Biopolym. Cell. 1986; 2(6):283-292.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7124/bc.0001C5
Reviews
DNA: supercoiling and alternative structures
1Lazurkin Yu. S.
  1. Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR
    Moscow, USSR

Abstract

The effect of superhelicity of DNA on its structure and properties is reviewed. The superhelicity is shown to induce in the DNA double helix three alternative structures: cruciform, the Z form and the H form (a novel structure formed in homopurine-homopyrimidine tracts). Convincing evidence of these structures in vitro is obtained in recent years by the method of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Their occurrence in vivo is closely related to specific proteins which stabilize them. These proteins are believed to play an important role in regulation of the gene activity.
Full text: (PDF, in Russian)

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