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HMGA1a Protein Unfolds or Refolds Synthetic DNA–Chromophore Hybrid Polymers: A Chaperone‐Like Behavior
Author(s) -
Wan Wei,
Wang Wei,
Li Alexander D. Q.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.200700389
Subject(s) - chromophore , polymer , dna , chemistry , chaperone (clinical) , protein folding , biophysics , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology , medicine , pathology
High group mobility protein, HMGA1a, was found to play a chaperone‐like role in the folding or unfolding of hybrid polymers that contained well‐defined synthetic chromophores and DNA sequences. The synthetic and biological hybrid polymers folded into hydrophobic chromophoric nanostructures in water, but existed as partially unfolded configurations in pH or salt buffers. The presence of HMGA1a induced unfolding of the hybrid DNA–chromophore polymer in pure water, whereas the protein promoted refolding of the same polymer in various pH or salt buffers. The origin of the chaperone‐like properties probably comes from the ability of HMGA1a to reversibly bind both synthetic chromophores and single stranded DNA. The unfolding mechanisms and the binding stoichiometry of protein–hybrid polymers depended on the sequence of the synthetic polymers.