Topoisomerase I is an enzyme known commonly for its ability to relax, or unwind, supercoiled DNA by randomly �nicking� just one strand.  This process is important in DNA transcription, and the relaxation rate is DNA-sequence dependent, thus highly variant. We have investigated the effect gold nanoparticles synthesized in two different solvents, water and a choline chloride/urea deep eutectic, have on this relaxation rate by monitoring the relaxation using a DNA-intercalating fluorescent dye. Gold nanoparticles synthesized in both solvent systems increase the rate of relaxation compared to solutions without nanoparticles, with the nanoparticles synthesized in deep eutectic solvent having a relaxation rate one order of magnitude greater than those synthesized in water. The deep eutectic solvent significantly affects nanoparticle morphology thus enabling the synthesis of highly faceted gold nanoparticles, which may contribute to the increased relaxation rate.

Effect of gold nanoparticles on supercoiled DNA relaxation by topoisomerase I

245th National Meeting (2013)

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