A Light-Modulated Sequence-Specific DNA-Binding Peptide

Abstract

Gripping compounds! A homodimer is formed by linking two monomers of b-ZIP protein basic regions through a photoresponsive azobenzene unit. By simple irradiation at appropriate wavelenghths, this dimer can be switched between isomers which have moderate (trans) and high (cis) sequence-specific affinity for gripping the major groove of DNA (see scheme). BR=basic region, ds=double-stranded.