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DNA conformation is determined by economics in the hydration of phosphate groups

Nature volume 324, pages 385–388 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

Mixed sequence DNA can exist in two right-handed and one left-handed double helical conformations—A, B and Z1–3. Under conditions of high water activity the B conformation prevails. If the water activity is reduced on addition of salt or organic solvents, transformation occurs to A-DNA or, in DNAs with alternating purine-pyrimidine sequences, to the left-handed Z-DNA. In crystal structure analyses of oligonucleotides, the free oxygen atoms of adjacent phosphate groups along the polynucleotide chain in B-DNA are found at least 6.6 Å apart and individually hydrated4 whereas they are as close as 5.3 Å in A-DNA and 4.4 Å in Z-DNA, and bridged by water molecules5–7. We suggest that this more economical hydration in A- and Z-DNA compared with B-DNA is the underlying cause of B → A and B → Z transitions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Kristallographie Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, D-1000, Berlin, 33, FRG

    Wolfram Saenger

  2. University Chemical Laboratory, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK

    William N. Hunter & Olga Kennard

Authors
  1. Wolfram Saenger
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  2. William N. Hunter
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  3. Olga Kennard
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Saenger, W., Hunter, W. & Kennard, O. DNA conformation is determined by economics in the hydration of phosphate groups. Nature 324, 385–388 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/324385a0

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