MINOR GROOVE-BINDING ARCHITECTURAL PROTEINS: Structure, Function, and DNA Recognition

Minor groove-binding architectural proteins: structure, function, and DNA recognition.

To date, high-resolution structures have been solved for five different architectural proteins complexed to their DNA target sites. These include TATA-box-binding protein, integration host factor (IHF), high mobility group I(Y)[HMG I(Y)], and the HMG-box-containing proteins SRY and LEF-1. Each of these proteins interacts with DNA exclusively through minor groove contacts and alters DNA conforma...

Antineoplastic DNA-binding compounds: intercalating and minor groove binding drugs.

DNA intercalating and minor groove binding compounds are new weapons in the battle against malignant diseases. These antineoplastic agents target the DNA molecule and interfere with the cell cycle leading to rapidly proliferating cell death. They are mainly derivates of a naturally occurring organic compound derived from a microorganism or plant. Intercalators usually act as topoisomerase I and...

Cyclic polyamides for recognition in the minor groove of DNA.

Small molecules that specifically bind with high affinity to any designated DNA sequence in the human genome would be useful tools in molecular biology and potentially in human medicine. Simple rules have been developed to rationally alter the sequence specificity of minor groove-binding polyamides containing N-methylimidazole and N-methylpyrrole amino acids. Crescent-shaped polyamides bind as ...

Water at DNA surfaces: ultrafast dynamics in minor groove recognition.

Water molecules at the surface of DNA are critical to its equilibrium structure, DNA-protein function, and DNA-ligand recognition. Here we report direct probing of the dynamics of hydration, with femtosecond resolution, at the surface of a DNA dodecamer duplex whose native structure remains unperturbed on recognition in minor groove binding with the bisbenzimide drug (Hoechst 33258). By followi...

Next-Generation Programmable Oligomers for DNA Minor Groove Recognition