CHED 236 |
| The potential for differential binding of DNA by charged aryl-substituted molecules drives the formation of a chemical library consisting of arylphosphonium salts conjugated to hydrophobic or hydrophilic moieties. Molecular mechanics calculations show them to interact with DNA by intercalation, minor groove binding, major groove binding, or a combination of the three. These molecules induce shifts of the melting temperature of native DNA and bind to DNA in gel electrophoresis. The (in vitro) interactions are dependent on the structure of the molecule as is the calculated binding. Computation was done using HyperChem MM+ and AMBER to test for binding affinities and geometries of the constructed molecules to DNA of various 24-base pair sequences (G-C rich, A-T rich, A-T/G-C random). The molecules' ability to enter a cell, the mitochondria, and the nucleus in conjunction with the possibility of sequence specific DNA binding has implications for possible pharmaceutical applications. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session
2:30 PM-4:30 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |