Four-stranded DNA helices: conformational analysis of regular poly(dT).poly(dA).poly(dA).poly(dT) helices with various types of base binding

J Biomol Struct Dyn. 1990 Dec;8(3):513-27. doi: 10.1080/07391102.1990.10507826.

Abstract

The paper presents results obtained in conformational analysis of homopolymeric four-stranded poly(dT).poly(dA).poly(dA).poly(dT) DNA helices in which the pairs of strands with identical bases are parallel and have a two-fold symmetry axis. All possible models of base binding to yield a symmetric complex have been considered. The dihedral angles of sugar-phosphate backbones and helix parameters, which are consistent with the minima of conformational energy for four-stranded DNAs, have been determined using the results of optimization of conformational energy calculated at atom-atom approximation. Potential energy is shown to depend on the structure of base complexes and on the mutual orientation of unlike strands. Possible biological functions of four-stranded helices are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Base Composition
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Polydeoxyribonucleotides / chemistry

Substances

  • Polydeoxyribonucleotides
  • DNA