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Using random (combinatorial) DNA-libraries with various degrees of diversity, it was shown that their amplification by polymerase chain reaction in real time resulted in appearance of a maximum on amplification curves. The relative decrease of fluorescence after passing the maximum was directly proportional to the logarithm of the number of oligonucleotide sequence variants in the random DNA-library provided that this number was within in the interval from 1 to 104 and remained practically unaltered when the number of variants was in the interval from 105 to 108. The obtained dependence was used in the course of SELEX to evaluate changes in the diversity of random DNA-libraries from round to round in selection of DNA-aptamers to the recombinant SMAD4 protein. As a result, oligonucleotides containing sequences able to form a site of SMAD4-DNA interactions known as SBE (SMAD-binding element) have been selected thus indicating that the SMAD4-SBE interaction dominates the aptamer selection.

The effects of modified deoxyuridine triphosphates (mod-dUTPs) with different substituents at the C5 position of the pyrimidine cycle on the kinetics of PCR with Taq and Vent (exo-) DNA polymerases are studied. Substituents in mod-dUTP include carboxamide group and groups that are part of the side chains of alanine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or tyrosine. For each mod-dUTP, the yields of the target product are measured with the full substitution of dTTP. A fragment of bacterial DNA with a certain nucleotide sequence and a synthetic combinatorial DNA library of random nucleotide sequences are used as templates for amplification. For each mod-dUTP-template-polymerase combination, the correlation between the amplification efficiencies and yields of the target product are investigated. PCR product accumulation curves are influenced by both the template used and the presence of a modified substrate. The catalytic activity of Taq polymerase is higher when mod-dUTPs with short aliphatic substituents are used and decreases when the derivatives with long aliphatic, phenyl, and indole substituents are utilized. Vent (exo-) polymerase is less sensitive to the chemical structure of mod-dUTP. The dynamic measuring of DNA accumulation may be useful for optimizing the temperature-time PCR profiles individually for each of the mod-dUTP. The derivatives may be used in combination with Vent (exo-) polymerase to obtain modified DNA sequences for the method of selection of modified aptamers (mod-SELEX).

The efficiency of the incorporation of fluorescently labeled derivatives of 2'-deoxycytidine in DNA synthesized de novo has been studied using PCR with Taq and Tth polymerases of family A and Vent (exo-) and Deep Vent (exo-) polymerases of family B. Four derivatives of 5'-triphosphate-2'-deoxycytidine (dCTP) have different chemical structures of the indodicarbocyanine dye and Cy5 analogue attached to position 5 of cytosine. The kinetics of the accumulation of the PCR products and the intensity of the fluorescent signals in the hybridization analysis with immobilized DNA probes depend on the modification of the fluorescently labeled dCTP counterpart, its concentration, and the type of DNA polymerase. All labeled triphosphates showed some inhibitory effects on PCR. The best balance between the efficiency of incorporating labeled cytidine derivatives and the negative effect on the PCR kinetics has been shown in the case of Hot Taq polymerase in combination with the Cy5-dCTP analogue, which contains containing electrically neutral chro-mophore, the axis of which is a continuation of the linker between the chromophore and the pyrimidine base.

This study investigated the synthesis and substrate properties of Cy5-labeled dUTP derivatives with different substituents, linkers between the dye unit and pyrimidine heterocycle and fluorophore charges. Fluorescently labeled nucleoside triphosphates were studied as substrates using multiplex PCR with Taq and Vent (exo-) DNA polymerases, the typical representatives of the A and B polymerase families. The efficiency of nucleotide incorporation during PCR was assessed with a multi-parameter hybridization analysis using a diagnostic DNA microarray. The hybridization analysis indirectly estimates the incorporation efficiency of dye-labeled nucleotides in multiplex PCR. Our results demonstrated higher efficiencies of substrates with electrically neutral dyes than electropositive and electronegative Cy5 residues.

Here, we describe the synthesis and purification of six deoxyuridine triphosphate derivatives that contain protein-like functional groups and alkene linkers of various lengths. Using KOD XL and Deep Vent polymerases, these derivatives have been incorporated into single-stranded DNA, achieving a high degree of DNA modification. These polymerases are able to utilize highly modified DNA strands as templates for synthesizing unmodified DNA. The synthesized deoxyuridine triphosphate derivatives are promising as substrates for producing modified aptamers to various target proteins using, e.g., the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) methodology.

In order to study the effect of an electrical charge of the chromophore, on the efficiency of incorporation of fluorescently-labeled nucleotides into DNA during PCR, three fluorescently-labeled dUPT, one of which with electroneutral and other two with positively and negatively charged dyes (Cy5 analogs), were synthesized. It is shown that dUPT, labeled with electroneutral Cy 5 analog, is most effectively incorporated into DNA when Tag polymerase is used for PCR.

Triplex-directed DNA recognition is strictly limited by polypurine sequences. In an attempt to address this problem with synthetic biology tools, we designed a panel of short chimeric α,β-triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) and studied their interaction with fluorescently labelled duplex hairpins using various techniques. The hybridization of hairpin with an array of chimeric probes suggests that recognition of double-stranded DNA follows complicated rules combining reversed Hoogsteen and non-canonical homologous hydrogen bonding. In the presence of magnesium ions, chimeric TFOs are able to form highly stable α,β-triplexes, as indicated by native gel-electrophoresis, on-array thermal denaturation and fluorescence-quenching experiments. CD spectra of chimeric triplexes exhibited features typically observed for anti-parallel purine triplexes with a GA or GT third strand. The high potential of chimeric α,β-TFOs in targeting double-stranded DNA was demonstrated in the EcoRI endonuclease protection assay. In this paper, we report, for the first time, the recognition of base pair inversions in a duplex by chimeric TFOs containing α-thymidine and α-deoxyguanosine.

The efficiency of discrimination between perfect and mismatched duplexes during hybridization on microchips depends on the concentrations of target DNA in solution and immobilized probes, buffer composition, and temperature of hybridization and is determined by both thermodynamic relationships and hybridization kinetics. In this work, optimal conditions of discrimination were studied using hybridization of fluorescently labeled target DNA with custom-made gel-based oligonucleotide microchips. The higher the concentration of immobilized probes and the higher the association constant, the higher the concentration of the formed duplexes and the stronger the corresponding fluorescence signal, but, simultaneously, the longer the time needed to reach equilibrium. Since mismatched duplexes hybridize faster than their perfect counterparts, perfect-to-mismatch signal ratio is lower in transient regime, and short hybridization times may hamper the detection of mutations. The saturation time can be shortened by decreasing the probe concentration or augmenting the gel porosity. This improves the detection of mutations in transient regime. It is shown that the decrease in the initial concentration of oligonucleotide probes by an order of magnitude causes only 1.5-2.5-fold decrease of fluorescence signals after hybridization of perfect duplexes for 3-12 h. At the same time, these conditions improve the discrimination between perfect and mismatched duplexes more than two-fold. A similar improvement may be obtained using an optimized dissociation procedure.

To assess the DNA amount in samples (e.g., in biological microchip gel pads) by means of fluorescent dyes, one should use the dyes whose fluorescence weakly depends on DNA composition and structure. With the ImD-310 dye created for this purpose, we have analyzed the staining of single- and double-stranded oligo- and polynucleotides of different nucleotide composition, length, and concentration both in solution and being immobilized in biological microchip gel pads. It turned out that ImD-310 has no pronounced specificity to the single- and double-stranded nucleotide sequences, while the intensity of fluorescence for the dye complexes with d(A)8, d(T)8, d(C)8, and d(G)8 at high temperatures (50 degrees C) differs by less than 25%. A linear correlation has been established between the intensity of fluorescence and the amount of oligonucleotides immobilized on a biological microchip. The plots of the intensity of fluorescence against the concentration of NaCl and the temperature were obtained. By using a generic microchip containing all 4096 hexamer oligonucleotides, it has been determined that the dye has no distinct specificity to any certain motifs of the nucleotide sequence. Thus, ImD-310 may serve as an efficient fluorescent probe to quickly estimate the amount of oligonucleotides immobilized in a microchip, in an electrophoretic gel, etc.

