Figure 2. Potential biological relevance of Z-DNA in humans and plants.

They include gene transcription, genome stability, chromatin remodeling in humans, human diseases; and stress responses, potentials in the regulation of translation and epievolution, acting as cis-regulatory elements in plants (Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa). Black arrow on DNA indicates the transcription start site (TSS) for each gene. On and off on the TSS indicates activation and inhibition of the corresponding gene transcription.