Intracellular transcription of G-rich DNAs induces formation of G-loops, novel structures containing G4 DNA

We show that intracellular transcription of G-rich regions produces novel DNA structures, visible by electron microscopy as large (150-500 bp) loops. These G-loops are formed cotranscriptionally, and they contain G4 DNA on one strand and a stable RNA/DNA hybrid on the other. G-loop formation require...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genes & development 2004-07, Vol.18 (13), p.1618-1629
Main Authors: Duquette, Michelle L, Handa, Priya, Vincent, Jack A, Taylor, Andrew F, Maizels, Nancy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Base Pairing
Base Sequence
DNA - chemistry
DNA - genetics
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli - genetics
Microscopy, Electron
Molecular Sequence Data
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Plasmids - genetics
Research Papers
RNA - chemistry
RNA - genetics
Transcription, Genetic
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Summary:We show that intracellular transcription of G-rich regions produces novel DNA structures, visible by electron microscopy as large (150-500 bp) loops. These G-loops are formed cotranscriptionally, and they contain G4 DNA on one strand and a stable RNA/DNA hybrid on the other. G-loop formation requires a G-rich nontemplate strand and reflects the unusual stability of the rG/dC base pair. G-loops and G4 DNA form efficiently within plasmid genomes transcribed in vitro or in Escherichia coli. These results establish that G4 DNA can form in vivo, a finding with implications for stability and maintenance of all G-rich genomic regions.
ISSN:0890-9369
1549-5477
DOI:10.1101/gad.1200804