Optical sensors based on hybrid DNA/conjugated polymer complexes

Single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) can specifically bind to various targets, including a complementary ss-DNA, ions, proteins, drugs, and so forth. When binding takes place, the oligonucleotide probe often undergoes a conformational transition. This conformational change of the negatively charged ss-DNA can be detected by using a water-soluble, cationic polythiophene derivative, which transduces the complex formation into an optical (colorimetric or fluorometric) signal without any labeling of the probe or the target. This simple and rapid methodology has enabled the specific and sensitive detection of nucleic acids and human thrombin. This new biophotonic tool can easily be applied to the detection of various other biomolecules and is also useful in the high-throughput screening of new drugs.     

Structural and dynamic variations in DNA hexamers containing T-T and F-F single and tandem internal mispairs

Molecular dynamics simulations of double-helical DNA oligomers have been performed to investigate differences in the structure, dynamics, and hydration of F-F and T-T mispairs. Hexamers containing F-F pairs were found to be more dynamic, especially in the region of the mispair itself. This dynamic variability derives from greater flexibility of F-F pairs. The T-T mispairs, on the other hand, were found to be comparatively tightly bound as wobble pairs. The major and minor groove edges of the T-T pairs were observed to be solvated at exposed carbonyl positions by at least one water molecule, while F-F pairs lacked solvating waters. Stacking interactions were nearly identical for T-T and F-F pairs, leading to similar average structures, even though F stacking was more dynamically variable. Solvation differences between F-F and T-T therefore support the steric exclusion model for nucleotide incorporation in DNA replication. Large differences in the orientation of minor groove functional groups, in addition to differences in solvation, further rationalize why F bases present during DNA extension events induce stalls. Two novel nucleotides are proposed to further elucidate minor groove interactions of DNA with polymerase molecules.Electronic Supplementary Material This Material consists of equilibration protocol, plots of center-of-mass stacking, water radial distribution functions, helical parameter dynamics, and dynamics data for a control AT sequence. Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue     

Targeting of Single‐Stranded Oligonucleotides through Metal‐Induced Cyclization of Short Complementary Strands

A new strategy to cyclize short synthetic oligonucleotides on DNA or RNA target strands is described. The approach is based on metal‐templated cyclization of short synthetic oligonucleotides conjugated with two chelating 2,2′ : 6′,2′′‐terpyridine (Tpy) moieties at their 3′‐ and 5′‐ends. Cyclization after metal addition (Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺) was demonstrated by means of thermal‐denaturation experiments, MALDI‐Q‐TOF‐MS, and gel electrophoresis (PAGE). 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR Experiments were performed to analyze the association of complementary strands after metal‐mediated cyclization. Our protocol allows the efficient circularization of synthetic oligonucleotides. Thereby, the hybridization on a complementary strand was more efficient with an RNA target strand and a 2′‐O‐methylated circularized oligomer.     

Influence of velocity and surface temperature of alumina particles on the properties of plasma sprayed coatings

In this paper are described the main characteristics of the plasma spraying process of alumina deposits, i.e., the temperature and flow field of the plasma jets obtained with the classical spraying torches, the injection of the particles into the plasma jet, the particle surface temperature and velocities in the plasma (measured for calibrated alumina particles), and the coating generation. The measurements on the alumina particles are compared with the predictions of a mathematical model. The experimental and computed particle velocities are in rather good agreement. However, this is not the case for the particle surface temperature. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are proposed (influence of the carrier gas, thermophoretic forces, and poor penetration of the particles into the plasma core even for an injection velocity twice that of the optimal calculated one, as shown by recent measurements). Finally the correlations between the particle velocities and surface temperature, and the properties of the alumina coating (porosity, crystal structure, mechanical properties) are studied.     

5-氟尿嘧啶-1-乙酸合铜(Ⅱ)的合成及其与DNA的作用

The 5-fluorouracil-1-acetic acid (5FuAA) and its Cu(Ⅱ) complex (5FuAACu) were synthesized and the date for the crystal complex was obtained. The interaction of 5-fluorouracil-1-acetic acid (5FuAA) and its Cu(Ⅱ) complex (5FuAACu) with DNA was also investigated by using spectral, viscometric, electrochemical and agarose gel electrophoresis methods. The results of interaction with DNA suggest that both 5FuAA and 5FuAACu can bind to DNA in a static electricity attraction mode. But the attraction of 5FuAACu is greater than that of 5FuAA.     

Synthesis, antitumor and DNA photocleaving activities of novel naphthalene carboxamides: effects of different thio-heterocyclic rings and aminoalkyl side chains

Two kinds of thio-heterocyclic fused naphthalene carboxamides, 3a-b, 4a-b, were designed, synthesized and quantitatively evaluated as efficient antitumor and DNA photocleaving agents. Compound 3a or 3b, having the thiophene ring, intercalated into DNA more strongly than compound 4a or 4b, having the thioxanthene ring. Compound 4a or 4b, photocleaved DNA more efficiently than 3a or 3b via superoxide anion. Compound 4a was the strongest inhibitor for P388 (murine leukemia cell), while 3a was the most cytotoxic one against A549 (human lung cancer cell). Each new compound showed stronger DNA photocleaving activity than corresponding naphthalimide.     

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。     

Electrophoretic properties of complexes between DNA and the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

We use agarose gel electrophoresis to characterize how the monovalent catioinic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) compacts double-stranded DNA, which is detected as a reduction in electrophoretic DNA velocity. The velocity reaches a plateau at a ratio R = 1.8 of CTAB to DNA-phosphate charges, i.e., above the neutralization point, and the complexes retain a net negative charge at least up to R = 200. Condensation experiments on a mixture of two DNA sizes show that the complexes formed contain only one condensed DNA molecule each. These CTAB-DNA globules were further characterized by time-resolved measurements of their velocity inside the gel, which showed that CTAB does not dissociate during the migration but possibly upon entry into the gel. Using the Ogston-model for electrophoresis of spherical particles, the measured in-gel velocity of the globule is quantitatively consistent with CTAB having two opposite effects, reduction of both the electrophoretic charge and DNA coil size. In the case of CTAB the two effects nearly cancel, which can explain why opposite velocity shifts (globule faster than uncomplexed DNA) have been observed with some catioinic condensation agents. Dissociation of the complexes by addition of anionic surfactants was also studied. The DNA release from the globule was complete at a mixing ratio between anionic and cationic surfactants equal to 1, in agreement with equilibrium studies. Circular DNA retained its supercoiling, and this demonstrates a lack of DNA nicking in the compaction-release cycle which is important in DNA transfection and purification applications.