Dinuclear Zn(II) catalysts as biomimics of RNA and DNA phosphoryl transfer enzymes: changing the medium from water to alcohol provides enzyme‐like rate enhancements

Phosphodiesters are notoriously hydrolytically inert compounds that are demonstrated to have large accelerations of P‐OR cleavage promoted by transition and lanthanide metal ions in methanol and ethanol media. This review commentary describes recent findings of how a simple mononuclear and a dinuclear Zn(II) complex promote the cleavage of a series of RNA models and DNA models in alcohol media. The discussion centers on the analysis of the mechanisms of cleavage, energetics of the catalytic process, on recent findings of electrophilic assistance of leaving group departure, and the observation of a rapid hydrolytic reaction of a DNA model promoted by the dinuclear Zn(II) complex in ethanol containing less than 2% water. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxidized metabolites from cyclopenta‐fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CP‐PAHs). A DFT model study of their carbocations formed by epoxide ring opening

A density functional theory (DFT) study aimed at understanding structure–reactivity relationships in the oxidized metabolites of cyclopenta‐fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CP‐PAHs) is reported. Epoxidation at various positions was examined in order to identify the most stable epoxide in each class of CP‐PAHs. Relative energies of the carbocations resulting from O‐protonation and epoxide ring opening were analyzed and compared, taking into account the available biological activity data on these compounds. Geometrical, electronic, and conformational issues were considered. Charge delocalization modes in the resulting carbocations were deduced via the natural population analysis (NPA)‐derived changes in charges. Computational results pointed to the importance of the unsaturated cyclopenta ring on the reactivity of these compounds. The reported bioactivity of this highly mutagenic/carcinogenic family of PAHs was observed to parallel their relative carbocation stabilities. A different behavior was observed in crowded non‐planar structures possessing a distorted aromatic system. A covalent adduct formed between a CP‐PAH epoxide and a purine base was computed inside a DNA fragment employing the ONIOM method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New results on the melting thermodynamics of a circular DNA chain

We investigate the impact of supercoil period and nonzero supercoil formation energy on the thermal denaturation of a circular DNA. Our analysis is based on a recently proposed generalization of the Poland-Scheraga model that allows the DNA melting to be studied for plasmids with circular topology, where denaturation is accompanied by formation of supercoils. We find that the previously obtained first-order melting transition persists under the generalization discussed. The dependence of the size of the order-parameter jump at the transition point and the associated melting temperature are obtained analytically.     

热处理和紫外辐射对DNA影响的拉曼光谱研究

检测了鲕鱼精ＤＮＡ纤维和经过４０℃，９１℃，２００℃加热处理的拉曼光谱。研究结果表明，在熔融温度以下热处理对ＤＮＡ构象的影响是轻微的，在熔融温度以上则随温度的升高，对ＤＮＡ分子结构的影响有破坏也逐渐加剧，首先受影响的是腺嘌呤和脱氧核糖。     

四种D-氨基葡萄糖甘氨酸混配金属配合物与DNA作用的SERS光谱研究

研究了四种Ｄ－氨基葡萄糖甘氨酸混配金属配合物的表面增强喇曼光谱（ＳＥＲＳ），发现它们在银胶上的吸附方式基本相同，因而ＳＥＲＳ光谱也基本相似，并用ＳＥＲＳ光谱研究了它们与ＤＮＡ的相互作用，发现这四种化合物与ＤＮＡ的作用能力有很大不同，Ｃｏ（Ⅲ）ＧｌｕＧ是值得进一步研究的可能抗癌药物。     

Biophysical and electrochemical properties of Self-assembled noncovalent SWNT/DNA hybrid and electroactive nanostructure

