Structural Factors that Influence the Inhibition of Type II Restriction Enzymes by Minor Groove Binders

• Main Author: Nguyen, Ha Hoang
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Archive @ GSU 2009
• Subjects: Minor groove binders; Heterocyclic diamidines; Gel electrophoresis; African trypanosomiasis; Type II restriction enzymes
• Online Access: http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/chemistry_theses/17; http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=chemistry_theses

The objective of this thesis was to study whether heterocyclic dicationic compounds that are minor groove binders have the ability to inhibit the digestive properties of type II restriction enzymes which bind to the major groove of the DNA. If these compounds do possess the ability to inhibit restriction enzymes, then what factors influence their ability to inhibit the restriction enzymes? The methods used to study the interactions of DNA, compounds, and enzymes are gel electrophoresis, DNA thermal melting, and circular dichroism. The results from this project reveal that the minor grove binding compounds are able to inhibition type II restriction enzymes. The inhibition is heavily influenced by compound structure and the DNA binding sequence of the enzyme.