Using ethidium to probe nonequilibrium states of DNA condensed for gene delivery.
Here we explore the use of ethidium to determine relative affinities of different gene delivery vectors for DNA and describe an improved method for studying the interaction. Specifically, we investigate the binding of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers and show that the DNA-dendrimer-ethidium system is far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Moreover, dendrimer surface modification through PEGylation appears to make the interaction with DNA more reversible, which is favorable from the perspective of vector unpacking. Probing the nonequilibrium state of DNA during condensation processes is thus important for developing novel vectors, and further, it could also be useful in the study of chromatin folding.
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden. kristina.fant@chalmers.se
Kristina
K
Fant
Bengt
B
Nordén
Per
P
Lincoln
D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D042003:DNA Packaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation / Q000187:drug effects; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D017186:Titrimetry / Q000379:methods
D004247:DNA; D004996:Ethidium