title: Anti-Z-DNA antibody binding can stabilize Z-DNA in relaxed and linear plasmids under physiological conditions.
abstract: It is shown that anti-Z-DNA antibody binding can stabilize sequences of d(CG/GC)n and d(CA/GT)n in the Z-DNA conformation in a plasmid in the complete absence of supercoiling. This effect is quantitated by using antibody preparations of different affinities and varying concentrations. The d(CG/GC)n sequence can be stabilized under physiological conditions. This is the first demonstration that a region of Z-DNA can be stabilized by protein binding in a completely relaxed plasmid under physiological conditions. The antibody-Z-DNA complex in the relaxed plasmid is shown to be an equilibrium state and not a long-lived kinetic intermediate since specific binding of the antibody to linearized plasmids containing Z-forming sequences is observed.
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001483:Base Sequence; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D004355:Drug Stability; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010957:Plasmids
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004247:DNA