Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Catenins

Catenins

Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...

Structure of Cadherins

Structure of Cadherins

The cadherins were one of the first cell adhesion molecules discovered; the term “cadherins” is based on their calcium-dependent adhering properties. The first cadherins discovered on the epithelial, neuronal, and placental cells were named E-cadherin, P-cadherin, and N-cadherin, respectively. These classical cadherins share sequence and structural similarities. Other cadherins, including those involved in cell signaling, are grouped into non-classical cadherins. This diversity of cadherins...

Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations: Structural Overview

Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations: Structural Overview

Cycloheptatriene is a neutral monocyclic unsaturated hydrocarbon that consists of an odd number of carbon atoms and an intervening sp3 carbon in the ring. The three double bonds in the ring correspond to 6 π electrons, which is a Huckel number, and therefore satisfies the criteria of 4n + 2 π electrons. However, the intervening sp3 carbon disrupts the continuous overlap of p orbitals. As a result, cycloheptatriene is not aromatic.
Removing one hydrogen from the intervening CH2 group with both...

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...

Nucleic Acid Structure

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...

Condensins

Condensins

Condensins are large protein complexes that use ATP to fuel the assembly of chromosomes during mitosis. They transform the tangled, shapeless mass of post-interphase DNA into individualized chromosomes by compacting, organizing, and segregating chromosomal DNA.
The plant and animal cells contain two types of condensin complexes—condensin I and condensin II. Both complexes have five subunits: two SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) subunits, a kleisin subunit, and two HEAT-repeat...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Three New Calcium Formate Reference Materials for δ<sup>13</sup>C Measurements and a Redetermination of the R(<sup>13</sup>C/<sup>12</sup>C) Ratio for VPDB Based on Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Measurements.

Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM·2026

Same author

Rethinking the Terms "π-Stacking" and "π-π Stacking" Again: A Proposal to Clarify the Language of Aromatic Interactions.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Position-Specific Carbon Isotope Fingerprinting of Fluorinated Organics and Degradation Products.

Analytical chemistry·2026

Same author

An Investigation of Nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) Resistance in SARS-CoV-2 M<sup>pro</sup>.

ACS bio & med chem Au·2024

Same author

High-Resolution Substrate Specificity Profiling of SARS-CoV-2 M<sup>pro</sup>; Comparison to SARS-CoV M<sup>pro</sup>.

ACS chemical biology·2024

Same author

Position-specific carbon stable isotope analysis of glyphosate: isotope fingerprinting of molecules within a mixture.

Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Stable DNA Motifs, 1D and 2D Nanostructures Constructed from Small Circular DNA Molecules

Stable DNA Motifs, 1D and 2D Nanostructures Constructed from Small Circular DNA Molecules

Published on: April 12, 2019

A pseudocatenane structure formed between DNA and A cyclic bisintercalator.

Yongjun Chu¹, David W Hoffman, Brent L Iverson

¹Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|February 25, 2009

Summary

Researchers developed a novel cyclic bisintercalator for targeting double-stranded DNA. This molecule forms a unique pseudocatenane complex with DNA, offering new avenues for small molecule-based DNA research.

More Related Videos

Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles

Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles

Published on: May 8, 2015

Synthetic Condensates and Cell-Like Architectures from Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures

Synthetic Condensates and Cell-Like Architectures from Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures

Published on: May 31, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Stable DNA Motifs, 1D and 2D Nanostructures Constructed from Small Circular DNA Molecules

Stable DNA Motifs, 1D and 2D Nanostructures Constructed from Small Circular DNA Molecules

Published on: April 12, 2019

Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles

Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles

Published on: May 8, 2015

Synthetic Condensates and Cell-Like Architectures from Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures

Synthetic Condensates and Cell-Like Architectures from Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures

Published on: May 31, 2024

Area of Science:

Chemical Biology
Molecular Biology
Structural Biology

Background:

Small molecule targeting of double-stranded DNA is a key area in basic research.
Developing sequence-specific DNA binders is crucial for molecular biology applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To design and characterize a novel cyclic bisintercalator for specific DNA sequence binding.
To elucidate the structural basis of the interaction between the bisintercalator and DNA.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of a cyclic bisintercalator with naphthalene diimide (NDI) units.
DNase I footprinting to determine DNA binding specificity.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine the complex structure.

Main Results:

The cyclic bisintercalator showed a strong binding preference for the 5'-GGTACC-3' DNA sequence.
NMR studies confirmed a pseudocatenane structure of the DNA-bisintercalator complex.
The NDI units were positioned four base pairs apart, with linkers in the minor and major grooves.

Conclusions:

This study presents the first structurally characterized pseudocatenane complex of a sequence-specific cyclic bisintercalator with intact DNA.
The findings provide insights into the design principles for novel DNA-binding molecules.
This work opens new possibilities for developing targeted DNA-interacting agents.