TY - JOUR A2 - Berkhout, Ben AU - Bera, Alakesh AU - Biring, Sajal PY - 2018 DA - 2018/02/20 TI - A Sequence-Dependent DNA Condensation Induced by Prion Protein SP - 9581021 VL - 2018 AB - Different studies indicated that the prion protein induces hybridization of complementary DNA strands. Cell culture studies showed that the scrapie isoform of prion protein remained bound with the chromosome. In present work, we used an oxazole dye, YOYO, as a reporter to quantitative characterization of the DNA condensation by prion protein. We observe that the prion protein induces greater fluorescence quenching of YOYO intercalated in DNA containing only GC bases compared to the DNA containing four bases whereas the effect of dye bound to DNA containing only AT bases is marginal. DNA-condensing biological polyamines are less effective than prion protein in quenching of DNA-bound YOYO fluorescence. The prion protein induces marginal quenching of fluorescence of the dye bound to oligonucleotides, which are resistant to condensation. The ultrastructural studies with electron microscope also validate the biophysical data. The GC bases of the target DNA are probably responsible for increased condensation in the presence of prion protein. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a human cellular protein inducing a sequence-dependent DNA condensation. The increased condensation of GC-rich DNA by prion protein may suggest a biological function of the prion protein and a role in its pathogenesis. SN - 2090-0201 UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9581021 DO - 10.1155/2018/9581021 JF - Journal of Nucleic Acids PB - Hindawi KW - ER -