Binding citrate/DNA in presence of divalent cations. Potential mimicry of acidic peptides/DNA interactions.
Citric acid whose structure is comparable to that of small acidic peptides, can bind to DNA in the presence of divalent cations (Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Mg2+). Citrate-DNA interaction occurs also in a cell homogenate and in this experimental model too requires the presence of natural divalent cations. In fact the addition of 2 mM EDTA to cell homogenate strongly decreases the DNA-citrate binding. The results demonstrate that divalent cations can act as bridges between two acidic molecules and that citric acid can mimic the structure of acidic peptides.
Calzuola
I
I
Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università di Perugia, Italy.
Gianfranceschi
G L
GL
Marsili
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V
D000818:Animals; D020029:Base Pairing; D002412:Cations; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D012694:Serine / Q000737:chemistry; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D002412:Cations; D010455:Peptides; D019343:Citric Acid; D012694:Serine; D003300:Copper; D004247:DNA; D004492:Edetic Acid; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc