Theoretical study of the Hoogsteen-Watson-Crick junctions in DNA.

TitleTheoretical study of the Hoogsteen-Watson-Crick junctions in DNA.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsCubero, Elena, F Luque Javier, and Orozco Modesto
JournalBiophys J
Volume90
Pagination1000-8
Date Published2006 Feb 1
ISSN0006-3495
KeywordsBase Composition, Base Sequence, DNA, Entropy, Models, Molecular, Molecular Conformation, Nucleic Acid Conformation, Nucleic Acid Denaturation, Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Oligonucleotides, Protein Structure, Recombinant Fusion Proteins, Secondary, Single-Stranded, Statistical, Theoretical, Thermodynamics
Abstract

A series of d (AT)(n) oligonucleotides containing mixtures of normal B-type Watson-Crick and antiparallel Hoogsteen helices have been studied using molecular dynamics simulation techniques to analyze the structural and thermodynamic impact of the junction between Watson-Crick and antiparallel Hoogsteen structures. Analysis of molecular dynamics simulations strongly suggests that for all oligonucleotides studied the antiparallel Hoogsteen appears as a reasonable conformation, only slightly less stable than the canonical B-type Watson-Crick one. The junctions between the Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen structures introduces a priori a sharp discontinuity in the helix, because the properties of each type of conformation are very well preserved in the corresponding fragments. However, and quite counterintuitively, junctions do not largely distort the duplex in structural, dynamics or energetic terms. Our results strongly support the possibility that small fragments of antiparallel Hoogsteen duplex might be embedded into large fragments of B-type Watson-Crick helices, making possible protein-DNA interactions that are specific of the antiparallel Hoogsteen conformation.

DOI10.1529/biophysj.105.059535