Solution structure of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) in low and high salt: a 500 MHz 1H NMR study using one-dimensional NOE. 1984

M H Sarma, and G Gupta, and R H Sarma
Institute of Biomolecular Stereodynamics, State University of New York, Albany 12222.

CD spectra of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) in low salt (10-100 mM NaCl) and high salt (4-6 M CsF) are different i.e. 275 nm band gets inverted in going from low to high salt (Vorhickova et. al., J. Mol. Biol. 166, 85, 1983). However, from CD spectra alone it is not possible to decipher any structural differences that might exist between the low and high salt forms of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT). Hence, we took recourse to high resolution NMR spectroscopy to understand the structural properties of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) in low and high salt. A detailed analysis of shielding constants and extensive use of NOE studies under minimum spin diffusion conditions using C(8)-deuterated poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) enabled us to come up with the following conclusions (i) base-pairing is Watson-Crick under low and high salt conditions. (ii) under both the conditions of salt the experimental data can be explained in terms of an equilibrium blend of right and left-handed B-DNA duplexes with the left-handed form 70% and the right-handed 30%. In a 400 base pairs long poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) (as used in this study), equilibrium between right and left-handed helices can also mean the existence of both helical domains in the same molecule with fast interchange between these domains or/and unhindered motion/propagation of these domains along the helix axis. (iii) However, there are other structural differences between the low and high salt forms of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT); under the low salt condition, right- and left-handed B-DNA duplexes have mononucleotide as a structural repeat while under the high salt conditions, right- and left-handed B-DNA duplexes have dinucleotide as a structural repeat. In the text we provide the listing of torsion angles for the low and high salt structural forms. (iv) Salt (CsF) induced structural transition in poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) occurs without any breakage of Watson-Crick pairing. (v) The high salt form of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) is not the left-handed Z-helix. Although the results above from NMR data are quite unambiguous, a question still remains i.e. what does the salt (CsF) induced change in the CD spectra of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) really indicate? Interestingly, we could show that the salt (CsF) induced change in poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) is quite similar to that caused by a basic polypeptide viz. poly-L(Lys2-Ala)n i.e. both the agents induced a psi-structure in DNA.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008958 Models, Molecular Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures. Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
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
D011067 Poly dA-dT Polydeoxyribonucleotides made up of deoxyadenine nucleotides and thymine nucleotides. Present in DNA preparations isolated from crab species. Synthetic preparations have been used extensively in the study of DNA. Poly(Deoxyadenylate-Thymidylate),Polydeoxyadenine Nucleotides-Polythymine Nucleotides,Poly dA dT,Poly(dA-dT),d(A(5)T(5))2,Nucleotides, Polydeoxyadenine Nucleotides-Polythymine,Nucleotides-Polythymine Nucleotides, Polydeoxyadenine,Polydeoxyadenine Nucleotides Polythymine Nucleotides,dA dT, Poly,dA-dT, Poly,dT, Poly dA
D011089 Polydeoxyribonucleotides A group of 13 or more deoxyribonucleotides in which the phosphate residues of each deoxyribonucleotide act as bridges in forming diester linkages between the deoxyribose moieties. Polydeoxyribonucleotide
D002586 Cesium A member of the alkali metals. It has an atomic symbol Cs, atomic number 55, and atomic weight 132.91. Cesium has many industrial applications, including the construction of atomic clocks based on its atomic vibrational frequency. Caesium,Caesium-133,Cesium-133,Caesium 133,Cesium 133
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
D005459 Fluorides Inorganic salts of hydrofluoric acid, HF, in which the fluorine atom is in the -1 oxidation state. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Sodium and stannous salts are commonly used in dentifrices. Fluoride
D012965 Sodium Chloride A ubiquitous sodium salt that is commonly used to season food. Sodium Chloride, (22)Na,Sodium Chloride, (24)NaCl
D015394 Molecular Structure The location of the atoms, groups or ions relative to one another in a molecule, as well as the number, type and location of covalent bonds. Structure, Molecular,Molecular Structures,Structures, Molecular

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