*2.8. EMSA and BSA Binding Experiments*

Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was carried out using Thermo ScientificTM OwlTM Dual-Gel Vertical Electrophoresis System (P8DS-2, Owl, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) at 25, 35, or 37 ◦C, 7–8 W for 3–4 h. Briefly, control oligonucleotides and DOCs were diluted to the required concentration in 20 μl of corresponding buffer solution (TA, TAM, or TAN) and incubated for 2 h prior to loading onto the native PAAG. In BSA binding experiments, the protein was added to the oligonucleotides after 2 h of incubation and then the probes were additionally incubated for 1 h prior to loading onto the gel. After electrophoretic separation, the DNA and BSA bands were visualized by Stains-All staining and in the case of FAM-labeled oligonucleotides by scanning and recording the image using VersaDocTM MP 4000 Molecular Imager® System (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA) after excitation at 488 nm. For Stains-All staining (0.05% (w/v) Stains-All in 50% (v/v) formamide), the gel after the run was stained in the dark chamber for 10 min. Destaining was accomplished by removing the gel from the staining solution and exposing it to the light until sufficient destaining had occurred. The gel was then immediately scanned using an Epson Perfection 4990 Photo scanner (Epson, Los Alamitos, CA, USA).
