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. 1990 Feb 25;18(4):817–820. doi: 10.1093/nar/18.4.817

Guanine tracts enhance sequence directed DNA bends.

D L Milton 1, M L Casper 1, N M Wills 1, R F Gesteland 1
PMCID: PMC330332  PMID: 2315040

Abstract

Synthetic DNA fragments were constructed to determine the effect of G tracts, in conjunction with periodically spaced A tracts, on DNA bends. Relative length measurements showed that the G tracts spaced at the half helical turn enhanced the DNA bend. When the G tract was interrupted with a thymine or shortened to one or two guanines, the relative lengths decreased. If the G tract was replaced with either an A tract or a T tract, the bend was cancelled. Replacement with a C tract decreased the relative length to that of a thymine interruption suggesting that bend enhancement due to G tracts requires A tracts on the same strand.

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Selected References

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