Redox signaling through DNA by metalloproteins

Abstract

Many expts. have now shown that DNA-mediated charge transport can arise over long mol. distances but in a reaction that is exquisitely sensitive to perturbations in the DNA base stack. Indeed, DNA charge transport chem. reports on the integrity of the DNA helix. Increasingly, proteins involved in DNA replication and repair have been found to contain 4Fe-4S clusters, common redox cofactors in biol. DNA-modified electrodes have been utilized to det. redox potentials for these metalloproteins bound to DNA; this electrochem. establishes the ability of the metalloproteins to carry out redox chem. at physiol. potentials in the DNAbound form. Studies are also described to characterize how these DNA-binding proteins contg. 4Fe-4S clusters may utilize DNA charge transport chem. for long range signaling.