title: Evidence for a large double-cruciform DNA structure on the X chromosome of human and chimpanzee.
abstract: The human X chromosome consists of a high number of large inverted repeat (IR) DNA sequences which fulfill all requirements for formation of cruciform DNA structures. Such alternative DNA structures are suggested to have a great impact in altering the chromatin architecture and function. Our comprehensive analysis of the corresponding orthologous nucleotide sequences of an IR sequence from Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes revealed that most of the nucleotide differences between the two species are symmetrical to the apex of the IR, and that the spacer region of the orthologous IRs are in reverse orientation. We provide evidence that this IR forms a large non-B DNA structure containing two Holliday junctions, allowing intrastrand nucleotide pairing of the arms and interstrand pairing of the spacer region of the IR. This structure would extrude into a large double-cruciform DNA structure providing the molecular basis of translocation events and regulation of gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Group Tumor Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10098 Berlin, Germany. florian.losch@charite.de
authors.forename: Florian O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Losch
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bredenbeck
authors.forename: Verena M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Hollstein
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walden
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wrede
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D045566:DNA, Cruciform / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D045566:DNA, Cruciform; D004247:DNA