Abstract
Structural comparisons have led to the suggestion that the conformational rearrangement that would be required to change A-DNA into the TA-DNA form of DNA observed in the complex with the TATA box binding protein (TBP) could be completed by modifying only the value of the glycosyl bond χ by ~45°. The lack of a high number of crystal structures of this type makes it difficult to conclude whether a smooth transition from A-DNA to TA-DNA can occur without disrupting at any point either the Watson-Crick base pairing or the A-DNA conformation of the backbone. To explore the possibility of such a smooth transition, constrained molecular dynamics simulations were carried out for the double-stranded dodecamer d(GGTATATAAAAC), in which a transition from A-DNA to TA-DNA was induced by modifying only the X angle values. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a continuous path in the A-DNA to TA- DNA transition. Varying extents of DNA curvature are also attainable, by maintaining the A-DNA backbone structure and Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding while changing the χ angle value smoothly from that in A-DNA to one corresponding to B-DNA.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2191-2198 |
Journal | Biophysical Journal |
Volume | 74 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1998 |