Flow of structural information between four DNA conformational levels

Biochemistry
S Levin-ZaidmanAbraham Minsky

Abstract

Closed-circular supercoiled DNA molecules have been shown to form a cholesteric assembly within bacteria as well as in vitro under physiological DNA and salt concentrations. Circular dichroism and X-ray scattering studies indicate that the macroscopic structural properties of the chiral mesophase are directly and uniquely dictated by the supercoiling parameters of the constituent molecules. Specifically, we find that the pitch of the DNA cholesteric phase derived from supercoiled DNA is determined by the superhelical density, which, in turn, is modulated by secondary conformational changes. A direct interrelationship among four DNA structural levels, namely, DNA sequence, secondary structural transitions, the tertiary superhelical conformation, and the quaternary, supramolecular organization is accordingly pointed out. Since secondary conformational changes are both sequence and environment dependent, alterations of cellular conditions may effectively modulate the properties of the packed DNA organization, through their effects on secondary structural transitions and hence on the superhelical parameters. On the basis of these results we suggest that liquid crystallinity represents an effectively regulated packaging mode of plec...Continue Reading

References

Jun 20, 1990·Journal of Molecular Biology·T C BolesN R Cozzarelli
Oct 1, 1988·Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics·V V AnshelevichM D Frank-Kamenetskii

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 1, 1997·Biopolymers·V A Bloomfield
Jul 17, 1998·Current Opinion in Structural Biology·H H StreyV A Parsegian
Sep 17, 2009·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Allon WeinerAbraham Minsky
Jan 1, 2000·Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics·G BischoffS Hoffmann
May 10, 2002·Nucleic Acids Research·Rivka GoobesAbraham Minsky
Dec 3, 2008·The Journal of Chemical Physics·José Esio Bessa RamosRenko de Vries
Sep 2, 1997·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T E CheathamP A Kollman
Jan 22, 2005·Molecular Microbiology·Jean-Yves BouetDavid Lane
Nov 18, 2003·Molecular Microbiology·Abraham Minsky
Mar 21, 2006·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Axel HundingRobert Root-Bernstein
Oct 4, 2005·Plasmid·Kurt Nordström
May 14, 2004·Annual Review of Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure·Abraham Minsky
Mar 30, 2001·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·R Goobes, A Minsky

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.