Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published September 18, 1990 | public
Journal Article

Kinetic analysis of oligodeoxyribonucleotide-directed triple-helix formation on DNA

Abstract

Pyrimidine oligonucleotides recognize extended purine sequences in the major groove of double-helical DNA by triple-helix formation. The resulting local triple helices are relatively stable and can block DNA recognition by sequence-specific DNA binding proteins such as restriction endonucleases. Association and dissociation kinetics for the oligodeoxyribonucleotide 5'-CTCTTTCCTCTCTTTTTCCCC (bold C's indicate 5-methylcytosine residues) are now measured with a restriction endonuclease protection assay. When oligonucleotides are present in greater than 10-fold excess over the DNA target site, the binding reaction kinetics are pseudo first order in oligonucleotide concentration. Under our standard conditions (37 degrees C, 25 mM Tris-acetate, pH 6.8, 70 mM sodium chloride, 20 mM magnesium chloride, 0.4 mM spermine tetrahydrochloride, 10 mM beta-mercaptoethanol, 0.1 mg/mL bovine serum albumin) the value of the observed pseudo-first-order association rate constant, k_(2obs), is 1.8 x 10^3 +± 1.9 x 10^2 L.(mol of oligomer^-1·s^-1. Measurement of the dissociation rate constant yields an equilibrium dissociation constant of approximately 10 nM. Increasing sodium ion concentration slightly decreased the association rate, substantially increased the dissociation rate, and thereby reduced the equilibrium binding constant. This effect was reversible by increasing multivalent cation concentration, confirming the significant role of multivalent cations in oligonucleotide-directed triple-helix formation under these conditions. Finally, a small reduction in association rate, a large increase in dissociation rate, and a resulting reduction in the equilibrium binding constant were observed upon increasing the pH between 6.8 and 7.2.

Additional Information

© 1990 American Chemical Society. Received March 21, 1990; Revised Manuscript Received May 25, 1990. Supported by research grants from the National Institutes of Health (GM-35724) and the Beckman Institute of the California Institute of Technology and an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship to L.J.M.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 18, 2023