REVIEW: Cross-Linked Nucleic Acids: Isolation, Structure, and Biological Role

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V. A. Efimov^# and S. V. Fedyunin^*

Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; E-mail: eva@mx.ibch.ru; chlorin@yandex.ru

^# Deceased.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received March 31, 2010; Revision received June 2, 2010

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This review includes literature data on main types of reagents inducing covalent cross-links of nucleic acids. Reactivity of cross-linking agents, preferable sites for their binding, and methods for determination of location of cross-links in duplex are discussed. Biological responses of cells to cross-linking in nucleic acids, i.e. replication and transcription blocking, onset of repair processes, and apoptotic cell death are considered, as well as application of cross-linking reagents as medicinal drugs for solving molecular-biological problems.

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KEY WORDS: nucleic acids, cross-link, cross-linking agent

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297910130079

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