Detection of Non-B-DNA Secondary Structures by S1 Nuclease Digestion

Marcel.li del Olmo , Agustin Aranda , Jose E. Perez-Ortin and Vicente Tordera
Universitat de Valencia, Departament de Bio Química i Biologia Molecular, Av. Dr. Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjassot, Valencia, SPAIN
J. Chem. Educ., 1998, 75 (6), p 762
DOI: 10.1021/ed075p762
Publication Date (Web): June 1, 1998

Abstract

In nature, almost all DNA strands are supercoiled in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Here, we present two cheap and simple laboratory experiments to analyze the different topological states of DNA and, simultaneously, to detect denatured regions and cruciforms in vitro, using the single-strand specific S1 nuclease. A natural (A+T)-rich region of the 3' region of Saccharomyces cerevisiae FBP1 gene and a DNA (A+T)-rich region in pUC plasmids around the terminator of the ampicillin resistance gene (both capable of undergoing supercoiling-dependent denaturation and therefore sensitive to S1 nuclease) have been used in the experiments. Experimental costs are low, and the small amounts of chemicals and the laboratory equipment used are available in every laboratory.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Electrophoresis

Tools

SciFinder Links

SciFinder subscribers:  Click to sign in | Not a SciFinder subscriber? Learn more at www.cas.org

Explore by:


History

  • Received: August 03, 2009

Recommend & Share

  • Share on ACS NetworkACS Network
  • Add to FacebookFacebook
  • Tweet ThisTweet This
  • Add to CiteULikeCiteULike
  • Add to NewsvineNewsvine
  • Digg ThisDigg This
  • Add to DeliciousDelicious

Related Content