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Conformational transitions in oriented fibres of the synthetic polynucleotide poly[d(AT)]·poly[d(AT)] double helix

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Abstract

The synthetic polynucleotide poly[d(AT)]·poly[d(AT)] is of interest in studies of the relationship between nucleic acid structure and function. In particular, A+T-rich regions in DNA double helices have been invoked as centres for controlling the transcription of genetic information. Here we describe conditions for observing by X-ray fibre diffraction the A, B, C and D conformations of Na-poly[d(AT)]·poly[d(AT)], and for inducing transitions between these conformations. The D form emerges as a particularly stable conformation; once assumed, it persists over a wide range of variation in the relative humidity of the fibre environment. Further, while transitions between the B and D conformations are readily reversible, transitions between A and D are much more complex.

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Author notes

  1. C. Nave

    Present address: SERC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, WA4 4AD, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK

    A. Mahendrasingam, N. J. Rhodes, D. C. Goodwin, C. Nave, W. J. Pigram & W. Fuller

  2. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moleculaire, Université Paris VII, 2 Place Jussieu, Paris Ve, France

    J. Brahms & J. Vergne

Authors
  1. A. Mahendrasingam
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  2. N. J. Rhodes
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  3. D. C. Goodwin
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  4. C. Nave
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  5. W. J. Pigram
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  6. W. Fuller
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  7. J. Brahms
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  8. J. Vergne
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Mahendrasingam, A., Rhodes, N., Goodwin, D. et al. Conformational transitions in oriented fibres of the synthetic polynucleotide poly[d(AT)]·poly[d(AT)] double helix. Nature 301, 535–537 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/301535a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/301535a0

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