New DNA polymorphism: Evidence for a low salt, left-handed form of poly(dG-m5dC)

Burt G. Feuerstein, Laurence J. Marton, Max A. Keniry, Donald L. Wade, Richard H. Shafer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Spectroscopic studies on solutions of poly(dG-m5 dC) over a wide range of salt concentration are presented. Low salt solutions ([Na+]) < 2 mM) of poly(dG-m5dC) produce circular dichroism (CD) spectra typical of the left-handed, Z form at high salt ([Na+] = 1.75 M). Solutions of poly(dG-m5dC) at intermediate salt concentrations, e.g., 142 mM, yield CD spectra characteristic of the right-handed, B conformation. 31P NMR spectra of the low salt form of poly(dG-m5dC) reveal two well separated peaks, split by 1.4 ppm, consistent with a dinucleotide repeat. Kinetic studies show that the transition from the low salt form to the right-handed B form is slow, as expected for a major conformational change. These results suggest that the Z conformation in poly(dG-m5 dC) can be stabilized at very low salt as well as at high salt

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4133-4141
Number of pages9
JournalNucleic acids research
Volume13
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 11 1985

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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