A procedure was developed for quantitative estimation of the ligand affinity for the DNA minor groove with allowance for ligand hydration, whereby the binding energy was calculated as the difference in the energies of ligand-DNA and ligand-water interactions. Adequacy of the procedure was demonstrated with the structural motifs (pyrrolecarboxamide, benzimidazole, furancarboxamide, and phthalimide) of well-known ligands for the case of a d(GCA10CG).d(CGT10GC) duplex. On the strength of the results obtained, an indole-based motif was proposed as the basis for a highly affined minor groove binder.

S-shaped binding curves often characterize interactions of ligands with nucleic acid molecules as analyzed by different physico-chemical and biophysical techniques. S-shaped experimental binding curves are usually interpreted as indicative of the positive cooperative interactions between the bound ligand molecules. This paper demonstrates that S-shaped binding curves may occur as a result of the "mixed mode" of DNA binding by the same ligand molecule. Mixed mode of the ligand-DNA binding can occur, for example, due to 1) isomerization or dimerization of the ligands in solution or on the DNA lattice, 2) their ability to intercalate the DNA and to bind it within the minor groove in different orientations. DNA-ligand complexes are characterized by the length of the ligand binding site on the DNA lattice (so-called "multiple-contact" model). We show here that if two or more complexes with different lengths of the ligand binding sites could be produced by the same ligand, the dependence of the concentration of the complex with the shorter length of binding site on the total concentration of ligand should be S-shaped. Our theoretical model is confirmed by comparison of the calculated and experimental CD binding curves for bis-netropsin binding to poly(dA-dT) poly(dA-dT). Bis-netropsin forms two types of DNA complexes due to its ability to interact with the DNA as monomers and trimers. Experimental S-shaped bis-netropsin-DNA binding curve is shown to be in good correlation with those calculated on the basis of our theoretical model. The present work provides new insight into the analysis of ligand-DNA binding curves.

Optical methods, such as fluorescence, circular dichroism and linear flow dichroism, were used to study the binding to DNA of four symmetrical cyanine dyes, each consisting of two identical quinoline, benzthiazole, indole, or benzoxazole fragments connected by a trimethine bridge. The ligands were shown to form a monomer type complex into the DNA minor groove. The complex of quinoline-containing ligand with calf thymus DNA appeared to be the most resistant to ionic strength, and it did not dissociate completely even in 1 M NaCl. Binding of cyanine dyes to DNA could also be characterized by possibility to form ligand dimers into the DNA minor groove, by slight preference of binding to AT pairs, as well as by possible intercalation between base pairs of poly(dG)-poly(dC). The correlation found between the binding constants to DNA and the extent of cyanine dyes hydrophobicity estimated as the n-octanol/water partition coefficient is indicative of a significant role of hydrophobic interactions for the ligand binding into the DNA minor groove.

A generic oligodeoxyribonucleotide microchip was used to determine the sequence specificity of Hoechst 33258 binding to double-stranded DNA. The generic microchip contained 4096 oxctadeoxynucleo-tides in which all possible 4(6)= 4096 hexadeoxy-nucleotide sequences are flanked on both the 3'- and 5'-ends with equimolar mixtures of four bases. The microchip was manufactured by chemical immobilization of presynthesized 8mers within polyacrylamide gel pads. A selected set of immobilized 8mers was converted to double-stranded form by hybridization with a mixture of fluorescently labeled complementary 8mers. Massive parallel measurements of melting curves were carried out for the majority of 2080 6mer duplexes, in both the absence and presence of the Hoechst dye. The sequence-specific affinity for Hoechst 33258 was calculated as the increase in melting temperature caused by ligand binding. The dye exhibited specificity for A:T but not G:C base pairs. The affinity is low for two A:T base pairs, increases significantly for three, and reaches a plateau for four A:T base pairs. The relative ligand affinity for all trinucleotide and tetranucleotide sequences (A/T)(3)and (A/T)(4)was estimated. The free energy of dye binding to several duplexes was calculated from the equilibrium melting curves of the duplexes formed on the oligonucleotide microchips. This method can be used as a general approach for massive screening of the sequence specificity of DNA-binding compounds.

