title: The ability of cystamine to bind DNA.
abstract: The DNA-binding properties of cystamine compared with natural occurring polyamines have been studied in vitro by means of ethidium bromide displacement assays, studies of DNA thermal stability and analyses of DNA-B/DNA-A transition. While the first two methods did not put in evidence any peculiar property in the binding capability of cystamine, CD studies showed the interesting ability of cystamine to shift the equilibrium B/A-DNA towards the B-form. In the same experimental conditions spermine and spermidine induced the A form of DNA, instead putrescine and cadaverine did not show any particular activity. The ability of cystamine to bind DNA, as shown also by its DNA radioprotective capability, might be important in chromatin condensation and stabilization, and might be a cause of the antiviral activity observed by some authors.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina e Oncologia Sperimentale, Sezione di Biochimica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amodeo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colombatto
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Solinas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D015317:Biogenic Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003538:Cystamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D013095:Spermidine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013096:Spermine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D015317:Biogenic Polyamines; D002843:Chromatin; D013096:Spermine; D004247:DNA; D004996:Ethidium; D003538:Cystamine; D013095:Spermidine