Structural Integrity and Stability of DNA in Ionic Liquid and Near-Infrared Indolizine Squaraine Dye

Author

Ember Yeji Suh, University of MississippiFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-14-2023

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

First Advisor

Eden E. L. Tanner

Second Advisor

Saumen Chakraborty

Third Advisor

Thomas Werfel

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

Luminol, the most common presumptive test for blood at a crime scene, has multiple issues, such as false positive results with chemical agents, no luminescence due to “active oxygen” cleaning agents on bloodstains, and inability to penetrate textile materials. A combination of indolizine squaraine dye and ionic liquid (IL), or Dye Enhanced Textile Emission for Crime Tracking (DETECT), have shown potential to address these issues. The purpose of this study was to assess the binding mechanism of CG (1:1) and SO₃SQ dye to HSA and how the mechanism can explain the W214 fluorescence quenching effect and to determine the integrity of DNA in IL and dye. Through the study, the observed decrease in fluorescence intensity from the W214 residue in HSA (i.e., quenching) seemed to hint strong interactions with the dye, IL, and the albumin protein. MD simulations and MM/GBSA suggested that ILs aid the dye to bind to other binding sites in HSA, like Sudlow’s site II, by forming stronger intermolecular interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding between glycolate anion and HSA). In addition, CD suggests that the secondary structure of DNA is not damaged or affected after the addition of CG (1:1) and SO₃SQ dye (i.e., DETECT) as the characteristic peaks of DNA were still observed after the addition of CG (1:1) and SO₃SQ dye. Based on the findings, DETECT is a promising candidate to replace luminol. Further testing can include applications of DETECT on whole human blood and investigating the protective mechanism of ILs for DNA.

Recommended Citation

Suh, Ember Yeji, "Structural Integrity and Stability of DNA in Ionic Liquid and Near-Infrared Indolizine Squaraine Dye" (2023). Honors Theses. 2952.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2952

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