Biomaterial Database

Telomeric DNA oligonucleotides form novel intramolecular structures containing guanine-guanine base pairs. 1987

E Henderson, and C C Hardin, and S K Walk, and I Tinoco, and E H Blackburn

Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.

Structural properties of DNA oligonucleotides corresponding to the single-stranded molecular terminus of telomeres from several organisms were analyzed. Based on physical studies including nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, absorbance thermal denaturation analysis, and 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we conclude that these molecules can self-associate by forming non-Watson-Crick, guanine.guanine based-paired, intramolecular structures. These structures form below 40 degrees C at moderate ionic strength and neutral pH and behave like hairpin duplexes in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels. Detailed analysis of the hairpin structure formed by the telomeric sequence from Tetrahymena, (T2G4)4, shows that it is a unique structure stabilized by hydrogen bonds and contains G residues in the syn conformation. We propose that this novel form of DNA is important for telomere function and sets a precedent for the biological relevance of non-Watson-Crick base-paired DNA structures.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009682	Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy	Spectroscopic method of measuring the magnetic moment of elementary particles such as atomic nuclei, protons or electrons. It is employed in clinical applications such as NMR Tomography (MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING).	In Vivo NMR Spectroscopy,MR Spectroscopy,Magnetic Resonance,NMR Spectroscopy,NMR Spectroscopy, In Vivo,Nuclear Magnetic Resonance,Spectroscopy, Magnetic Resonance,Spectroscopy, NMR,Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance,Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopies,Magnetic Resonance, Nuclear,NMR Spectroscopies,Resonance Spectroscopy, Magnetic,Resonance, Magnetic,Resonance, Nuclear Magnetic,Spectroscopies, NMR,Spectroscopy, MR
D009690	Nucleic Acid Conformation	The spatial arrangement of the atoms of a nucleic acid or polynucleotide that results in its characteristic 3-dimensional shape.	DNA Conformation,RNA Conformation,Conformation, DNA,Conformation, Nucleic Acid,Conformation, RNA,Conformations, DNA,Conformations, Nucleic Acid,Conformations, RNA,DNA Conformations,Nucleic Acid Conformations,RNA Conformations
D009691	Nucleic Acid Denaturation	Disruption of the secondary structure of nucleic acids by heat, extreme pH or chemical treatment. Double strand DNA is "melted" by dissociation of the non-covalent hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Denatured DNA appears to be a single-stranded flexible structure. The effects of denaturation on RNA are similar though less pronounced and largely reversible.	DNA Denaturation,DNA Melting,RNA Denaturation,Acid Denaturation, Nucleic,Denaturation, DNA,Denaturation, Nucleic Acid,Denaturation, RNA,Nucleic Acid Denaturations
D009838	Oligodeoxyribonucleotides	A group of deoxyribonucleotides (up to 12) in which the phosphate residues of each deoxyribonucleotide act as bridges in forming diester linkages between the deoxyribose moieties.	Oligodeoxynucleotide,Oligodeoxyribonucleotide,Oligodeoxynucleotides
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D006147	Guanine
D006860	Hydrogen Bonding	A low-energy attractive force between hydrogen and another element. It plays a major role in determining the properties of water, proteins, and other compounds.	Hydrogen Bonds,Bond, Hydrogen,Hydrogen Bond
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001482	Base Composition	The relative amounts of the PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in a nucleic acid.	Base Ratio,G+C Composition,Guanine + Cytosine Composition,G+C Content,GC Composition,GC Content,Guanine + Cytosine Content,Base Compositions,Base Ratios,Composition, Base,Composition, G+C,Composition, GC,Compositions, Base,Compositions, G+C,Compositions, GC,Content, G+C,Content, GC,Contents, G+C,Contents, GC,G+C Compositions,G+C Contents,GC Compositions,GC Contents,Ratio, Base,Ratios, Base
D001483	Base Sequence	The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence.	DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA