The halting arrival of left-handed Z-DNA

Forty-nine years ago Watson and Crick proposed a double-stranded (ds-) model for DNA. This double helix has become an icon of molecular biology. Twenty-six years later, Rich accidently discovered Z-DNA, an exotic left-handed nucleic acid. For many years thereafter, this left-handed DNA was thought t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical hypotheses 2003-03, Vol.60 (3), p.418-423
Main Authors: Gagna, C.E, Lambert, W.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
DNA - chemistry
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Models, Molecular
Models, Theoretical
Nucleic Acid Conformation
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Summary:Forty-nine years ago Watson and Crick proposed a double-stranded (ds-) model for DNA. This double helix has become an icon of molecular biology. Twenty-six years later, Rich accidently discovered Z-DNA, an exotic left-handed nucleic acid. For many years thereafter, this left-handed DNA was thought to be an artifact. DNA is no longer looked upon as a static molecule but rather an extremely dynamic structure in which different conformations are in equilibrium with each other. Many researchers have spent the last two decades characterizing this novel left-handed DNA structure. Now many investigators are beginning to accept the possibility that this novel ds-DNA conformation may play a significant in vivo role within eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. However, more research needs to be performed before it is absolutely accepted by all in the scientific community.
ISSN:0306-9877
1532-2777
DOI:10.1016/S0306-9877(02)00418-8