Deoxyribonucleic acid, complex with

Chemotherapeutic agents are grouped by cytotoxic mechanism. The alkylating agents, such as cyclophosphamide [50-18-0] and melphalan [148-82-3] interfere with normal cellular activity by alkylation deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Antimetabohtes, interfering with complex metaboHc pathways in the cell, include methotrexate [59-05-2] 5-fluorouracil [51-21-8] and cytosine arabinoside hydrochloride [69-74-9]. Antibiotics such as bleomycin [11056-06-7] and doxombicin [23214-92-8] h.a.ve been used, as have the plant alkaloids vincristine [57-22-7] and vinblastine [865-21-4]. 

Only two nucleic acids exist. They are DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). The structural complexity of nucleic acids falls far short of that of proteins. Like proteins, however, nucleic acids are polymers, with nucleotides being the monomer units. 

Moucheron C, Kirsch-De Mesmaeker A, Kelly JM (1997) Photoreactions of ruthenium(ll) and osmium(ll) complexes with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). J Photochem Photobiol B Biol 40 91-106... 

Anti-deoxyribonucleic acid autoantibodies from human and mice suffering from Lupus erythematosus can penetrate into cells and accumulate in the cell nucleus. Based on the characteristics of a mi-ON A autoantibodies, VAYISRGGVSTYYSDTVKGRFTRQKYNKRA peptide (P3), which exhibits a-helix, has been used as a vector for the intracytoplasmic and intranuclear translocation of macromolecules (Table 16.7) (Avrameas et al., 1998, 1999). P3 shares similar capabilities with Antenapedia peptide (Derossi et al., 1994), but in contrast P3 operates only at 37 °C by an energy dependent mechanism. P3 linked to a 19 lysine residue sequence (K19-P3) forms complexes with plasmid DNA. Efficient transfection of mouse 3T3 cells and hamster lung CCL39 cells were obtained with these complexes. This transfection was not impaired by the presence of serum and did not require helper molecules such as chloroquine. These observations suggest that peptides from cell specific anti-DNA autoantibodies may represent a source of peptide-based gene delivery system with different specificities. 

Microsomal reduction of chromium(VI) can also result in the formation of chromium(V), which involves a one-electron transfer from the microsomal electron-transport cytochrome P450 system in rats. The chromium(V) complexes are characterized as labile and reactive. These chromium(V) intermediates persist for 1 hour in vitro, making them likely to interact with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which may eventually lead to cancer (Jennette 1982). Because chromium(V) complexes are labile and reactive, detection of chromium(V) after in vivo exposure to chromium(VI) was difficult in the past. More recently, Liu et al. (1994) have demonstrated that chromium(V) is formed in vivo by using low-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy on whole mice. In mice injected with sodium dichromate(VI) intravenously into the tail vein, maximum levels of chromium(V) were detected within 10 minutes and declined slowly with a life time of about 37 minutes. The time to reach peak in vivo levels of chromium(V) decreased in a linear manner as the administered dose levels of sodium... 

The fidelity of cellular repair and reproduction is determined by a coding system based on polynucleotides - deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). In general (with some inevitable exceptions of course), the information flow is from DNA molecules (genes) which are transcribed to yield RNA molecules which in turn are translated on complex macromolecular protein-RNA assemblies called ribosomes to yield proteins (polymers of amino acids linked by peptide bonds). 

Positively charged lipids are capable of making complexes with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (since it is negatively charged) and are currently very popular. Examples of such lipids are A-[l-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-/V,/V,/V-trimcthylammo-nium chloride (DOTMA), l,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammoniopropane (DOTAP),... 

As the name suggests, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) is a compound of cobalt (Co(lll)). With a complex organic structure, this essential water-soluble vitamin is obtained from dietary animal sources and is required for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, where enzymes that use vitamin B12 are involved in the transfer of one-carbon units. The absorption of this vitamin from the gastrointestinal tract only occurs when intrinsic factor glycoprotein is present. While the body can store up to a 12-month supply of vitamin B12, rapid growth or conditions causing rapid cell turnover can increase the body s requirement for this vitamin. 

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