title: The involvement of non-B DNA structures in gross chromosomal rearrangements.
abstract: Non-B DNA conformations adopted by certain types of DNA sequences promote genetic instabilities, especially gross rearrangements including translocations. We conclude the following: (a) slipped (hairpin) structures, cruciforms, triplexes, tetraplexes and i-motifs, and left-handed Z-DNA are formed in chromosomes and elicit profound genetic consequences via recombination-repair, (b) repeating sequences, probably in their non-B conformations, cause gross genomic rearrangements (translocations, deletions, insertions, inversions, and duplications), and (c) these rearrangements are the genetic basis for numerous human diseases including polycystic kidney disease, adrenoleukodystrophy, follicular lymphomas, and spermatogenic failure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Center for Genome Research, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Texas Medical Center, 2121 West Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA. abacolla@ibt.tamhsc.edu
authors.forename: Albino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bacolla
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wojciechowska
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kosmider
authors.forename: Jacquelynn E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics*; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000235:genetics; D013577:Syndrome; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D004247:DNA