title: Detection of an en masse and reversible B- to A-DNA conformational transition in prokaryotes in response to desiccation.
abstract: The role that DNA conformation plays in the biochemistry of cells has been the subject of intensive research since DNA polymorphism was discovered. B-DNA has long been considered the native form of DNA in cells although alternative conformations of DNA are thought to occur transiently and along short tracts. Here, we report the first direct observation of a fully reversible en masse conformational transition between B- and A-DNA within live bacterial cells using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. This biospectroscopic technique allows for non-invasive and reagent-free examination of the holistic biochemistry of samples. For this reason, we have been able to observe the previously unknown conformational transition in all four species of bacteria investigated. Detection of this transition is evidence of a previously unexplored biological significance for A-DNA and highlights the need for new research into the role that A-DNA plays as a cellular defence mechanism and in stabilizing the DNA conformation. Such studies are pivotal in understanding the role of A-DNA in the evolutionary pathway of nucleic acids. Furthermore, this discovery demonstrates the exquisite capabilities of FTIR spectroscopy and opens the door for further investigations of cell biochemistry with this under-used technique.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biospectroscopy, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Donna R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hiscox
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Julian I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Rood
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biospectroscopy, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia Australian Synchrotron, 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Bambery
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biospectroscopy, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McNaughton
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biospectroscopy, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia bayden.wood@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Bayden R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D044704:DNA, A-Form / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D059371:DNA, B-Form / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003890:Desiccation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D044367:Phase Transition; D011514:Proteus vulgaris / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D044704:DNA, A-Form; D059371:DNA, B-Form; D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: A-DNA; DNA conformation; attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; bacteria; infrared