X-ray crystallographic analysis of the hydration of A- and B-form DNA at atomic resolution.
We have determined single crystal structures of an A-DNA decamer and a B-DNA dodecamer at 0.83 and 0.95 A, respectively. The resolution of the former is the highest reported thus far for any right-handed nucleic acid duplex and the quality of the diffraction data allowed determination of the structure with direct methods. The structures reveal unprecedented details of DNA fine structure and hydration; in particular, we have reexamined the overall hydration of A- and B-form DNA, the distribution of water around phosphate groups, and features of the water structure that may underlie the B to A transition.
Egli
M
M
Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry and The Drug Discovery Program, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. m-egli@nwu.edu
Tereshko
V
V
Teplova
M
M
Minasov
G
G
Joachimiak
A
A
Sanishvili
R
R
Weeks
C M
CM
Miller
R
R
Maier
M A
MA
An
H
H
Dan Cook
P
P
Manoharan
M
M
D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D013096:Spermine / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D010710:Phosphates; D014867:Water; D013096:Spermine; D004247:DNA