Z-DNA as a probe for localized supercoiling in vivo.
Biological processes such as transcription are expected to generate local variations in DNA supercoiling. The existence of localized supercoiling was recently demonstrated in Escherichia coli by using the supercoil-driven B-to-Z transition as a superhelicity probe. This new methodology is described and its extension to other biological systems discussed.
Rahmouni
A R
AR
Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS, Orleans, France.
D015342:DNA Probes; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000032:analysis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000502:physiology
D015342:DNA Probes; D004278:DNA, Superhelical