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. 1982 Dec 11;10(23):7879–7892. doi: 10.1093/nar/10.23.7879

Molecular structure of (m5 dC-dG)3: the role of the methyl group on 5-methyl cytosine in stabilizing Z-DNA.

S Fujii, A H Wang, G van der Marel, J H van Boom, A Rich
PMCID: PMC327053  PMID: 7155900

Abstract

The hexamer (m5 dC-dG)3 has been synthesized and its three-dimensional structure determined by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure has been refined to a final R value of 15.6% at 1.3 A resolution. The molecule forms a left-handed Z-DNA helix which is similar to the unmethylated Z-DNA structure. The presence of the methyl group has resulted in slight changes in the twist angle between successive base pairs and modification of some of the interatomic contacts. Methylation of cytosine in the C5 position is associated with a relative destabilization of the B-DNA structure and a stabilization through hydrophobic bonding of the Z-DNA structure.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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