title: Human genomic Z-DNA segments probed by the Z alpha domain of ADAR1.
abstract: Double-stranded DNA is a dynamic molecule that adopts different secondary structures. Experimental evidence indicates Z-DNA plays roles in DNA transactions such as transcription, chromatin remodeling and recombination. Furthermore, our computational analysis revealed that sequences with high Z-DNA forming potential at moderate levels of DNA supercoiling are enriched in human promoter regions. However, the actual distribution of Z-DNA segments in genomes of mammalian cells has been elusive due to the unstable nature of Z-DNA and lack of specific probes. Here we present a first human genome map of most stable Z-DNA segments obtained with A549 tumor cells. We used the Z-DNA binding domain, Z alpha, of the RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 as probe in conjunction with a novel chromatin affinity precipitation strategy. By applying stringent selection criteria, we identified 186 genomic Z-DNA hotspots. Interestingly, 46 hotspots were located in centromeres of 13 human chromosomes. There was a very strong correlation between these hotspots and high densities of single nucleotide polymorphism. Our study indicates that genetic instability and rapid evolution of human centromeres might, at least in part, be driven by Z-DNA segments. Contrary to in silico predictions, however, we found that only two of the 186 hotspots were located in promoter regions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Genomics and Genetics, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dröge
mesh_terms: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000737:chemistry*; D001665:Binding Sites; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D043542:DNA, Z-Form / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D043542:DNA, Z-Form; D015335:Molecular Probes; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C567955:ADARB1 protein, human; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase