title: Methyltransferase-directed DNA strand scission.
abstract: We demonstrate here that MTase-modified DNA can undergo the Staudinger ligation with triarylphosphines derivatized with phenanthroline. Presentation of these duplexes with Cu(II) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid leads to strand scission proximal to the MTase recognition site. By virtue of their ability to use a synthetic azide-bearing cofactor, M.TaqI and M.HhaI produce a DNA lesion that induces scission 5' to the base modified by the enzyme. This chemistry represents a new approach by which regions of DNA methylation can be rapidly identified on the basis of DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705-2222, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsay R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Comstock
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rajski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004247:DNA; D008780:Methyltransferases