title: Tiny telomere DNA.
abstract: We describe the design, synthesis and biophysical characterization of a novel DNA construct in which a folded quadruplex structure is joined to a standard double helix. Circular dichroism, gel electrophoresis, three-dimensional UV melting and differential scanning calorimetry were all used to characterize the structure. Rigorous molecular dynamics simulations were used to build a plausible atomic-level structural model of the DNA construct. This novel DNA construct provides a model for the duplex-quadruplex junction region at the end of chromosomal DNA and offers a system for the study of structure-selective ligand binding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216-4505, USA.
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Xiaogang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: John O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Trent
authors.forename: Jonathan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chaires
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation / Q000528:radiation effects; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D016615:Telomere / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D004247:DNA