Nucleic acids, specificity

McMahon B.M., Stewart J.A., Bitner M.D., Fauq a., McCormick D.)., Rich elson E. Peptide nucleic acids specifically cause antigene effects in vivo by systemic injection. Life Sci. 2002 71 325-337. 

Nucleic Acids. Specific enzymes are most important in determining the structure of nucleic acids. This area of research has grown rapidly following the elucidation of the alanine transfer RNA structure in 1965 (81). 

The site at which the xenobiotic interacts with the organism at the molecular level is particularly important. This receptor molecule or site of action may be the nucleic acids, specific proteins within nerve synapses or present within the cellular membrane, or it can be very nonspecific. Narcosis may affect the organism not by interaction with a particular key molecule but by changing the characteristics of the cell membrane. The particular kind of interaction determines whether the effect is broad or more specific within the organism and phylogenetically. 

The Z-DNA form is adopted by short oligonucleotides that have sequences of alternating pyrimidines and purines. High salt concentrations are required to reduce electrostatic repulsion between the backbone phosphates, which are closer to one another than in A- and B-DNA, Under physiological conditions, most DNA is in the B form. Nonetheless, protein domains have been discovered that bind nucleic acids specifically in the Z-form, This observation strongly suggests that such structures are present in cells and perform specific functions. The properties of A-, B-, and Z-DNA are compared in Table 28.1. 

Tabary T, Ju L, Cohen J. Homogeneous phase pyrophosphate (PPi) measurement (H3PIM). A non-radioactive, quantitative detection system for nucleic acid specific hybridisation methodologies including gene amplification. J Iimnunol Methods 1992 55-60. 

These studies identify biochemical targets associated with the malaria parasites metabolism of hypoxanthine which are essential for synthesis of purine nucleotides and nucleic acids. Specific focus on these unique features of parasite purine metabolism and the classes of inhibitors effective against them could lead to the design of new antimalarial drugs. 

IV. IDENTIFICATION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS—SPECIFIC EXPERIMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS... 

Erickson, R., Braun, W., Plescia, O. J., Kwiatkowski, Z. Inhibition of bacterial transformation by nucleic acid specific antibodies. In Nucleic acids in immunology, ed. by Plescia, O. J. and Braun, W., p. 201-221. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York Springer 1968. 

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