Metal ion interactions with the minisatellite DNA of H-ras oncogene.

Authors:
Savvas Petanidis, Athanasios Salifoglou

Volume 17, Issue 4;
Pages: 348-351;
ISSN: 2069-0053 (print) (former: ISSN:1453-1399), Agroprint;
ISSN (online):2068 – 9551

Over the years there has been extensive research on the molecular interaction of minisatellite DNA with the human gene Ras and the impact of these interactions in regulating transcription of the oncogene. Metal ions such as Hg(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) are known to act at the cellular level and interact with biomolecules both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, leading to changes in the activity of key biomolecules in biochemical processes and affecting the integrity of the cell. What is not known and has attracted considerable interest is the interaction of such metallotoxins with minisatellite DNA and the ensuing induction on the H-Ras activity. To this end, the effect of biotoxic metal ions on the transcriptional regulation of minisatellite DNA on the H-Ras activity constitutes the crux of the present investigation.