A comparative representation of the three forms of DNAA comparative representation of the three forms of DNA

Sources [1]

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A-DNA B-DNA Z-DNA
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Helical Parameters of the three forms of DNAHelical Parameters of the three forms of DNA

DNA is a very flexible molecule and has the ability to exist in various forms based on the environmental conditions. Naturally occurring DNA double helices are classified into A, B and Z-types. A and B-forms of DNA are the right handed forms whereas Z-DNA is the left handed form. When hydrated the DNA generally assumes B-form. The A conformation is found when there is little water to interact with the helix and is also the conformation adopted by the RNA. The formation of Z-DNA occurs with the methylation of deoxycytosine residues and also during transcription where negative supercoiling stabilizes it.

Parameter A-DNA B-DNA Z-DNA
Helix sense right-handed right-handed left-handed
Residues per turn 11 10.5 12
Axial rise [Å] 2.55 3.4 3.7
Helix pitch(°) 28 34 45
Base pair tilt(°) 20 −6 7
Rotation per residue (°) 33 36 -30
Diameter of helix [Å] 23 20 18
Glycosidic bond configuration<br\>dA,dT,dC<br\>dG <br\>anti<br\>anti <br\>anti<br\>anti <br\>anti<br\>syn
Sugar pucker<br\>dA,dT,dC<br\>dG <br\>C3'-endo<br\>C3'-endo <br\> C2'-endo<br\>C2'-endo <br\>C2'-endo<br\>C3'-endo
Intrastrand phosphate-phosphate distance [Å] <br\>dA,dT,dC<br\>dG <br\>5.9<br\>5.9 <br\>7.0<br\>7.0 <br\>7.0<br\> 5.9
Sources: [2][3][4]

Structural Transformation between A and B DNAStructural Transformation between A and B DNA

Transition between A and B forms of DNA double helix

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This animated model displays the structural transformation between A and B forms of DNA.

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Source of morphs: [5]

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See alsoSee also

ReferencesReferences

  1. Nucleic Acid Canonical Coordinates http://nucleix.mbu.iisc.ac.in/nacc/index.html
  2. Rich A, Nordheim A, Wang AH. The chemistry and biology of left-handed Z-DNA. Annu Rev Biochem. 1984;53:791-846. PMID:6383204 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.bi.53.070184.004043
  3. Wang AH, Quigley GJ, Kolpak FJ, Crawford JL, van Boom JH, van der Marel G, Rich A. Molecular structure of a left-handed double helical DNA fragment at atomic resolution. Nature. 1979 Dec 13;282(5740):680-6. PMID:514347
  4. Sinden, Richard R (1994-01-15). DNA structure and function (1st ed.). Academic Press. pp. 398. ISBN 0-12-645750-6.
  5. Krebs WG, Gerstein M. The morph server: a standardized system for analyzing and visualizing macromolecular motions in a database framework. Nucleic Acids Res. 2000 Apr 15;28(8):1665-75. PMID:10734184

Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)

Eran Hodis, Adithya Sagar, Eric Martz, Michal Harel, Angel Herraez, Jaime Prilusky, Karsten Theis
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.14576/438459.1419971 (?)
Citation: Hodis E, Sagar A, Martz E, 2012, "Forms of DNA", Proteopedia, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.14576/438459.1419971