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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels
Published on: August 27, 2014
Diepoxybutane cross-links DNA at 5'-GNC sequences
1Department of Chemistry, Colby College, Waterville, Maine 04901.
Abstract:
Epoxides are cancer-causing agents chemically analogous to the nitrogen mustards, a family of powerful antitumor drugs. We found that the DNA interstrand cross-linking sequence preference of diepoxybutane is the same as that of the mustard mechlorethamine: 5'-GNC. Therefore, the genomic site of cross-linking alone cannot explain why some interstrand cross-linkers act as antitumor agents whereas others are deadly toxins.
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