The design and DNA binding activity of beta-structure-forming peptides and netropsin-peptide conjugates are reported. It is found that a pair of peptides-S,S'-bis(Lys-Gly-Val-Cys-Val-NH-NH-Dns)-bridged by an S-S bond binds at least 10 times more strongly to poly(dG).poly(dC) than to poly(dA).poly(dT). This peptide can also discriminate between 5'-GpG-3' and 5'-GpC-3' steps in the DNA minor groove. Based on these observations, new synthetic ligands, bis-netropsins, were constructed in which two netropsin-like fragments were attached by means of short linkers to a pair of peptides-Gly-Cys-Gly- or Val-Cys-Val-bridged by S-S bonds. These compounds possess a composite binding specificity: the peptide chains recognize 5'-GpG-3' steps on DNA, whereas the netropsin-like fragments bind preferentially to runs of 4 AT base pairs. Our data indicate that combining the AT-base-pair specific properties of the netropsin-type structure with the 5'-GpG-3'-specific properties of certain oligopeptides offers a new approach to the synthesis of ligands capable of recognizing mixed sequences of AT- and GC-base pairs in the DNA minor groove. These compounds are potential models for DNA-binding domains in proteins which specifically recognize base pair sequences in the minor groove of DNA.

An unusual 3:1 stoichiometry for complex formation between an elongated bis-netropsin compound and its binding site on DNA has been observed. Circular dichroism measurements distinguish two types of complexes formed between this bis-netropsin and poly[d(A-T)].poly[d(A-T)]. The first type is characterized by a 1:1 saturating ratio of bound molecules per ten base pairs. Formation of the second type results from the cooperative binding of two additional bis-netropsin molecules to the first type of complex. In contrast to these results observed for binding to the alternating polynucleotide, only the 1:1 type of complex is formed when this ligand binds to the homopolymer poly(dA).poly(dT).

An analogue of netropsin has been synthesized consisting of two N-propylpyrrolcarboxamide units linked covalently to a copper-chelating tripeptide Gly-Gly-L-His by means of two and three glycine residues. Binding to DNA and synthetic polynucleotides of netropsin analogue containing three glycine residues between Gly-Gly-L-His tripeptide and the N-end of netropsin analogue (His-Nt) has been studied. It is shown that this netropsin analogue chelates a copper ion with 1:1 stoichiometry, similar to a free Gly-Gly-L-His peptide. It is found that this netropsin analogue occupies 3 to 4 base pairs upon binding to poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly[d(AT)].poly[d(AT)] polymers, irrespective of whether it binds in Cu(2+)-ligated or unligated forms. Binding constants and binding site sizes have been calculated for netropsin analogue complexes with DNA, poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly[d(AT)].poly[d(AT)] polymers at the [Cu2+]/[His-Nt] ratio equal to 0 and 1.0. In the three-component system including His-Nt and Cu(2+)-His-Nt, cooperative effects are recognized which can be explained by heterodimer generation on interaction of His-Nt and Cu(2+)-His-Nt at adjacent binding sites.

