title: Conformation of the synthetic DNA poly(amino2dA-dT) duplex in high-salt and aqueous alcohol solutions.
abstract: It has previously been demonstrated by other workers that the duplex of a synthetic DNA poly(amino2dA-dT) undergoes a salt-induced conformational isomerization. We show in the present work using circular dichroism that the same isomerization is induced in poly(amino2dA-dT) by various alcohols. The isomerization was originally identified as the B-to-Z and then B-to-A conformational transition of DNA but we demonstrate that the high-salt or alcohol conformation of poly (amino2dA-dT) is the non Z-DNA zig-zag double helix we have previously observed with poly(dA-dT) and called X-DNA. X-DNA is a cesium cation specific conformation of poly(dA-dT) while no similar cation specificity is observed with poly(amino2dA-dT). Thus it appears that the extra amino group attached to A and cesium cations make the same thing; they probably dehydrate the double helix minor groove and relieve its conformational variability. Poly(amino2dA-dT) is exceptionally stable in X-DNA and conditions inducing it are mild, which opens the door to assess its molecular structure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Brno.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vorlícková
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sági
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabolcs
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szemzö
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Otvös
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kypr
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA; D000431:Ethanol; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011067:Poly dA-dT; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides; D012996:Solutions; C054693:poly(amino(2)dA-dT); D011067:Poly dA-dT; D000431:Ethanol; D004247:DNA