This kit is designed to screen for novel gyrase targeting drugs, either as interfacial poisons (or IFPs that induce cleavage of DNA) Catalytic inhibitory compounds (CICs that block gyrase action by any number of mechanisms). It is a straight forward gel assay kit that is easily adopted.
The DNA Supercoiling Assay: This drug screening Kit is based on gyrase supercoiling action on a relaxed plasmid DNA substrate provided (pHOT1, which is a derivative of pBR322) and roughly 2.7 KB. One unit of gyrase will supercoil 200-500 ng in 1 hr at 37oC. The enzyme introduces negative supercoils into a relaxed pHOT1 plasmid substrate via a sign inversion model. An energy co-factor (ATP) is required for the complete supercoiling reaction. Non-EB gels are ideal for detecting gyrase activity as attested by the excellent resolution between supercoiled and relaxed DNA forms.
Drug Screening Assay. This kit is designed to identify IFP and CIC (poisons and inhibitors, respectively). A typical IFP (e.g., a fluoroquinolone) will induce double strand DNA breaks while a prototypical CIC will simply block the enyzme from acting on relaxed DNA (novobiocin, some intercalators for example). Thus, an IFP (ciprofloxacin) will result in formation of a linear DNA product while a CIC will block supercoiling activity. These events can easily be detected with this kit.
This kit contains purified bacterial (E. coli) DNA Gyrase purified to homogeneity (>98% based on SDS-PAGE). The Gyrase is prepared from overexpressing strains and is supplied as purified holoenzyme in an A2B2 complex. The enzyme is supplied at the unit concentration given on the quality control data provided with the kit. It is also stored in a stabilization buffer [50 mM Tris-Cl pH 7.5, 100 mM KCl, 2 mM dithiotreitol, 1 mM EDTA, 50% glycerol]. Included is substrate relaxed DNA (plasmid pHOT1).
EC DNA Gyrase Assay Drug Kit Contents (100 Assays)
1. Relaxed pHOT1 DNA (50 μg)
2. Supercoiled pHOT1 DNA (25 μl in gel loading buffer)
3. Linearized pHOT1 DNA (25 μl in gel loading buffer)
4. 5x Gyrase assay buffer (0.6 ml)
5. Dilution buffer (0.6 ml)
6. 10x gel loading buffer (0.3 ml)
7. 10x Proteinase K (0.5 ml)
8. 10% SDS (0.3 ml).
9. Purified DNA gyrase (100 units)
10. Ciprofoxacin 10 μg/ml (50 μl)
DNA Gyrase Quality Control
QC testing is performed on our purified enzyme:
1. A test for nuclease contamination was carried out by assaying for the formation of Linear Kinetoplast DNA and linear plasmid DNA. Incubations of 1 µg of catenated kDNA or supercoiled pUC19 DNA (4 hrs. at 37°C in the presence of 10 mM MgCl2) were performed. Linear DNA or breakdown products were not generated under these conditions.
2. The A and B subunits are >98% pure based upon SDS-PAGE and certified to be endonuclease free.
3. Note: with high input levels of DNA gyrase, a small amount of linear DNA may be detected due to spontaneously aborted reactions. This is normal and actually serves to work as an internal marker for linear DNA.
