From quadruplex to helix and back: meta-stable states can move through a cycle of conformational changes.
Arch Biochem Biophys
; 474(1): 8-14, 2008 Jun 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18191034
ABSTRACT
Strand displacement cycles can be driven by sequential addition of short oligonucleotide sequences. Successive inter- and intra-molecular interactions based on the rules of Watson-Crick base pairing allow us to design self-assembling molecular systems with predictable folding pathways and conformational changes. Here we present a particular strand displacement cycle that starts from a tethered quadruplex-forming sequence from the human telomere repeat (T(2)AG(3))(4) that forms a G-quartet within a stem-loop structure. Adding an almost matching single strand converts the four-stranded section into a defective double helix. This is the first step of the cycle. The subsequent addition of a "fuel strand" removes the single strand from the loop sequence in favor of a perfect double helix. This displacement frees the hairpin-loop to go back to its initial state. Analysis of this cycle, that resembles an enzyme-substrate pathway as far as the initial state will be regained at the end of the cycle, advances our understanding of the interchanges between meta-stable states that underlie some fundamental steps in molecular biology, and allow for the construction of nano-molecular machines.
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Conformación de Ácido Nucleico
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Arch Biochem Biophys
Año:
2008
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Sudáfrica