1. JOINT PROJECT WITH RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES JULY 13- 17, 2009 Interaction of o-Xylylenebis (triphenylphosphonium bromide) and DNA Jennifer Andrade, Renae Miozzi, Ellen Rounds Exeter-West Greenwich Regional High School Biotech III

2. O-XYLYLENEBIS (TRIPHENYLPHOSPHONIUM BROMIDE) “o-XYLY” Classification: Benzylic Phosphonium Salt Molecular Weight: 788.53 Melting point: > 300 ̊C Appearance Solid Off-white or grey Not known to be cytotoxic in humans(Not a Hazard) Hygroscopic Formula: Formula: C 6 H 4 [CH 2 P(C 6 H 5 ) 3 Br] 2

3. Benzylic Phosphonium Salts Anti-trypanonosomal effects (Trypanicide) used to control Trypanosoma gambiense and T rhodesiense – insect vectors work as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor Toxic to parasite only Latent Thermal Indicator used in epoxy and paint by NASA Anti-fungal effects (Fungicide) used to control plant fungi in agriculture

4. Genomic (Salmon) DNA Melting Using CARY-Bio-100 Spectrophotometer

6. Electrophoresis Results Lane 5 Control (X) BP Measurement for X Distance (mm)BP 28 5,000 36 2,000 E (DNA with Hind III enzyme ) Eb – with o-Xyly X ( DNA without Hind III enzyme ) Xb – with o-Xyly Eb 10µl Eb 15 µl X 0µl Xb 5µlXb 10µl Xb 15µl Eb 5µl E 0 µl BP Measurement for E Distance (mm) BP 31 4,000 Lane 1 Control (E)

8. Plasmid DNA with Hind III enzyme, with and without o-Xyly Uncut plasmid with and without o-Xyly Mass of DNA fragments (ng) Base Pairs from Hind III Ladder (BP)

9. HyperChem Location Before This is an illustration of our compound before optimization and it shows the location in the Major Groove. The Distance between 27 C to atom 1H5M = 4.6743 Å From 26 C to atom 90 C = 15 Å From 26 C to atom 239 C = 4.6 Å Energy Level- 6675.93671K cal/mol Gradient Value- 285.526871

10. HyperChem Interactions: The phosphate bonds repositioned themselves to accommodate a lower energy, but the DNA molecule does not appear to be altered. The DNA and O-XYLY did not bond in a visible manner, but our data did prove a bond.

11. HyperChem(Steepest Descent) Locations After The compound and DNA did not show any signs of physically bonding although the energy levels were decreased The Distance between 27 C and 1H5M = 5.01036Å (increase) Energy Level=264.62 Gradient Value- 0.099511

12. HyperChem Results: Before Optimization After Optimization Energy=1791.844854 Kcal/mol Gradient Value= 260.335489 Energy= -300.682007 Kcal/mol Gradient Value= 0.09384 Distance Between 28 Carbon and 57 Carbon = 20.6344Å Distance Between 28 Carbon and 57 Carbon= 20.4114Å

13. Discussion Our Experimental results did not compare with our predictions because we went into this project hoping to see a significant reaction between the compound and Native DNA. Experimental changes with electrophoresis Further Research- electrophoresis with higher concentration and running Smart Spec™ in reverse temperatures.