General peroxidase activity of a parallel G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme formed by Pu39WT - a mixed G-quadruplex forming sequence in the Bcl-2 P1 promoter

BACKGROUND: A 39-base-pair sequence (Pu39WT) located 58 to 19 base pairs upstream of the Bcl-2 P1 promoter has been implicated in the formation of an intramolecular mixed G-quadruplex structure and is believed to play a major role in the regulation of bcl-2 transcription. However, an extensive functional exploration requires further investigation. To further exploit the structure–function relationship of the Pu39WT-hemin DNAzyme, the secondary structure and peroxidase activity of the Pu39WT-hemin complex were investigated. RESULTS: Experimental results showed that when Pu39WT was incubated with hemin, it formed a uniparallel G-quadruplex-hemin complex in K(+) or Na(+) solution, rather than a mixed hybrid without bound hemin. Also, Pu39WT-hemin showed peroxidase activity (ABTS(2−)) in the presence of H(2)O(2) to produce the colored radical anion (ABTS(•-)), which could then be used to determine the parameters governing the catalytic efficiency and reveal the peroxidase activity of the Pu39WT-hemin DNAzyme. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the general peroxidase activity of Pu39WT-hemin DNAzyme, which is an intramolecular parallel G-quadruplex structure. This peroxidase activity of hemin complexed with the G-quadruplex-forming sequence in the Bcl-2 gene promoter may imply a potential mechanism of hemin-mediated cellular injury.