Sequence-dependent variation in the conformation of DNA.

The specificity of action of the enzyme DNAase I on double-stranded DNA polymers of defined sequence has been investigated. The results obtained with the alternating copolymers poly[d(A-T)] · poly[d(A-T)] and poly[d(G-C)] · poly[d(G-C)] support the suggestion of Klug et al. (1979) that regions of double-stranded DNA containing alternating purine-pyrimidine sequences may exist as structural variants of the classical B-form under physiological salt conditions. Digestion of defined oligomers containing alternating dG-dC sequences indicate that these too exist in some “alternating-B” structure in solution under similar conditions. The results obtained with the oligomers also provide a number of insights into the mode of action of DNAase I. In the case of the B-DNA dodecamer d(C-G-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-C-G), for which the crystal structure has been solved (Dickerson & Drew, 1981), there is a very good correlation between the sites of rapid DNAase I cutting and positions of high local helical twist.

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