title: Cu2+-controlled hybridization of peptide nucleic acids.
abstract: We have prepared cyclic peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). These compounds do not bind complementary nucleic acids. One carboxylic ester group was introduced in the backbone of the cyclic PNAs. This group is cleaved in the presence of Cu(2+) or coordinatively unsaturated Cu(2+) complexes. The cleavage products are linear PNAs. In contrast to the cyclic PNAs, they are efficient nucleic acid binders. The rate of formation of the linear PNAs is proportional to the concentration of the cleaving agents. Therefore, one may apply highly sensitive methods of detection of linear PNAs for determination of Cu(2+) concentration. In particular, we have demonstrated that both fluorescent spectroscopy in combination with molecular beacons and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry are suitable for the detection of Cu(2+). A range of related divalent metal ions and Eu(3+), Ln(3+), Pr(3+), Ce(3+), and Zr(4+) do not interfere with Cu(2+) detection.
authors.affiliation: Anorganisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jentzsch
authors.forename: Andriy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mokhir
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000737:chemistry; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D012313:RNA; D003300:Copper; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D004247:DNA; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D012260:Ribonucleases