Use of fluorescently tagged DNA and an automated DNA sequencer for the comparison of the sequence selectivity of SN1 and SN2 alkylating agents.
This paper describes the application of the novel nonradioactive technique for studying the sequence selectivity of selected alkylating agents. N-Nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU) and N-methyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were chosen from the SN1 group of alkylating agents. Dimethyl sulphate (DMS) was used to represent alkylation profile produced by the SN2 compounds. Results of SN1 compounds indicated that in a run (G)3 the latter two Gs are more susceptible to alkylation than the most 5' G. Moreover, in a GG sequence the 3' G seems to be more alkylated. This effect is more evident when the GG site was preceded by a 5' pyrimidine. These findings suggest that a regio-selective mechanism, rather than the formation of diazonium ions, accounts for DNA alkylation by SN1 compounds. On the other hand, DMS showed preferential alkylation of the 5' end in a (G)3 run. However, at GG sequences no clear preferred site of alkylation could be distinguished. Lack of specificity of SN2 compound would seem to suggest that other factors as well as the primary DNA structure may play a role in determining the extent of alkylation at a certain site.
Shoukry
S
S
Biology Department, York University, Ontario, Canada.
Anderson
M W
MW
Glickman
B W
BW
D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / Q000378:metabolism; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D000477:Alkylating Agents; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D004247:DNA; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide