Calorimetric studies of histone H1 interactions with calf thymus DNA

Author

Sarah Elizabeth Jones

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Lewis, A. Edwin

Date of Degree

8-6-2011

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Chemistry

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Chemistry

Abstract

In this study we have used isothermal titration calorimetry, ITC, and circular dichroism spectropolarimetry, CD, to directly measure the thermodynamics and the structural changes for binding histones, H11 and H14, to DNA. The ITC data have been used to estimate the binding constant, (K ≈ 108) and the enthalpy change (ΔH ≈ + 5 (H11 at 25ºC), ΔH ≈ +20 kcal/mol (H14 at 15 ºC) for formation of the H1/DNA complex. CD data indicate that both H1 and DNA are partially unfolded in the H1/DNA complex. Protein and DNA unfolding must contribute to the large unfavorable endothermic enthalpy change for complex formation. The ITC data indicate that the H11 binding site is comprised 30 DNA base pairs while H14 interacts with approximately 36 DNA base pairs. At saturation, our data are consistent with 100% of the H1 binding sites being occupied in the H1/DNA complex.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/15263

Recommended Citation

Jones, Sarah Elizabeth, "Calorimetric studies of histone H1 interactions with calf thymus DNA" (2011). Theses and Dissertations. 946.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/946