The halting arrival of left-handed Z-DNA.
Forty-nine years ago Watson and Crick proposed a double-stranded (ds-) model for DNA. This double helix has become an icon of molecular biology. Twenty-six years later, Rich accidently discovered Z-DNA, an exotic left-handed nucleic acid. For many years thereafter, this left-handed DNA was thought to be an artifact. DNA is no longer looked upon as a static molecule but rather an extremely dynamic structure in which different conformations are in equilibrium with each other. Many researchers have spent the last two decades characterizing this novel left-handed DNA structure. Now many investigators are beginning to accept the possibility that this novel ds-DNA conformation may play a significant in vivo role within eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. However, more research needs to be performed before it is absolutely accepted by all in the scientific community.
Gagna
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CE
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Medical-School, Newark, USA. dr.c.gagna@att.net
Lambert
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WC
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation
D004247:DNA