Sequence-induced curvature of Tenebrio molitor satellite DNA.
Single satellite DNA constitutes about 50% of the Tenebrio molitor genome. Electrophoresis of 142 base pair long satellite monomers on nondenaturating polyacrylamide gel shows retarded mobility, a characteristic of fragments with sequence-induced DNA curvature. Migrational analysis of circularly permuted satellite monomers revealed the existence of 2 bend centers in the monomer sequence. We calculated the trajectory of DNA helix axis according to the algorithm of De Santis et al. This model predicts that T molitor naked satellite DNA forms a solenoid structure with left-handed superhelix. One turn of the superhelix has approximately 310 base pairs and a 33 nm pitch. Point mutations found in the satellite DNA (1.8%) influence bending characteristics, but do not distort the general geometry of satellite superhelix.
Plohl
M
M
Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruder Bosković Institute, Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
Borstnik
B
B
Ugarković
D
D
Gamulin
V
V
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004276:DNA, Satellite / Q000737:chemistry*; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000235:genetics*
D004276:DNA, Satellite; D004278:DNA, Superhelical