Experimental data are reported on DNA-cleaving activity of the synthetic netropsin analogs consisting of the two N-propylpyrrole carboxamide units linked covalently through two or three glycine residues to a copper-chelating tripeptide glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine. Incubation of DNA restriction fragment and netropsin analog in the presence of ascorbate, hydrogen peroxide and Cu2+ ions resulted in selective cleavage of the DNA at or near the preferred sites for binding of netropsin analog. A similar cleavage pattern is observed after X-ray irradiation of DNA complexes with netropsin analogs tethered with Cu2+ ions. The cleavage patterns are found to be dependent on the length of the connecting chain between the histidine-containing tripeptide and netropsin analog. The netropsin analog containing three glycine residues in the connecting chain, but not the analog with a shorter linker chain, can generate an intense cleavage of one of the two polynucleotide chains at a position corresponding to the presumed binding site for the dimeric ligand species. More than 50% of the total DNA can be cleaved at this position after X-ray irradiation. From analysis of the nucleotide sequences surrounding the preferred cleavage site on several DNA fragments we found that the consensus is 5'-TTTTNCA*AAA-3', where N is an arbitrary nucleotide. The Cu(2+)-mediated cleavage of DNA occurs at the second adenine (indicated by an asterisk) from the 5'-end of the sequence. The greatest cleavage activity is observed when the molar ratio of Cu2+ to the netropsin analog is equal to 0.5. Evidently, the Cu(2+)-ligated and unligated oligopeptide species interacts with each other to form a heterodimer bound to DNA at the cleavage site. To test the validity of this model we have studied the binding of unligated netropsin analog and netropsin analog complexed with Cu2+ ion to a self-complementary oligonucleotide 5'-GCGTTTTGCAAAACGC-3'. It is found that binding of Cu(2+)-ligated netropsin analog to the DNA oligomer preincubated with unligated form of the oligopeptide is a cooperative process for which interactions between the two bound ligands are responsible. The cooperativity parameter is estimated to be on the order of factor 6. Finally, a model is proposed in which a heterodimer stabilized by interligand beta-sheet binds in the minor DNA groove.

Isohelical geometry of sequence-specific DNA narrow groove binding ligands was analyzed in terms of H-bond donor/acceptor complementarity between the base pair atoms facing into the narrow groove and the corresponding H-bond donating atoms regularly disposed along the ligand molecule. Spatial correlations found in analytical form were applied to analysis of naturally occurring and hypothetical drug molecule structures. For the case of B-like isohelices the permitted values of the distance L0 between each two neighboring H-bond donating atoms of the ligand as well as the bending angle tau 0 of the line subsequently connecting these atoms were estimated as follows: L0 congruent to (5.0 +/- 0.4) A; tau 0 congruent to (26 +/- 2) degrees.

The DNA binding activity of trivaline dansyl hydrazide was investigated by circular dichroism, UV spectrophotometry and fluorescence methods. It is shown that these peptides in the absence of DNA can adopt statistical coil and antiparallel beta-conformation and can exist in aqueous solution as monomers, dimers and higher orders aggregates depending upon the concentration and the presence of N- and C-blocking groups. The aggregation and disaggregation processes are very slow especially for N- and C-protected peptides. Our observations show that oligopeptides in the monomeric and dimeric forms bind to double-stranded DNA and RNA whereas tetramers and higher order aggregates exhibit no DNA binding activity. The binding of monomers is a cooperative process favoring the formation of deformed antiparallel beta-structure between adjacently bound monomers. The binding constant of dimeric oligovaline species to GC-rich DNA sequences is about 5 fold higher than that found from the binding of oligovaline to poly(dA) . poly(dT). The binding of dimers takes place in the minor DNA groove as revealed from our observations that oligovaline binds to T6 phage DNA containing massive glucose and diglucose residues in the major groove. The backbone C=0 groups of oligovaline probably serve as specific reaction centres for the interaction with guanine 2-amino groups in the minor DNA groove.

Equilibrium and kinetic studies are reported on the binding to DNA of actinomycin D analogues containing various substituents at position 7 of the antibiotic chromophore. The binding constants are calculated from the experimental binding isotherms of actinomycin D and its analogues to calf thymus DNA. The rate constants of the association and dissociation processes are measured by stop -- flow method. From these experiments a conclusion is drawn that small substituents (such as nitro or aminogroups) at position 7 of the actinomycin chromophore exhibit a little (if any) influence both on the affinity of antibiotic for DNA and kinetics of association and dissociation processes, while bulky substituents decrease the antibiotic binding affinity and make kinetics behavior slower.

