤药用价值[3].     

蒽醌-L-氨基酸的合成研究

近年来分子生物学的迅猛发展,使得有望成为结构探针及化学治疗剂的核酸断裂剂成为一个比较活跃的研究领域.一些蒽醌衍生物可以被设计成光核酸酶[1],具有限制性核酸内切酶的高度专一性,在可见光或紫外光的照射下就能引发DNA的裂解,而且断裂DNA效率较高,活性较好[2].因此,蒽醌衍生物在基因分离、染色体图谱分析、大片段基因序列分析及DNA的定位诱变、肿瘤基因治疗与新的化学治疗等分子生物学领域有着广泛的应用前景.而醌和氨基酸的结合产物可以作为DNA的主要靶点[3].为了进一步研究醌-氨基酸化合物的光学活性和它们与DNA的作用机理,我们设计并合成了五种9,10-蒽醌-2-磺酰-L-氨基酸新的化合物.     

核酸碱基互变异构体的结构、稳定性及其物理化学性质

核酸碱基是DNA及RNA分子的重要组成部分, 在基因遗传信息的传递方面起着主导作用. 核酸碱基存在多种互变异构体, 它们在DNA及RNA分子中主要以最稳定的异构体形式存在, 但是在气相或凝聚相中也有少量的其他异构体形式存在. 核酸碱基的稀有互变异构体往往能够引起碱基对的错配对, 这可能会导致DNA及RNA分子形成不规则的结构, 并进一步导致DNA或RNA双螺旋的自发突变. 因此, 对核酸碱基的互变异构体进行系统的研究, 有助于人们深入认识DNA和RNA分子的结构和性质. 国际上有很多研究小组已经通过实验和理论对核酸碱基互变异构体的结构、相对能量及其性质进行了研究. 本文对文献中有关核酸碱基互变异构体的实验和理论研究进行了综述. 在对前人研究进行归纳总结的基础上, 我们利用密度泛函计算对核酸碱基的互变异构体进行了排序, 得到的最优异构体结构参数和相对能量与实验值相比较为一致. 此外, 因为核酸碱基的物理化学性质可以为生物、化学、材料等方面的研究提供重要的基础性信息, 因此我们还对它们的电子亲和能、电离能、质子亲和能等研究进行了总结.     

Deciphering nucleic acid modifications by chemical derivatization-mass spectrometry analysis

Chemical derivatization in combination with mass spectrometry (MS) analysis is a promising strategy for the sensitive and effective analysis of nucleic acid modifications. In this review, we summarize the recent advances for deciphering modifications in DNA and RNA by chemical derivatization-MS analysis.     

Isothermal detection of RNA with restriction endonucleases

Herein, we demonstrate how to detect nucleic acids that do not contain restriction endonuclease recognition sites with restriction endonucleases. We show that the topology of DNA probes used in this detection strategy remarkably affects the efficiency of RNA/DNA detection.     

A novel approach to the synthesis of DNA and RNA lariats

Current studies of lariat RNA structure and function are hindered by the lack of access to synthetic lariats. A novel approach to the synthesis of both DNA and RNA lariats is presented here. Noteworthy features of the methodology are the regiospecific formation of the 2'-5'-phosphodiester linkage, the unusual parallel stranded DNA/RNA hybrid (or parallel RNA/RNA duplex) that forms between an RNA template and a folded 22-nt DNA (or RNA) substrate, and the efficiency of the chemical ligation step at an adenosine branchpoint (50-80%). The DNA and RNA lariats were purified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and their structure and nucleotide composition were confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Thermal denaturation as well as enzymatic and chemical hydrolysis fully supported the proposed lariat structures. Characterization of control parallel duplexes was conducted by gel shift assays and enzymatic degradation with RNase H. The successful synthesis of the lariat molecules described here will allow structural and biochemical studies aimed at better understanding the splicing and debranching mechanisms in which these unusual nucleic acids are involved.     

Nucleic acid biosensors for environmental pollution monitoring

Nucleic acid-based biosensors are finding increasing use for the detection of environmental pollution and toxicity. A biosensor is defined as a compact analytical device incorporating a biological or biologically-derived sensing element either integrated within or intimately associated with a physicochemical transducer. A nucleic acid-based biosensor employs as the sensing element an oligonucleotide, with a known sequence of bases, or a complex structure of DNA or RNA. Nucleic acid biosensors can be used to detect DNA/RNA fragments or either biological or chemical species. In the first application, DNA/RNA is the analyte and it is detected through the hybridization reaction (this kind of biosensor is also called a genosensor). In the second application, DNA/RNA plays the role of the receptor of specific biological and/or chemical species, such as target proteins, pollutants or drugs. Recent advances in the development and applications of nucleic acid-based biosensors for environmental application are reviewed in this article with special emphasis on functional nucleic acid elements (aptamers, DNAzymes, aptazymes) and lab-on-a-chip technology.     

Single-nucleotide-specific PNA-peptide ligation on synthetic and PCR DNA templates

DNA-directed chemical synthesis has matured into a useful tool with applications such as fabrication of defined (nano)molecular architectures, evolution of amplifiable small-molecule libraries, and nucleic acid detection. Most commonly, chemical methods were used to join oligonucleotides under the control of a DNA or RNA template. The full potential of chemical ligation reactions can be uncovered when nonnatural oligonucleotide analogues that can provide new opportunities such as increased stability, DNA affinity, hybridization selectivity, and/or ease and accuracy of detection are employed. It is shown that peptide nucleic acid (PNA) conjugates, nonionic biostable DNA analogues, allowed the fashioning of highly chemoselective and sequence-selective peptide ligation methods. In particular, PNA-mediated native chemical ligations proceed with sequence selectivities and ligation rates that reach those of ligase-catalyzed oligodeoxynucleotide reactions. Usually, sequence-specific ligations can only be achieved by employing short-length probes, which show DNA affinities that are too low to allow stable binding to target segments in large, double-stranded DNA. It is demonstrated that the PNA-based ligation chemistry allowed the development of a homogeneous system in which rapid single-base mutation analyses can be performed even on double-stranded PCR DNA templates.     

A bridge between the RNA and protein worlds? Accelerating delivery of chemical reactivity to RNA and DNA by a specific short peptide (AAKK)(4)

BACKGROUND: RNA can catalyze diverse chemical reactions, leading to the hypothesis that an RNA world existed early in evolution. Today, however, catalysis by naturally occurring RNAs is rare and most chemical transformations within cells require proteins. This has led to interest in the design of small peptides capable of catalyzing chemical transformations. RESULTS: We demonstrate that a short lysine-rich peptide (AAKK)(4) can deliver a nucleophile to DNA or RNA and amplify the rate of chemical modification by up to 3400-fold. We also tested similar peptides that contain ornithine or arginine in place of lysine, peptides with altered stereochemistry or orientation, and peptides containing eight lysines but with different spacing. Surprisingly, these similar peptides function much less well, suggesting that specific combinations of amino acids, charge distribution, and stereochemistry are necessary for the rate enhancement by (AAKK)(4). CONCLUSIONS: By appending other reactive groups to (AAKK)(4) it should be possible to greatly expand the potential for small peptides to directly catalyze modification of DNA or RNA or to act as cofactors to promote ribozyme catalysis.     

The importance of being r: greater oxidative stability of RNA compared with DNA

The 2'-hydroxyl group of ribose imparts hydrolytic lability on RNA, which provides a mechanism for numerous biological functions. Recent evidence from chemical cleavage studies shows that this hydroxyl group also stabilizes the sugar moiety in RNA towards oxidation relative to DNA. Is this just because RNA needs to be distinguishable from DNA or does it have other evolutionary significance?     

化学核酸酶研究新进展

本文综述了化学核酸酶的研究新进展。讨论了化学核酸酶模型催化磷酸酯的水解反应,ＤＮＡ和ＲＮＡ的裂解和水解等反应,并对它催化各类反应的作用机制进行了评述。     

Single-molecule studies on DNA and RNA.

DNA and RNA are the most individual molecules known. Therefore, single-molecule experiments with these nucleic acids are particularly useful. This review reports on recent experiments with single DNA and RNA molecules. First, techniques for their preparation and handling are summarised including the use of AFM nanotips and optical or magnetic tweezers. As important detection techniques, conventional and near-field microscopy as well as fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) are touched on briefly. The use of single-molecule techniques currently includes force measurements in stretched nucleic acids and in their complexes with binding partners, particularly proteins, and the analysis of DNA by restriction mapping, fragment sizing and single-molecule hybridisation. Also, the reactions of RNA polymerases and enzymes involved in DNA replication and repair are dealt with in some detail, followed by a discussion of the transport of individual nucleic acid molecules during the readout and use of genetic information and during the infection of cells by viruses. The final sections show how the enormous addressability in nucleic acid molecules can be exploited to construct a single-molecule field-effect transistor and a walking single-molecule robot, and how individual DNA molecules can be used to assemble a single-molecule DNA computer.