Biomaterial Database

DNA base-stacking interactions: a comparison of theoretical calculations with oligonucleotide X-ray crystal structures. 1997

C A Hunter, and X J Lu

Krebs Institute for Biomolecular Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, UK.

Experimental data on the conformational properties of dinucleotides taken from high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of oligonucleotides have been compared with theoretical energy calculations on the base-stacking interactions. The conformational properties of the dinucleotides determined by calculation agree well with the experimental data, which shows that the method used for computing the stacking interactions is reliable. In addition, the calculations provide insight into the origins of the major trends that are observed in the experimental data. The values of the step parameters roll, tilt and rise, are determined entirely by the van der Waals interactions, and this reflects the strong requirement that the bases remain stacked in close contact. Slide, shift and twist do not affect the vertical separation of the bases and are therefore less tightly constrained. Electrostatic interactions play an important role in determining the values of shift and slide, but the base-stacking interaction energy is essentially independent of the value of twist. Thus the experimental value of twist is most likely fixed by the constraints of the backbone, which are missing in these calculations.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008956	Models, Chemical	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of chemical processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Chemical Models,Chemical Model,Model, Chemical
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
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
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
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
D013816	Thermodynamics	A rigorously mathematical analysis of energy relationships (heat, work, temperature, and equilibrium). It describes systems whose states are determined by thermal parameters, such as temperature, in addition to mechanical and electromagnetic parameters. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12th ed)	Thermodynamic
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
D055672	Static Electricity	The accumulation of an electric charge on a object	Electrostatic,Electrostatics,Static Charge,Charge, Static,Charges, Static,Electricity, Static,Static Charges
D018360	Crystallography, X-Ray	The study of crystal structure using X-RAY DIFFRACTION techniques. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	X-Ray Crystallography,Crystallography, X Ray,Crystallography, Xray,X Ray Crystallography,Xray Crystallography,Crystallographies, X Ray,X Ray Crystallographies