Cytosine-specific chemical probing of DNA using bromide and monoperoxysulfate

S A Ross; C J Burrows

doi:10.1093/nar/24.24.5062

Cytosine-specific chemical probing of DNA using bromide and monoperoxysulfate

Nucleic Acids Res. 1996 Dec 15;24(24):5062-3. doi: 10.1093/nar/24.24.5062.

Authors

S A Ross¹, C J Burrows

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, USA.

Abstract

Bromination of cytosine and formation of a piperidine-labile site are observed when two simple salts, KBr and KHSO5, are allowed to react with single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides. Selectivity for C compared with T, G or A is typically a factor of 4 or more; selectivity for Cs in a single-stranded region such as a C-bulge is nearly a factor of 10 compared with duplex Cs. Low reactivity and little base selectivity are observed using duplex DNA, although increased concentrations of reagents lead to complete degradation of the DNA. The results suggest that these conditions for in situ generation of Br2 constitute a useful tool for examination of the exposure of a non-duplex cytosine base in folded DNA structures.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Bromides / chemistry*
Cytosine / chemistry*
DNA / chemistry*
Molecular Probes
Peroxides / chemistry*
Sulfuric Acids / chemistry*

Substances

Bromides
Molecular Probes
Peroxides
Sulfuric Acids
monoperoxysulfate
Cytosine
DNA