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Related Concept Videos

Molecular Chaperones and Protein Folding03:00

Molecular Chaperones and Protein Folding

The native conformation of a protein is formed by interactions between the side chains of its constituent amino acids. When the amino acids cannot form these interactions, the protein cannot fold by itself and needs chaperones. Notably, chaperones do not relay any additional information required for the folding of polypeptides; the native conformation of a protein is determined solely by its amino acid sequence. Chaperones catalyze protein folding without being a part of the folded protein.
The...
Molecular Chaperones and Protein Folding03:00

Molecular Chaperones and Protein Folding

The native conformation of a protein is formed by interactions between the side chains of its constituent amino acids. When the amino acids cannot form these interactions, the protein cannot fold by itself and needs chaperones. Notably, chaperones do not relay any additional information required for the folding of polypeptides; the native conformation of a protein is determined solely by its amino acid sequence. Chaperones catalyze protein folding without being a part of the folded protein.
The...
DNA Helicases00:55

DNA Helicases

DNA unwinding helicase enzymes are a type of motor protein. Motor proteins can translocate along filaments or polymers using energy generated from ATP hydrolysis. Helicases are involved in all the important cellular processes where DNA unwinding is required, such as DNA replication, repair, recombination, and transcription. They are present in all living organisms, but vary in their structure, function, and mechanism of action. For example, in prokaryotes, DnaB helicase binds and translocates...
Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins01:03

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

For successful DNA replication, the unwinding of double-stranded DNA must be accompanied by stabilization and protection of the separated single strands of the DNA. This crucial task is performed by single-strand DNA-binding (SSB) proteins. They bind to the DNA in a sequence-independent manner, which means that the nitrogenous bases of the DNA need not be present in a specific order for binding of SSB proteins to it. The binding of SSB proteins straightens single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and makes...
Homologous Recombination02:31

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...
DNA Topoisomerases02:02

DNA Topoisomerases

Topoisomerases are enzymes that relax overwound DNA molecules during various cell processes, including DNA replication and transcription. These enzymes regulate positive and negative DNA supercoiling without changing the nucleotide sequence. DNA overwinding in a clockwise direction results in positively supercoiled DNA, whereas underwinding in a counterclockwise direction produces negatively supercoiled DNA.
Types and Mechanism of action
Topoisomerases are divided into two main types.  Type I...

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Deciphering Molecular Mechanism of Histone Assembly by DNA Curtain Technique
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Intercalators as molecular chaperones in DNA self-assembly.

Andrea A Greschner1, Katherine E Bujold, Hanadi F Sleiman

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Center for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures (CSACS), McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B8, Canada.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|July 9, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Ethidium bromide, a DNA intercalator, enhances DNA nanostructure self-assembly by reducing errors and promoting single product formation. This method enables precise control over DNA nanostructure synthesis, yielding desired structures efficiently.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • DNA intercalation is crucial for diagnostics and therapeutics.
  • Controlling DNA nanostructure self-assembly is essential for their applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the use of DNA intercalators, specifically ethidium bromide, for error-free DNA nanostructure self-assembly.
  • To demonstrate the ability of intercalators to refine self-assembly outcomes and enable the formation of specific DNA nanostructures.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing ethidium bromide as a DNA intercalator during the self-assembly of various 2D and 3D DNA systems.
  • Analyzing the impact of ethidium bromide on DNA self-assembly, including oligomeric side product formation and structural convergence.
  • Employing isoamyl alcohol extractions and intercalator-specific spin columns for ethidium bromide removal.

Main Results:

  • Ethidium bromide significantly influences DNA self-assembly, reducing side products and promoting convergence to a single structure.
  • Intercalators facilitate precise strand-end alignment and favor the formation of fully duplexed, stable DNA structures.
  • A novel 3D-DNA motif, the ninja star, was successfully self-assembled in quantitative yield using this method.

Conclusions:

  • DNA intercalators offer a powerful strategy for optimizing DNA nanostructure self-assembly.
  • Ethidium bromide can be effectively removed post-assembly, yielding functional DNA nanostructures.