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Inverted repeats, stem‐loops, and cruciforms: Significance for initiation of DNA replication
Author(s) -
Pearson Christopher E.,
Zorbas Haralabos,
Price Gerald B.,
ZannisHadjopoulos Maria
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4644(199610)63:1<1::aid-jcb1>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - inverted repeat , biology , dna supercoil , eukaryotic dna replication , cruciform , dna replication , dna , control of chromosome duplication , origin recognition complex , microbiology and biotechnology , holliday junction , direct repeat , origin of replication , genetics , homologous recombination , genome , gene , history , archaeology , base sequence
Inverted repeats occur nonrandomly in the DNA of most organisms. Stem‐loops and cruciforms can form from inverted repeats. Such structures have been detected in pro‐ and eukaryotes. They may affect the supercoiling degree of the DNA, the positioning of nucleosomes, the formation of other secondary structures of DNA, or directly interact with proteins. Inverted repeats, stem‐loops, and cruciforms are present at the replication origins of phage, plasmids, mitochondria, eukaryotic viruses, and mammalian cells. Experiments with anti‐cruciform antibodies suggest that formation and stabilization of cruciforms at particular mammalian origins may be associated with initiation of DNA replication. Many proteins have been shown to interact with cruciforms, recognizing features like DNA crossovers, four‐way junctions, and curved/bent DNA of specific angles. A human cruciform binding protein (CBP) displays a novel type of interaction with cruciforms and may be linked to initiation of DNA replication. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.