Effect of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine modifications on stability of VEGF i-Motifs

Author

Bethany Summerford, University of Mississippi. Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

First Advisor

Randy Wadkins

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

DNA i-motifs are a secondary structure of DNA formed at low pH by internal folding of strands rich in cytosine. This study focuses on trying to determine if the DNA from the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoter, which can form an i-motif, can be stabilized with the epigenetic modification to 5- hydroxymethylcytosine in four separate locations on the DNA strand, and to what extent the degree of stabilization depends on the location of the modification. Stability of the i-motif was determined by measuring pKa and melting point (Tm) of each VEGF modification using circular dichroism spectroscopy. The modified samples showed an insignificant change in pKa values but a significant increase in Tm when compared to the wild type, indicating stabilization by epigenetic modification. The ability to stabilize i-motifs has potential for using i-motif DNA in new drug delivery methods.

Recommended Citation

Summerford, Bethany, "Effect of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine modifications on stability of VEGF i-Motifs" (2016). Honors Theses. 124.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/124

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