The interaction of polyamines with DNA: a 23Na NMR study. |
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| Authors: | D R Burton, S Fors n, P Reimarsson |
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| Affiliation: | D R Burton, S Forsén, and P Reimarsson |
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| Abstract: | The interaction between a variety of polyamines, both naturally occurring and synthetic, and calf thymus DNA has been studied using 23Na NMR. The relaxation behaviour of 23Na reflects the extent of interaction of Na+ with DNA phosphate groups and therefore the extent of charge neutralisation of DNA phosphate groups (P) by polyamine amino and imino groups (N) in solutions of DNa, polyamine and Na+. The studies reveal that whereas spermine and spermidine are capable of expelling nearly all of the Na+ ions from DNA at N/P approximately 1, diamines such as putrescine and homologues of spermine and spermidine are capable of neutralising only roughly 50% of DNA phosphates. The results provide a challenge to current models of DNA-polyamine interactions. |
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