da Rosa, G, Grille, L, Calzada, V et al. (23 more authors) (2021) Sequence-dependent structural properties of B-DNA: what have we learned in 40 years? Biophysical Reviews, 13 (6). pp. 995-1005. ISSN 1867-2450
Abstract
The structure of B-DNA, the physiological form of the DNA molecule, has been a central topic in biology, chemistry and physics. Far from uniform and rigid, the double helix was revealed as a flexible and structurally polymorphic molecule. Conformational changes that lead to local and global changes in the helix geometry are mediated by a complex choreography of base and backbone rearrangements affecting the ability of the B-DNA to recognize ligands and consequently on its functionality. In this sense, the knowledge obtained from the sequence-dependent structural properties of B-DNA has always been thought crucial to rationalize how ligands and, most notably, proteins recognize B-DNA and modulate its activity, i.e. the structural basis of gene regulation. Honouring the anniversary of the first high-resolution X-ray structure of a B-DNA molecule, in this contribution, we present the most important discoveries of the last 40 years on the sequence-dependent structural and dynamical properties of B-DNA, from the early beginnings to the current frontiers in the field.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Keywords: | Structural polymorphisms; Helical parameters; Drew-Dickerson dodecamer; Ascona B-DNA Consortium; Nearest neighbours |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) > Theoretical Physics (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 19 Jan 2022 12:14 |
Last Modified: | 19 Jan 2022 12:14 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s12551-021-00893-8 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:182612 |