The effect of the location of the interstrand cross-link formed by trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (transplatin) on the thermal stability and energetics of 15-mer DNA duplex has been investigated. The duplex containing single, site-specific cross-link, thermodynamically equivalent model structures (hairpins) and nonmodified duplexes were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, temperature-dependent uv absorption, and circular dichroism. The results demonstrate that the formation of the interstrand cross-link of transplatin does not affect pronouncedly thermodynamic stability of DNA: the cross-link induces no marked changes not only in enthalpy, but also in "reduced" (concentration independent) monomolecular transition entropy. These results are consistent with the previous observations that interstrand cross-links of transplatin structurally perturb DNA only to a relatively small extent. On the other hand, constraining the duplex with the interstrand cross-link of transplatin results in a significant increase in thermal stability that is primarily due to entropic effects: the cross-link reduces the molecularity of the oligomer system from bimolecular to monomolecular. Importantly, the position of the interstrand cross-link within the duplex modulates cooperativity of the melting transition of the duplex and consequently its thermal stability.

Institute of Biophysics Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Kralovopolska 135 CZ 61265 Brno Czech Republic

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