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Visualization of interaction between ribosome-inactivating proteins and supercoiled DNA with an atomic force microscope

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Abstract

The interaction between ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) and supercoiled DNA was observed with an atomic force microscope (AFM). It was found that RIPS can bind to both supercoiled DNA and the unwound double-stranded loop region in supercoiled DNA. The RIPS bound to the supercoils can induce the conformational change of supercoiled DNA. Furthermore, the supercoiled DNA was relaxed and cleaved into nick or linear form by RIPs. It indicated that RIP seemed to be a supercoil-dependent DNA binding protein and exhibited the activity of supercoil-dependent DNA endonuclease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China

    Xiaohua Wu & Wangyi Liu

  2. Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201800, Shanghai, China

    Zhenqian Ouyang & Minqian Li

Authors
  1. Xiaohua Wu
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  2. Wangyi Liu
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  3. Zhenqian Ouyang
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  4. Minqian Li
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Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Center of Life Sciences.

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Wu, X., Liu, W., Ouyang, Z. et al. Visualization of interaction between ribosome-inactivating proteins and supercoiled DNA with an atomic force microscope. Sci. China Ser. C.-Life Sci. 40, 458–462 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03183582

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03183582

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