NMR Solution Conformation of the Proposed Recombin Like Structure D(CCGCGG)2

Long repeated stretches of d(CCG) trinucleotide are the crucial mutation of gen that causes hereditary form of mental retardation (fragile X-syndrome). Moreover, the alternating (CG) dinucleotide is one of the candidates for Z-DNA conformation. Both sequences are part of the hexanucleotide d(CCGCGG)2- d(CCGCGG)2 forms different crystals depending on the crystallisation conditions. In one of these forms, the central alternating tetramer has a Z-DNA conformation, while the initial cytosine swings out and forms a Watson-Crick base-pair with the terminal guanine of a symmetry-related molecule. In this communication a detailed comparison between solid and solution spatial conformation by NMR of …