Non-canonical DNA structures in the human ribosomal DNA

Non-canonical structures (NCS) refer to the various forms of DNA that differ from the B-conformation described by Watson and Crick. It has been found that these structures are usual components of the genome, actively participating in its essential functions. The present review is focused on the nine...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Histochemistry and cell biology 2023-12, Vol.160 (6), p.499-515
Main Authors: Smirnov, Evgeny, Molínová, Pavla, Chmúrčiaková, Nikola, Vacík, Tomáš, Cmarko, Dušan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Cell Biology
Chromatin
Conformation
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Developmental Biology
DNA
DNA, Ribosomal - genetics
G-Quadruplexes
Genomes
Genomics
Humans
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Nucleotide sequence
Polymorphism
R-loops
Review
Supercoiling
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Summary:Non-canonical structures (NCS) refer to the various forms of DNA that differ from the B-conformation described by Watson and Crick. It has been found that these structures are usual components of the genome, actively participating in its essential functions. The present review is focused on the nine kinds of NCS appearing or likely to appear in human ribosomal DNA (rDNA): supercoiling structures, R-loops, G-quadruplexes, i-motifs, DNA triplexes, cruciform structures, DNA bubbles, and A and Z DNA conformations. We discuss the conditions of their generation, including their sequence specificity, distribution within the locus, dynamics, and beneficial and detrimental role in the cell.
ISSN:0948-6143
1432-119X
DOI:10.1007/s00418-023-02233-1