title: Thermodynamic investigation of the binding of dissymmetric pyrenyl-gemini surfactants to DNA.
abstract: Gemini surfactants have demonstrated significant potential for use in constructing non-viral transfection vectors for the delivery of genes into cells to induce protein expression. Previously, two asymmetric gemini surfactants containing pyrenyl groups in one of the alkyl tails of the surfactants were synthesized as fluorescence probes for use in mechanistic studies of the transfection process. Here we present the results of a thermodynamic investigation of the binding interaction(s) between the pyrenyl-modified surfactants and DNA. The thermodynamics of the interactions have been examined using isothermal titration calorimetry, light scattering, zeta potential, and circular dichroism measurements. Distinct differences are observed between the interaction of 12-s-12 vs. the pyrene modified py-s-12 surfactants with DNA; an intercalated binding is found for the py-s-12 surfactants that disrupts the typical interactions observed between DNA and gemini surfactants.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada. wettig@uwaterloo.ca
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Wettig
authors.forename: Rubena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deubry
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.forename: Tranum
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Haitang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sheinin
authors.forename: Jamie W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Roderick A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Slavcev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002151:Calorimetry; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D012474:Salmon; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D004247:DNA