Zn2+ blocks annealing of complementary single-stranded DNA in a sequence-selective manner.

ABSTRACT: Zinc is the second most abundant trace element essential for all living organisms. In human body, 30-40% of the total zinc ion (Zn(2+)) is localized in the nucleus. Intranuclear free Zn(2+) sparks caused by reactive oxygen species have been observed in eukaryotic cells, but question if these free Zn(2+) outrages could have affected annealing of complementary single-stranded (ss) DNA, a crucial step in DNA synthesis, repair and recombination, has never been raised. Here the author reports that Zn(2+) blocks annealing of complementary ssDNA in a sequence-selective manner under near-physiological conditions as demonstrated in vitro using a low-temperature EDTA-free agarose gel electrophoresis (LTEAGE) procedure. Specifically, it is shown that Zn(2+) does not block annealing of repetitive DNA

SUBMITTER: Lu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4071324 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature