Suppression of DNA-Mediated Charge Transport by BamHI Binding Original Research Article

A guanine radical cation produced by one-electron DNA oxidation migrates over long distances through the DNA π-stack. Fundamental questions regarding the likelihood of charge transport in genomic DNA, the effects of protein binding, and its biological consequences arise as the next issues of study. Electronic effects of protein binding on the efficiency of charge transport were investigated for the endonuclease BamHI-DNA complex. Direct contact of a positively charged guanidium group of BamHI to guanines in the recognition sequence 5′-GGATCC-3′ completely suppressed one-electron oxidation of the guanine in the protein binding site and dramatically lowered the charge transport efficiency through the sequence. Electronically insulated guanines, by the hydrogen bonding contact of a guanidium group in BamHI, no longer function as a stepping stone in the charge transport through the DNA π-stack.