Nucleic Acids in Chemistry and Biology

by Blackburn, G. Michael; Gait, Michael J.

• ISBN13: 9780199635337
• ISBN10: 0199635331
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-07-25
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Since the discovery of the DNA double helix in 1953, nucleic acids have formed the central theme of much of contemporary molecular science. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the increasing efforts to determine the DNA sequence of the human genome and the development of new diagnostics of genetic disease. Recent sophistication of nucleic acids synthesis has been key to the establishment of the biotechnology industry and our improving knowledge of nucleic acid structures and interactions is noticeably influencing the design of novel drugs.This second and completely revised edition draws on the expertise of the same international group of authors to set the basics of the nucleic acids in the context of the expanding horizons set by modern structural biology, RNA enzymology, drug discovery and biotechnology.

Table of Contents

List of contributors	xvii
Nomenclature	xix
Introduction and overview	1	(14)
The biological importance of DNA	2	(1)
The origins of nucleic acids research	2	(1)
Early structural studies on nucleic acids	3	(2)
The discovery of the structure of DNA	5	(4)
The advent of molecular biology	9	(1)
The partnership of chemistry and biology	10	(2)
Frontiers in nucleic acids research	12	(3)
DNA and RNA structure	15	(68)
Structures of components	16	(12)
Standard DNA structures	28	(11)
Real DNA structures	39	(21)
Structures of RNA species	60	(10)
Dynamics of nucleic acid structures	70	(5)
Higher-order DNA structures	75	(8)
Chemical synthesis	83	(64)
Synthesis of nucleosides	84	(16)
Chemistry of esters and anhydrides of phosphorus oxyacids	100	(13)
Nucleoside esters of polyphosphates	113	(5)
Synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides	118	(19)
Synthesis of oligoribonucleotides	137	(10)
Biosynthesis of nucleotides	147	(28)
Biosynthesis of purine nucleotides	148	(4)
Biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides	152	(2)
Nucleoside di- and triphosphates	154	(1)
Deoxyribonucleotides	155	(2)
Catabolism of nucleotides	157	(1)
Polymerization of nucleotides	158	(2)
Drug inhibition of nucleic acid biosynthesis	160	(15)
DNA sequence information, replication, and rearrangement	175	(64)
Gene structure in prokaryotes and phage	177	(18)
DNA replication in prokaryotes and phage	195	(11)
Genome structure in eukaryotes	206	(11)
DNA rearrangements in prokaryotes and eukaryotes	217	(22)
RNA sequence information and transmission	239	(44)
Occurrence and isolation of RNA	241	(2)
Determination of RNA sequence	243	(4)
Secondary and tertiary structure of RNA	247	(8)
Biosynthesis of RNA	255	(4)
Catalysis by RNA	259	(9)
Protein synthesis	268	(15)
Covalent interactions of nucleic acids with small molecules	283	(46)
Hydrolysis of nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids	285	(1)
Reduction of nucleosides	285	(1)
Oxidation of nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids	286	(1)
Reactions with nucleophiles	287	(3)
Reactions with electrophiles	290	(6)
Reactions with metabolically activated carcinogens	296	(5)
Reactions with anti-cancer drugs	301	(8)
Photochemical modification of nucleic acids	309	(7)
Effects of ionizing radiation on nucleic acids	316	(2)
Biological consequences of DNA alkylation	318	(2)
DNA repair	320	(9)
Reversible interactions of nucleic acids with small molecules	329	(46)
Introduction	331	(2)
External electrostatic interactions	333	(4)
Groove binding molecules	337	(9)
Intercalation	346	(12)
Non-classical intercalators	358	(4)
RNA interactions	362	(2)
Multistrand structures	364	(2)
DNA cleavage reagents	366	(4)
Recognition of nucleic acids and drug design	370	(5)
Interaction of proteins with nucleic acids	375	(68)
Perspective	376	(7)
Non-specific interactions	383	(17)
Specific interactions	400	(43)
Techniques applied to nucleic acids	443	(58)
Isolation of DNA from cells	445	(1)
Spectroscopic techniques	446	(15)
Hydrodynamic and separation methods	461	(7)
Microscopy	468	(3)
Molecular modelling	471	(2)
DNA sequence determination	473	(5)
Gene cloning	478	(10)
In vitro mutagenesis	488	(3)
Gene replacement in organisms	491	(3)
The detection of specific nucleic acid sequences by hybridization	494	(7)
Glossary	501	(14)
Index	515