Zipper-like structures, alternative conformations of DNA in guanine rich regions and importance of cations for their stability

• Main Authors: Miguel Angel Méndez, Andrea C. Montero, Ana Samaniego, Andrea Sosa, Dennisse Vallejo, Silvia Velasteguí, Francisco Yanqui-Rivera
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad San Francisco de Quito 2012-06-01
• Series: ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías
• Subjects: secuencias de ADN ricas en guanina; estructuras tipo cierre; mecánica molecular; nanotecnología
• Online Access: http://revistas.usfq.edu.ec/index.php/avances/article/view/77

<p>The manufacture of nanostructures from bio-molecules such as DNA strands is an ongoing exploration frontier by a multitude of potential applications in biological complex systems. The analyzed sequences are found in biological systems as origins of replication of viruses and bacteria. In this paper we report the detailed characterization at the atomic level of Guanine-rich DNA that forms zipper-like structures by molecular mechanics modeling. Models were constructed and these structures minimized, allowing analysis via molecular mechanics to understand the factors that determines the most stable structure. It was found that the presence of positively charged ions near the Gs-rich region of the studied sequences, is critical to the stability of these DNA structures. In summary, the results allow a better understanding of this system at the molecular level allowing the development of more efficient procedures for the control of the manufacture of zipper-like DNA nanostructures and finding their applications in biological systems.</p>