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Collective motion in DNA and its role in drug intercalation
Author(s) -
Chou KuoChen,
Mao Boryeu
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.360271109
Subject(s) - intercalation (chemistry) , chemistry , quake (natural phenomenon) , base pair , dna , molecule , hydrogen bond , chemical physics , stacking , stereochemistry , biophysics , crystallography , molecular physics , physics , biochemistry , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , astronomy , biology
The effects of collective motion in DNA as reflected by resonance coupling among its intact segments have been discussed for both linear and circular DNA molecules. The results indicate that due to the effects of this kind of internal collective motion, the energy will be at times highly concentrated at some spots. As a result of the overfocus of energy, the stress built up along the direction of hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs will be dramatically increased, rupturing a series of consecutive hydrogen bonds simultaneously and resulting in a suddenly free jerk, such that the DNA molecule will undergo a local “quake.” The “hole” formed by this kind of quake‐like motion will be large enough for bulky drugs to gain entrance and intercalate into DNA. Even for smaller drugs, this local quake‐like motion can also provide a significant mode of entry for intercalation. Energy minimizations carried out for DNA–drug complexes indicate that, for most drugs, a distortion or disruption of 2 to 4 base pairs occurs at the intercalation site in DNA molecules.