DNA-Mediated Signaling

Abstract

Many experiments have now shown that double helical DNA can serve as a conduit for efficient charge transport over long distances. We have seen, for example, that oxidative damage to DNA can be promoted from a distance as a DNA-mediated redox process. Photophysical, electrochemical and biochemical experiments have been conducted to characterize this chemistry. Uniquely, this chemistry is exquisitely sensitive to perturbations in the DNA base stack, such as arise with base mismatches, lesions, and protein binding. We have explored how this chemistry may be used within the cell for long range signaling. Studies are described where DNA charge transport is utilized in signaling DNA-bound proteins, both to regulate transcription and to activate repair of base lesions under conditions of oxidative stress. DNA charge transport chemistry provides an opportunity to carry out redox chemistry at a distance.