Deoxyribonucleic acid structural analysis

See also Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) base-pair sequencing of, 22 11 molecular structure of, 22 10 capillary electrophoresis, 4 636-637 chemical analysis of ancient, 5 750-751 contact print, 22 504 as a vaccine, 25 502-503... 

A typical molecular analysis of various micro-organisms is shown in Table 5.9U ) Most of the elemental composition of cells is found in three basic types of materials—proteins, nucleic acids and lipids. In Table 5.10, the molecular composi-tion of a bacterium is shown in more detail. Water is the major component of the cell and accounts for 80-90 per cent of the total weight, whilst proteins form the next most abundant group of materials and these have both structural and functional properties. Most of the protein present will be in the form of enzymes. Nucleic acids are found in various forms—ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Their primary function is the storage, transmission and... 

Wood et al. (1991) have used the Southern hybridization method for detecting DNA amplification and a possible structural rearrangement of the HER-2/nen oncogene in 1 of 12 bladder tumors. Amplification of this oncogene in the tumor was sixfold that of oncogene found in placental DNA. Approximately 36% of the tumors studied overexpressed HER-2 mRNA, which was 3- to 38-fold that of normal urothelium. HER-2 overexpression occurred in superficial and invasive tumors. Deoxyribonucleic acid amplification occurs infrequently in bladder carcinoma, in contrast to its occurrence in some other carcinomas. Immunohistochemical analysis has shown that pi85 HER-2 polyclonal antibody is specific for HER-2 protein overexpression in bladder carcinoma. This study was carried out prior to the use of Herceptin. 

One of the most important natural compounds with a helical structure is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). It was studied by Watson and Crick based on the X-ray analysis of Franklin and Gossling Two right-handed polynucleotide chains are wound around a central axis. The sugar phosphate chains form an outer screw line, whereas the purine and pyrimidine bases are projecting inside. Their ring planes are... 

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