Three helical forms of DNA are recognized to exist: A, B,
and Z (27). The B conformation is the dominate form under
physiological conditions. In B DNA, the basepairs are stacked
0.34 nm apart, with 10 basepairs per turn of the right-handed
double helix and a diameter of approx 2 nm. Like B DNA, the
A conformer is also a right-handed helix. However, A DNA
exhibits a larger diameter (2.6 nm), with 11 bases per turn of
the helix, and the bases are stacked closer together in the helix
(0.25 nm apart). Careful examination of space-filling models of
A and B DNA conformers reveals the presence of a major
groove and a minor grove (27). These grooves (particularly the
minor groove) contain many water molecules that interact
favorably with the amino and keto groups of the bases. In these
grooves, DNA-binding proteins can interact with specific DNA
sequences without disrupting the base-pairing of the molecule.
In contrast to the A and B conformers of DNA, Z DNA is a lefthanded
helix. This form of DNA has been observed primarily
in synthetic double-stranded oligonucleotides, especially those
with purine and pyrimidines alternating in the polynucleotide
strands. In addition, high salt concentrations are required for
the maintenance of the Z DNA conformer. Z DNA possesses a
minor groove but no major groove, and the minor groove is sufficiently
deep that it reaches the axis of the DNA helix.
Three helical forms of DNA are recognized to exist: A, B,and Z (27). The B conformation is the dominate form underphysiological conditions. In B DNA, the basepairs are stacked0.34 nm apart, with 10 basepairs per turn of the right-handeddouble helix and a diameter of approx 2 nm. Like B DNA, theA conformer is also a right-handed helix. However, A DNAexhibits a larger diameter (2.6 nm), with 11 bases per turn ofthe helix, and the bases are stacked closer together in the helix(0.25 nm apart). Careful examination of space-filling models ofA and B DNA conformers reveals the presence of a majorgroove and a minor grove (27). These grooves (particularly theminor groove) contain many water molecules that interactfavorably with the amino and keto groups of the bases. In thesegrooves, DNA-binding proteins can interact with specific DNAsequences without disrupting the base-pairing of the molecule.In contrast to the A and B conformers of DNA, Z DNA is a lefthandedhelix. This form of DNA has been observed primarilyin synthetic double-stranded oligonucleotides, especially thosewith purine and pyrimidines alternating in the polynucleotidestrands. In addition, high salt concentrations are required forthe maintenance of the Z DNA conformer. Z DNA possesses aminor groove but no major groove, and the minor groove is sufficientlydeep that it reaches the axis of the DNA helix.
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