The binding of long multisite ligands to double-stranded nucleic acids is considered. The ligand is taken as a lattice of AT- and GC-specific reaction centres the sequence of which is complementary to the base pair sequence in the specific ligand interaction site on DNA. Exact equations are derived for the two cases: that when a ligand binds in a fixed orientation relative to the DNA and that when it can be attached to DNA in the two alternative orientations related by two-fold rotation. Included in the formulation are two alternative orientations related by two-fold rotation. Included in the formulation are the ligand size effects as well as cooperative effects for which the interactions between the nearest neighbour adsorbed molecules are responsible. In particular, if cooperative interactions are allowed only between the adjacent ligand molecules related by two-fold rotation symmetry, the ligands would tend to associate into symmetrical "dimers" upon binding to DNA. This model enables one to explain the recognition of specific base sequences which are related by two-fold rotation symmetry and are complementary to the sequence of ligand reaction centres. Numerical calculations are carried out for several specific cases and for various values of parameters involved in the theoretical model.

Experimental studies are reported on the binding of the dye "Hoechst 33 258" to DNA and synthetic polynucleotides. A stereochemical model of binding of the dye to DNA is proposed. According to the model, the molecules of the dye are located in the minor groove of DNA, each covering 4 base pairs. The benzimidazole backbone of the dye tends to form a helix isogeometric to that of DNA in the B form. The specifisity of "Hoechst 33 258" binding to At pairs involves hydrogen bonding of two NH-groups of benzimidazole rings and CH3N+H group of the piperazine ring to O2 oxygenes of thymines and N3 nitrogens of adenines facing the minor groove of the DNA double helix.

In the present communication, synthesis and DNA binding activities of three analogs of the antibiotic netropsin are reported. Each analog contains two N-propylpyrrolecarboxamide units linked covalently to either Dns-Gly-Val-Val-Val-Gly-Gly- (I), Val-Val-Val-Gly-Gly (II) or Gly-Gly (III). It is shown that analogs I and II can self-associate in aqueous solution and methanol as revealed from the fact that UV absorbance and circular dichroism spectra obtained for these analogs are concentration-dependent. By contrast, analogs III exists as a monomer, even at concentration levels of the order of 1.10(-3) M. Determination of the apparent sizes of intramolecular aggregates by gel-filtration shows that analog I in aqueous solution at concentration levels of the order of 1.10(-3) M forms a series of aggregates containing from 2 to 12 monomers. Analog II exhibits a lower tendency to form intermolecular aggregates as compared with that of analog I. Dimerization constants are determined for analogs I and II in aqueous solution and methanol. The binding of N-propylpyrrolecarboxamide units and peptide fragments of analog I to DNA can be independently monitored by circular dichroism and fluorescence methods. If self-associated species of analog I (or II) are present in solution, the ligand exhibits a markedly different order of base pair sequence preferencies as compared with that of analog III. The results obtained are consistent with the inference that analogs I and II in a beta-associated form recognizes base pair sequences containing two runs of 3 AT pairs separated by two GC pairs.

The interaction of the antibiotics distamycin A, distamycin analogue and netropsin with chromatin of calf thymus has been studied by circular dichroism measurements and by gel filtration. The minor groove of DNA in chromatin is accessible by 83-89% to the binding of these antibiotics as compared with that of free DNA. The present results combined with our data on the methylation of chromatin with dimethylsulphate [3] strongly suggest that the minor groove of DNA in chromatin is not occupied by chromatin proteins.

Equations are derived to describe the cooperative binding of large ligands to DNA. A mathematical approach is developed which enables one to give a simple probabilistic interpretation of binding equations and to solve them in the general case when long-range interactions are allowed between bound ligands. These interactions can be mediated by conformation changes induced in the DNA in the course of binding process and transformed over some distances beyond the DNA region immediately covered by a bound ligand molecule (allosteric effect of DNA). Interactions between ligand molecules can be formally described in terms of model potential characterizing pairwise interactions between bound ligands. A procedure is developed which allows one to determined the form of such potential from experimentally measured binding isotherms. It is based on a comparison of experimental binding isotherms with the appropriate curves calculated for the case of non-interacting ligands.

