Year: 2022

STRUCTURAL CONSEQUENCES. “One of the features apparent in the structural work was the fact that OG sequences play an important role in the Z conformation.” https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6.pdf View in LinkedIn

STABILIZATION OF CONFORMER. “The stabilization of Z-DNA by methylation is due to two factors.” https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6.pdf View in LinkedIn

METHYLATION VARIANTS. “The structural studies thus account for the considerable change in the equilibrium between B-DNA and Z-DNA. It also provides a structural rationale for why methylation of DNA might favor the formation of small segments of Z-DNA.” https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6.pdf View in LinkedIn

HISTORICAL MARKER IN THE SAND. “After the discovery of Z-DNA, oplnlons were mixed as to its relevance to biology. It was clear that Z-DNA could form only under specialized conditions that would stabilize it.” https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6.pdf View in LinkedIn

THE FACTORS. “Because of increased phosphate-phosphate repulsion forces the left-handed helical structure is inherently less stable than B-DNA in a physiological salt solution. In view of the equilibrium between the two forms, it is clear that a number of components in the environment could stabilize Z-DNA.” https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6.pdf View in LinkedIn

SURPRISE FINDING. “It has been shown that Z-DNA can exist in the same molecule with B-DNA. This was shown by cloning oligo(dG-dC) into plasmids and then isolating segments containing both the plasmid DNA and the oligo(dG-dC).” https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6.pdf View in LinkedIn

BIOLOGICAL RELEVANCE. “Antibodies have been used to demonstrate the existence of Z-DNA in vivo.” https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6.pdf View in LinkedIn

THE BACKGROUND. “Antibodies against nuclear components have been found in certain pathological states. In the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus a variety of antibodies have been identified against various nucleic acid components.” https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6.pdf View in LinkedIn

THE FOREGROUND. “We have detected anti Z-DNA antibodies in MRL mice. A strain of mice which is known to develop a lupus-like disease.” https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-009-7052-6.pdf View in LinkedIn