The long term objective of this project is to elucidate the possible roles played by DNA conformations on the gene regulatory processes. Our short term goals are the physico-chemical studies of DNA oligonucleotides which have the potential to form unusual conformations. The current proposal will focus only on the formation of intramolecular structures from systems having the common hairpin motifs. Particular attention will be paid to the studies of triple helix and pseudoknot formation from a single strand.
The specific aims for the next few years will be: (1) To synthesize and purify oligonucleotides which are capable of forming unusual intramolecular DNA conformations such as hairpins, triplexes, and pseudoknots. (2) To characterize these unusual conformations and to delineate conditions which favor these structures by electrophoretic and spectroscopic means. (3) To investigate the kinetics of transformation and possibly mechanisms of some conformational transitions. (4) To obtain thermodynamic properties of conformational transitions by means of differential scanning calorimetric measurements and spectroscopic melting experiments. (5) To study the binding characteristics of some intercalative as well as non-intercalative ligands to these unusual conformations.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01CA042682-04A3
Application #
3184167
Study Section
Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Study Section (BBCA)
Project Start
1991-06-01
Project End
1995-03-31
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1993-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Tennessee State University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37209