High-sensitivity linear dichroism as a tool for equilibrium analysis in biochemistry. Stability constant of DNA--ethidiumbromide complex.

A stoichiometrical application of a sensitive method for linear dichroism (LD) detection is suggested for biochemical purposes. The complex formation between a binding site on a polynucleotide and a ligand may be studied with high precision if the following conditions are fulfilled: (1) The polymer can be given a fixed degree of orientation. (2) The site has a specific orientation with respect to the orientation axis of the polymer (e.g., intercalation). (3) The ligand has an anisotropic optical absorption property. The method was applied to studying the complex between DNA and ethidiumbromide, which was detected by LD with precision of +/- 0.5 X 10(-7) M in a 4 X 10(-4) M DNA solution, i.e., 0.1% occupation of the total site concentration can be detected. The complexation could be explained by a single type of site (n = 0.14 +/- 0.01 sites per nucleotide residue) and a stability constant K1 = (2.5 +/- 1) X 10(5) M-1 at 0.2 M ionic strength. From the specific LD an average angle 60 degrees was concluded between the helix axis and the long axis of the ethidiumbromide molecule. This value formally contradicts the Watson-Crick model or the intercalation model but may be explained by extension and deformation effects on the xhain by the flow.     

Counterion-mediated membrane penetration: cationic cell-penetrating peptides overcome Born energy barrier by ion-pairing with phospholipids

Arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) can enter cells non-endocytotically, despite that transport of charge across a membrane should be formally associated with an extremely high Born energy barrier. We studied partitioning of several derivatives of the CPP penetratin in a water-octanol two-phase system in presence of natural phospholipids to explore if solvation by ion-pairing to hydrophobic counter-ions may serve as a mechanism for cell internalisation. We demonstrate that anionic lipids can aid peptide partitioning into octanol. Particularly efficient partitioning into octanol is observed with an arginine-rich penetratin compared to a lysine-rich derivative. Substituting tryptophans for phenylalanines results in poor partitioning into octanol, due to decreased overall peptide hydrophobicity. Partitioning into octanol is dependent of phospholipid type and the peptides induced structural changes in the lipid assemblies found in octanol. Attachment of carboxyfluorescein as a model cargo was found to enhance peptide partitioning into octanol. We discuss our results with respect to theoretical electrostatic energies, empirical hydrophobicity scales and in terms of implications for CPP uptake mechanisms. An important improvement of the theoretical transfer energies is obtained when, instead of singular ions, the insertion of ion-paired dipolar species is considered.     

TGF‐β induces SOX2 expression in a time‐dependent manner in human melanoma cells

The sry‐related high‐mobility box (SOX)‐2 protein has recently been proven to play a significant role in progression, metastasis, and clinical prognosis spanning several cancer types. Research on the role of SOX2 in melanoma is limited and currently little is known about the mechanistic function of this gene in this context. Here, we observed high expression of SOX2 in both human melanoma cell lines and primary melanomas in contrast to melanocytic nevi. This overexpression in melanoma can, in part, be explained by extra gene copy numbers of SOX2 in primary samples. Interestingly, we were able to induce SOX2 expression, mediated by SOX4, via TGF‐β1 stimulation in a time‐dependent manner. Moreover, the knockdown of SOX2 impaired TGF‐β‐induced invasiveness. This phenotype switch can be explained by SOX2‐mediated cross talk between TGF‐β and non‐canonical Wnt signaling. Thus, we propose that SOX2 is involved in the critical TGF‐β signaling pathway, which has been shown to correlate with melanoma aggressiveness and metastasis. In conclusion, we have identified a novel downstream factor of TGF‐β signaling in melanoma, which may have further implications in the clinic.