Dependence of DNA helix flexibility on base composition
- PMID: 6888544
- DOI: 10.1038/304752a0
Dependence of DNA helix flexibility on base composition
Abstract
We have used triplet anisotropy decay techniques to study the flexibility of synthetic DNA fragments with different base pair compositions. We have found major differences in the torsional and bending stiffness of poly(dG) . poly(dC), poly(dA) . poly(dT) and poly(dA-dC) . poly(dT-dG). Poly(dG) . poly(dC) has a torsional modulus more than 40 times larger than poly(dA-dC) . poly(dT-dG), and approximately 20 times larger than poly(dA) . poly(dT). These differences imply that the torsional stiffness of DNA can vary greatly with base composition. The Young's modulus (bending stiffness) we have measured for poly(dG) . poly(dC) is at least twice that of poly(dA-dC) . poly(dT-dG) or random sequence DNA, and is at least threefold greater than that of poly(dA) . poly(dT). This implies that the bending stiffness of DNA is also strongly dependent on base composition. In light of this dramatic base composition dependence, we suggest here that such stiffness variation may lead to local variations in the stability of chromatin or other protein complexes that require bending or twisting of the DNA helix.
Similar articles
-
Studies on synthetic chromatins containing poly(dA-dT) X poly(dA-dT) and poly(dG-dC) X poly(dG-dC).Biochim Biophys Acta. 1983 Jan 20;739(1):85-96. doi: 10.1016/0167-4781(83)90048-9. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1983. PMID: 6830804
-
[Interaction of topotecan, DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, with double-stranded polydeoxyribonucleotides. 4. Topotecan binds preferably to the GC base pairs of DNA].Mol Biol (Mosk). 2002 Sep-Oct;36(5):912-30. Mol Biol (Mosk). 2002. PMID: 12391856 Russian.
-
Conformational variability of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) and some other deoxyribonucleic acids includes a novel type of double helix.J Biomol Struct Dyn. 1985 Aug;3(1):67-83. doi: 10.1080/07391102.1985.10508399. J Biomol Struct Dyn. 1985. PMID: 3917211 Review.
-
[Structure of the hydration envelope of the B-form of polydeoxyribonucleotides poly(dA-dC).poly(dG-dT) and poly(dA-dG).poly(dTs-dT) from the data of Monte-Carlo simulation].Biofizika. 1988 May-Jun;33(3):422-9. Biofizika. 1988. PMID: 3167107 Russian.
-
Rod models of DNA: sequence-dependent anisotropic elastic modelling of local bending phenomena.Trends Biochem Sci. 1998 Sep;23(9):341-7. doi: 10.1016/s0968-0004(98)01265-1. Trends Biochem Sci. 1998. PMID: 9787640 Review.
Cited by
-
DNA primase-DNA polymerase alpha from simian cells: sequence specificity of initiation sites on simian virus 40 DNA.Mol Cell Biol. 1985 May;5(5):1170-83. doi: 10.1128/mcb.5.5.1170-1183.1985. Mol Cell Biol. 1985. PMID: 2582240 Free PMC article.
-
The herpes simplex virus 1 segment inversion site is specifically cleaved by a virus-induced nuclear endonuclease.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Aug 1;88(15):6432-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.15.6432. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991. PMID: 1650468 Free PMC article.
-
Analysis and suppression of DNA polymerase pauses associated with a trinucleotide consensus.Nucleic Acids Res. 1996 Jul 15;24(14):2774-81. doi: 10.1093/nar/24.14.2774. Nucleic Acids Res. 1996. PMID: 8759010 Free PMC article.
-
DNA sequence-dependent mechanics and protein-assisted bending in repressor-mediated loop formation.Phys Biol. 2013 Dec;10(6):066005. doi: 10.1088/1478-3975/10/6/066005. Epub 2013 Nov 15. Phys Biol. 2013. PMID: 24231252 Free PMC article.
-
Contour and persistence length of Corynebacterium diphtheriae pili by atomic force microscopy.Eur Biophys J. 2012 Jun;41(6):561-70. doi: 10.1007/s00249-012-0818-4. Epub 2012 May 16. Eur Biophys J. 2012. PMID: 22588485
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
