The structure of an oligo(dA).oligo(dT) tract and its biological implications.

Nelson HC; Finch JT; Luisi BF; Klug A

Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.

Nature 330: 221-6 (1987)

Abstract
Poly(dA).poly(dT) has unusual properties in that it cannot associate into nucleosomes and short, phased runs of it cause DNA bending. The crystal structure of a B-type DNA dodecamer containing a homopolymeric run of six A.T base pairs shows that this region possesses special structural features, including a system of bifurcated hydrogen bonds, which explains some of the properties of this simple homopolymer.

Mesh Headings

Base Composition

Base Sequence

Crystallization

DNA

Hydrogen Bonding

Models, Molecular

Nucleic Acid Conformation

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides

Poly dA-dT*

Polydeoxyribonucleotides*

Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

X-Ray Diffraction

Unique Identifier: 88039134

Chemical Identifiers (Names)

(oligo (dT))

(oligodeoxyadenylic acid)

26966-61-0 (Poly dA-dT)

9007-49-2 (DNA)