CHED 213 |
| Arylphosphonium salts have been found to accumulate preferentially in tumor cells due to the high membrane potential of tumor mitochondria. These compounds interact directly with DNA, presumably due to electrostatic attraction. Commercially available compounds and ones newly synthesized by us were used to evaluate DNA binding. Substituents on phosphorus alter the steric environment around the positive charge and suppress electrostatic bonding to DNA. Molecular mechanics calculations were corroborated by DNA retardation analysis, using agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA binding to a given compound appears to be a function of the accessibility of the positive charge, with the most sequestered phosphorus being in tetraphenylphosphonium bromide, which shows no interaction with DNA in vitro or in silico. Binding intensities were normalized to evaluate the intensity of the electrophoresis interactions. Preliminary results suggest that bacterial toxicity (E. coli) is dependent on DNA binding. |
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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 |