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Z‐DNA crystallography
Author(s) -
Ho P. Shing,
Mooers Blaine H. M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0282(1997)44:1<65::aid-bip5>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - cytosine , chemistry , thymine , dna , guanine , crystallography , z dna , substituent , duplex (building) , nucleobase , base pair , dna sequencing , stereochemistry , nucleotide , crystal structure , biochemistry , gene
We review the effect of sequence on the structure of left‐handed Z‐DNA in single crystals. The various substituent groups that define a nucleotide base as guanine, cytosine, thymine, or adenine affect both the DNA conformation and the organization of solvent around the duplex. These are discussed in terms of their effect on the ability of sequences to adopt the unusual Z‐DNA structure. In addition, the experimental and theoretical methods used to treat DNA hydration are discussed as they relate to the stability of Z‐DNA. Finally, we argue that Z‐DNA, as defined by the crystal conformation, is sufficient in itself to account for the physical properties of left‐handed conformations observed in polymers and in genomic sequences. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 44: 65–90, 1997