Molecular assembling of DNA with amphipathic peptides
1998; Wiley; Volume: 421; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0014-5793(97)01522-6
ISSN1873-3468
AutoresJean Dufourcq, Wilfrid Néri, Nelly Henry‐Toulmé,
Tópico(s)Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
ResumoThe self-assembling of double-stranded DNA with short synthetic peptides has been analysed using the fluorescent properties of the intercalating dye, ethidium bromide. Two membrane-active peptides with appropriate sequences of lysine and leucine amino acids and a short polylysine have been probed. The results revealed that the secondary structure of the peptide decisively aimed the peptide-DNA complex formation: only the longest peptide, which is the only one to exhibit an alpha-helical structure in solution, could achieve DNA compacting before charge neutralisation. The obtained complex retained a significant membrane activity as demonstrated by calcein leakage experiments. This shows that short synthetic peptides of elementary sequence can combine both membrane activity and DNA-condensing properties. The potential of these constructs as DNA carriers will be discussed.
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