DNA self-assembled hybrid nanostructures are widely used in recent research in nanobiotechnology. Combination of DNA with carbon based nanoparticles such as single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) and carbon quantum dot were applied in important biological applications. Many examples of biosensors, nanowires and nanoelectronic devices, nanomachine and drug delivery systems are fabricated by these hybrid nanostructures. In this study, a new hybrid nanostructure has been fabricated by noncovalent interactions between single or double stranded DNA and SWNT nanoparticles and biophysical properties of these structures were studied comparatively. Biophysical properties of hybrid nanostructures studied by circular dichroism, UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. Also, electrochemical properties studied by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, choronoamperometry and impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Results revealed that the biophysical and electrochemical properties of SWNT/DNA hybrid nanostructures were different compare to ss-DNA, ds-DNA and SWNT singly. Circular dichroism results showed that ss-DNA wrapped around the nanotubes through π-π stacking interactions. The results indicated that after adding SWNT to ss-DNA and ds-DNA intensity of CD and UV–vis spectrum peaks were decreased. Electrochemical experiments indicated that the modification of single-walled carbon nanotubes by ss-DNA improves the electron transfer rate of hybrid nanostructures. It was demonstrated SWNT/DNA hybrid nanostructures should be a good electroactive nanostructure that can be used for electrochemical detection or sensing.     

卫星搭载紫花苜蓿种子的拉曼光谱分析

为了了解卫星搭载对紫花苜蓿种子化学特性的影响,揭示空间诱变机理,文章利用傅里叶变换拉曼光谱法对卫星搭载当代的紫花苜蓿种子进行了研究。结果表明,与地面对照相比,飞行组在358和553 cm-1处的峰强增加,814,1 122,1 531,1 743 cm-1处的峰强降低,通过谱带归属发现,增强的358和553 cm-1分别与DNA和Ca2+有关,降低的4个峰与糖类、脂类有关。这说明经过卫星搭载后,苜蓿种子的DNA和Ca2+的量出现增加趋势,糖类与脂类的量出现降低趋势。其可能原因是(1)种子主动修复诱变产生的DNA损伤时,消耗部分贮存能量所致;(2)空间飞行过程中的超重导致种子细胞内的Ca2+ 浓度升高;(3)飞行因子导致种子提前萌发,DNA大量合成与复制,种子储藏的能量提前降解消耗。这一结果将对苜蓿空间诱变机理研究有重要参考价值。     

用单分子技术研究抗癌药物顺铂对DNA结构的影响

文章作者用磁镊与原子力显微镜研究了抗癌药物顺铂对单个DNA分子结构的影响.当顺铂浓度较低时,DNA链变得柔软,驻留长度从～52 nm显著缩短到～15 nm;当顺铂浓度较高时,DNA表现出凝聚现象.基于单分子拉伸和原子力显微镜(AFM)成像两方面的实验结果,文章作者提出一个顺铂导致的DNA变软(softening)-成环(looping)-缩短(shortening)-凝聚(condensing)模型(简写为SLSC模型)来解释观察到的DNA凝聚,并认为通过远程交联使DNA形成小环结构是铂类抗癌药物作用的重要特征.     

碱蓝6B共振光散射法检测DNA

研究了碱蓝 6B与脱氧核糖核酸在酸性条件下共振光散射特征 ,考察了影响因素和最佳反应条件 ,建立了一种测定纳克级DNA的方法。在四硼酸钠 盐酸 (pH =2 90 )缓冲溶液中 ,线性范围为 10～ 10 0 4 μg·L- 1 ,相关系数为 0 9913,检出限为 4 2 μg·L- 1 ,用于合成样品的测定结果令人满意。     

克百威与DNA之间作用的光谱学研究

利用吸收光谱法和荧光光谱法研究了克百威与ct DNA之间的相互作用。结果表明,ct DNA可使克百威的吸收光谱发生减色以及红移现象;ct DNA对克百威的荧光存在静态的荧光猝灭。两种光谱都支持克百威是以嵌插方式与ct DNA形成两者的加合物。溶剂以及离子强度对于两者加合作用存在不同的影响。