In the present communication design, synthesis and DNA binding activities of three bis-netropsins and two netropsin analogs containing two N-propylpyrrolecarboxamide fragments linked covalently to peptides Gly-Gly-(analog I) and Val-Val-Val-Gly-Gly-(analog II) are reported. Each bis-netropsin consists of two netropsin-like fragments attached to peptides -Gly-Cys-Gly-NH2 (compound IIIa), H-Gly-Cys-Gly-Gly-Gly-(compound IV) or Gly-Cys-Sar-NH2 (compound IIIb) which are linked symmetrically via S-S bonds. Physico-chemical studies show that each bis-netropsin carries 6 AT-specific reaction centers and covers approximately 10 base pairs upon binding to poly(dA).poly(dT). This indicates that two netropsin-like fragments of the bis-netropsin molecule are implicated in specific interaction with DNA base pairs. The peptide fragments of bis-netropsins IIIa and IV form small beta-sheets containing two-GC-specific reaction centers. The DNase I cleavage patterns of bis-netropsin-DNA complexes visualized by high resolution gel electrophoresis show that the preferred binding sites for bis-netropsins IIIa and IV are identical and contain two runs of three or more AT pairs separated by two GC pairs. Specificity determinants of netropsin analog II binding in the beta-associated dimeric form are identical to those of bis-netropsin IIIa thereby indicating that there is a similarity in the structure of complexes formed by these ligands with DNA. In the monomeric form analog II exhibits binding specificity identical to that of analog I. Replacement of C-terminal glycine residues by sarcosines in the peptide fragments of bis-netropsin IIIa leads to a decrease in the affinity of ligand for DNA.

Experimental studies are reported on the binding of actinomycin D to various synthetic and naturally occurring DNAs. The experimental data obtained agree with a model in which the antibiotic molecule carries only one GC-specific reaction center and covers 5 base pairs upon binding to DNA. Positive cooperative effects are observed for the binding of actinomycin to poly(dG-dC)-poly (dG-dC) duplex.

Spectrophotometric methods are used to study the binding to DNA of Actinomycin D (AMD) and its analogues: 7-nitro-AMD; 7-amino-AMD; 7-(Z-Val-Glo-NH)-AMD; 7-(AcO- . +H2-Val-Glo-NH)-AMD; 7-(AcO- . +H2-Val-Glo-Val-Glo-NH)-AMD. The binding constants are calculated from the binding isotherm of AMD and those of the AMD analogues to calf thymus DNA obtained by spectrophotometric titration. Introduction of smaller substituents such as the nitro or amino groups into position 7 of chromophore influences insignificantly the antibiotic binding to DNA, whereas bulky substituents cause a decrease in the affinity of the AMD analogues for DNA, although the spectral characteristics are not affected.

Interaction of DNA with the analogs of the antibiotic distamycin A having different numbers of pyrrolcarboxamide groups and labeled with dansyl was studied. The binding isoterms of the analogs to synthetic polydeoxyribonucleotides were obtained. Analysis of the experimental data leads to the following conclusions: (1) the free energy of binding of the analogs to poly(dA).poly(dT) depends linearly on the number of amide groups in the molecule of the analog whereas attachment of each pyrrolcarboxamide group produces changes of 2 kcal/mole in the free energy; (2) attachment of a pyrrolcarboxamide unit to the GC pair results in the free energy change of 0.95 kcal/mole; (3) the binding of analogs to poly(dA).poly(dT) is a cooperative process, presumbly, dependent on conformational changes induced by the binding of analogs to DNA.

