title: Design of cationic graft copolymers as a potential inducer of B-Z transition.
abstract: Biological roles of transition from B form to Z form of DNA (B-Z transition) have recently received attention. The B-Z transition was also employed as driving machinery of a nano-mechanical DNA device. However, there are little reports of effective inducer of the B-Z transition. We previously reported that poly((L)-Lysine)-graft-dextran induces B-Z transition and grafted dextran plays an important role for the B-Z transition. In this report, we designed cationic graft copolymer as a potential inducer of B-Z transition. Series of the copolymers consisting of poly((L)-Lysine) backbone and abundant of dextran (Dex) or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains were prepared. The B-Z transition of poly(dG-dC)/Poly(dG-dC) were observed in the presence of these copolymers. The copolymers having higher content of Dex or PEG effectively induced the B-Z transition compared to that having lower content. The result indicated that not only electrostatic interaction between DNA and the poly((L)-Lysine) backbone but also hydrophilic graft chains play a role for the B-Z transition. We speculated that Dex- or PEG-enriched environment is favorable for Z form.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
authors.forename: Naohiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Arihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maruyama
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D043542:DNA, Z-Form / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011107:Polylysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D043542:DNA, Z-Form; D003911:Dextrans; C113090:poly(lysine)-graft-dextran; C443714:polylysine-graft-(poly(ethylene glycol)); D011107:Polylysine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004247:DNA