TY - JOUR
T1 - Pentalysine-Deoxyribonucleic Acid Interactions
T2 - A Model for the General Effects of Ion Concentrations on the Interactions of Proteins with Nucleic Acids
AU - Lohman, Timothy M.
AU - deHaseth, Pieter L.
AU - Record, M. Thomas
PY - 1980/7/1
Y1 - 1980/7/1
N2 - The interaction of the oligopeptide pentalysine [(Lys)5] with T7 DNA has been investigated by difference boundary sedimentation velocity. The system is of interest as a model for the electrostatic component of the interactions of proteins with nucleic acids. Binding constants for (Lys)5-T7 DNA (KobsdLD) have been determined as a function of [NaCL], [MgCL2], pH, and temperature, under solution conditions such that KobsdLD is in the range 102-105 M−1. We Find that KobsdLD is a sensitive function of the ionic environment but is virtually independent of temperature. in particular, KobsdLD decreases dramatically with increasing [NaCL], Plots of log KobsdLD vs. log [NaCL] are linear, with slopes that decrease with increasing pH. At constant [NaCL], KobsdLD decreases with an increase in pH or in [MgCL2]. The data, analyzed by binding theory [Record, M. T., Jr., Lohman, T. M., & deHaseth, P. L. (1976) J. Mol. Biol. 107, 145-158; Record, M. T., Jr., Anderson, C. F., & Lohman, T. M. (1978) Q. Rev. Biophys. 11, 103-178] are consistent with an electrostatic interaction between (Lys)5 and T7 DNA, driven by the entropic contribution of counterion release to the free energy of binding. The effects of pH are explained quantitatively by using a simple titration model; as the pH is increased, the net positive charge on the (Lys)5 is reduced, and consequently both KobsdLD and |(∂ log Kobsd/∂ log [NaCL])pH T| are reduced. The effects of MgCL2 are explained quantitatively as a competition between Mg2+ and (Lys)5 for DNA sites. The lack of a temperature dependence of KobsdLD is consistent with the proposed entropic origin of the binding free energy. The effects of small ions on the (Lys)5-T7 DNA binding equilibrium are similar to those observed in various specific and nonspecific protein-DNA interactions and thereby support the electrostatic interpretation of those binding data given previously. Using the (Lys)5 and other oligopeptide binding data as points of reference, one can decompose observed binding free energies for protein-DNA interactions into electrostatic and nonelectrostatic contributions, distinguish between specific and nonspecific effects of ions on complex formation, and estimate the number of positive charges and the number and nature of titratable groups on the DNA binding site of the protein.
AB - The interaction of the oligopeptide pentalysine [(Lys)5] with T7 DNA has been investigated by difference boundary sedimentation velocity. The system is of interest as a model for the electrostatic component of the interactions of proteins with nucleic acids. Binding constants for (Lys)5-T7 DNA (KobsdLD) have been determined as a function of [NaCL], [MgCL2], pH, and temperature, under solution conditions such that KobsdLD is in the range 102-105 M−1. We Find that KobsdLD is a sensitive function of the ionic environment but is virtually independent of temperature. in particular, KobsdLD decreases dramatically with increasing [NaCL], Plots of log KobsdLD vs. log [NaCL] are linear, with slopes that decrease with increasing pH. At constant [NaCL], KobsdLD decreases with an increase in pH or in [MgCL2]. The data, analyzed by binding theory [Record, M. T., Jr., Lohman, T. M., & deHaseth, P. L. (1976) J. Mol. Biol. 107, 145-158; Record, M. T., Jr., Anderson, C. F., & Lohman, T. M. (1978) Q. Rev. Biophys. 11, 103-178] are consistent with an electrostatic interaction between (Lys)5 and T7 DNA, driven by the entropic contribution of counterion release to the free energy of binding. The effects of pH are explained quantitatively by using a simple titration model; as the pH is increased, the net positive charge on the (Lys)5 is reduced, and consequently both KobsdLD and |(∂ log Kobsd/∂ log [NaCL])pH T| are reduced. The effects of MgCL2 are explained quantitatively as a competition between Mg2+ and (Lys)5 for DNA sites. The lack of a temperature dependence of KobsdLD is consistent with the proposed entropic origin of the binding free energy. The effects of small ions on the (Lys)5-T7 DNA binding equilibrium are similar to those observed in various specific and nonspecific protein-DNA interactions and thereby support the electrostatic interpretation of those binding data given previously. Using the (Lys)5 and other oligopeptide binding data as points of reference, one can decompose observed binding free energies for protein-DNA interactions into electrostatic and nonelectrostatic contributions, distinguish between specific and nonspecific effects of ions on complex formation, and estimate the number of positive charges and the number and nature of titratable groups on the DNA binding site of the protein.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0019330787&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/bi00556a017
DO - 10.1021/bi00556a017
M3 - Article
C2 - 7407056
AN - SCOPUS:0019330787
VL - 19
SP - 3522
EP - 3530
JO - Biochemistry
JF - Biochemistry
SN - 0006-2960
IS - 15
ER -