A model is proposed for the structure of stereospecific sites in regulatory proteins. On its basis a possible code is suggested that governs the binding of regulatory proteins at specific control sites on DNA. Stereospecific sites of regulatory proteins are assumed to contain pairs of antiparallel polypeptide chain segments which form a right-hand twisted antiparallel beta-sheet, with single-stranded regions at the ends of the beta-structure. The model predicts that binding reaction between a regulatory protein and double-helical DNA is a cooperative phenomenon and is accompanied by significant structural alteration at the stereospecific site of the protein. Half of hydrogen bonds normally existing in beta-structure are broken upon complex formation with DNA and a new set of hydrogen bonds is formed between polypeptide amide groups and DNA base pairs. In a stereospecific site, one chain (t-chain) is attached through hydrogen bonds to the carbonyl oxygens of pyramides and N3 adenines lying in one DNA strand, while the second polypeptide chain (g chain) is hydrogen bonded to the 2-amino groups of guanine residues lying in the opposite DNA strand. The amide groups serve as specific reaction sites being hydrogen bond acceptors in g-chain and hydrogen bond donors in t-chain. The single-stranded portions of t- and g-chains lying in neighbouring subunits of regulatory protein interact with each other forming deformed beta-sheets. The recognition of regulatory sequences by proteins is based on the structural complementarity between stereospecific sites of regulatory proteins and base pairs sequences at the control sites. An essential feature of these sequences is the asymmetrical distribution of guanine residues between the two DNA strands. The code predicts that there are six fundamental amino acid residues (serine, threonine, asparagine, histidine, glutamine and cysteine) whose sequence in stereospecific site determines the base pair sequence to which a given regulatory protein would bind preferentially. The code states a correspondence between four amino acid residues at the stereospecific site of regulatory protein with the two residues being in t- and g-segments, respectively, and AT(GC) base pair at the control site. It is thus possible to determine which amino acid residues in the repressor and which base pairs in the operator DNA are involved in specific interactions with each other, as exemplified by lac repressor binding to lac operator.

The specificity of regulatory protein binding to DNA is due to a complementarity between the sequence of reaction centres on the protein and the base pair sequence in the specific DNA site allowing the formation of a number of specific noncovalent bonds between the interacting entities. In the present communication the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of these interactions are considered. The extent of binding specificity is shown to increase with an increase of the bond stability constants and with an increase in the number of ligand reaction centres. Kinetic analysis is carried out assuming that association process is very fast and that dissociation of nonspecific complexes is a rate-limiting step in the recognition of a specific binding site on DNA. The calculations show that a ligand can recognize its specific binding site on DNA within a reasonably limited time interval if the number of its reaction centres and the corresponding stability constants are strongly limited.

A possible code is suggested that describes a correspondence between amino acid sequences in stereospecific sites of regulatory proteins and nucleotide sequences at the control sites on DNA. Stereospecific sites of regulatory proteins are assumed to contain pairs of antiparallel polypeptide chain segments which form a right-hand twisted antiparallel beta-sheet with single-stranded regions at the ends of the beta-structure. The binding reaction between regulatory protein and double-helical DNA is accompanied by significant structural alterations at stereospecific sites of the protein and DNA. Half of the hydrogen bonds normally existing in beta-structure are broken upon complex formation with DNA and a new set of hydrogen bonds is formed between polypeptide amide groups and DNA base pairs. The code states a correspondence between four amino acid residues at a stereospecific site of the regulatory protein and an AT (GC) base pair at the control site. It predicts that there are six fundamental amino acid residues (serine, threonine, histidine, asparagine, glutamine and cysteine) whose arrangement in the stereospecific site determines the base pair sequence to which a given regulatory protein would bind preferentially.

A method for the photolithographic fabrication of biochips with hydrogel cells made of brush acrylic acid–acrylamide copolymers fixed by one end on the surface of a polymer substrate has been developed. Hydrogel cells with reactive carboxyl groups were used for covalent immobilization of oligonucleotide probes. The efficiency of the method was demonstrated by the hybridization analysis of DNA targets of different lengths, matching a segment of exon 7 of the human ABO gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]