Role of Mono- and Divalent Ions in Peptide Glu-Asp-Arg-DNA Interaction.

The journal of physical chemistry. B2019PMID: 30762356

View on PubMed DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b10359

Plain Language Summary

The EDR tripeptide (Glu-Asp-Arg) can physically enter the major groove of DNA and interact specifically with guanine bases, a mechanism relevant to its known ability to regulate gene activity. Magnesium ions in the surrounding environment help this interaction by neutralizing the negative charge on DNA, making it easier for the peptide to bind. These findings help explain how a short, simple peptide can influence gene expression inside cells.

Abstract

The interaction of the regulatory biologically active peptide Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR) with DNA is considered by spectral, NMR, viscosimetry, and molecular dynamics methods. It was shown that EDR can partly penetrate into the major groove of DNA and affect the base atoms, mainly the N7 and O6 of guanine. It was observed that Mgions can promote DNA-EDR interaction due to their effective screening of the negatively charged phosphate groups of DNA. This action of Mgremains in salted solution as well.

Authors

Silanteva, Irina A; Komolkin, Andrei V; Morozova, Ekaterina A; Vorontsov-Velyaminov, Pavel N; Kasyanenko, Nina A