Branchpoint expansion in a fully complementary three-way DNA junction

Tara Sabir; Anita Toulmin; Long Ma; Anita C. Jones; Peter McGlynn; Gunnar F. Schröder; Steven W. Magennis

doi:10.1021/ja211802z

Branchpoint expansion in a fully complementary three-way DNA junction

Tara Sabir, Anita Toulmin, Long Ma, Anita C. Jones, Peter McGlynn, Gunnar F. Schröder, Steven W. Magennis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Branched nucleic acid molecules serve as key intermediates in DNA replication, recombination, and repair; architectural elements in RNA; and building blocks and functional components for nanoscience applications. Using a combination of high-resolution single-molecule FRET, time-resolved spectroscopy, and molecular modeling, we have probed the local and global structure of a DNA three-way junction (3WJ) in solution. We found that it adopts a Y-shaped, pyramidal structure, in which the bases adjacent to the branchpoint are unpaired, despite the full Watson-Crick complementarity of the molecule. The unpairing allows a nanoscale cavity to form at the junction center. Our structure accounts for earlier observations made of the structure, flexibility, and reactivity of 3WJs. We anticipate that these results will guide the development of new DNA-based supramolecular receptors and nanosystems. © 2012 American Chemical Society.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	6280-6285
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of the American Chemical Society
Volume	134
Issue number	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/ja211802z
Publication status	Published - 11 Apr 2012

Access to Document

10.1021/ja211802z

Cite this

@article{c6f059052467489aa14a1fb81c5b5149,

title = "Branchpoint expansion in a fully complementary three-way DNA junction",

abstract = "Branched nucleic acid molecules serve as key intermediates in DNA replication, recombination, and repair; architectural elements in RNA; and building blocks and functional components for nanoscience applications. Using a combination of high-resolution single-molecule FRET, time-resolved spectroscopy, and molecular modeling, we have probed the local and global structure of a DNA three-way junction (3WJ) in solution. We found that it adopts a Y-shaped, pyramidal structure, in which the bases adjacent to the branchpoint are unpaired, despite the full Watson-Crick complementarity of the molecule. The unpairing allows a nanoscale cavity to form at the junction center. Our structure accounts for earlier observations made of the structure, flexibility, and reactivity of 3WJs. We anticipate that these results will guide the development of new DNA-based supramolecular receptors and nanosystems. {\textcopyright} 2012 American Chemical Society.",

author = "Tara Sabir and Anita Toulmin and Long Ma and Jones, {Anita C.} and Peter McGlynn and Schr{\"o}der, {Gunnar F.} and Magennis, {Steven W.}",

year = "2012",

month = apr,

day = "11",

doi = "10.1021/ja211802z",

language = "English",

volume = "134",

pages = "6280--6285",

journal = "Journal of the American Chemical Society",

issn = "0002-7863",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "14",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Branchpoint expansion in a fully complementary three-way DNA junction

AU - Sabir, Tara

AU - Toulmin, Anita

AU - Ma, Long

AU - Jones, Anita C.

AU - McGlynn, Peter

AU - Schröder, Gunnar F.

AU - Magennis, Steven W.

PY - 2012/4/11

Y1 - 2012/4/11

N2 - Branched nucleic acid molecules serve as key intermediates in DNA replication, recombination, and repair; architectural elements in RNA; and building blocks and functional components for nanoscience applications. Using a combination of high-resolution single-molecule FRET, time-resolved spectroscopy, and molecular modeling, we have probed the local and global structure of a DNA three-way junction (3WJ) in solution. We found that it adopts a Y-shaped, pyramidal structure, in which the bases adjacent to the branchpoint are unpaired, despite the full Watson-Crick complementarity of the molecule. The unpairing allows a nanoscale cavity to form at the junction center. Our structure accounts for earlier observations made of the structure, flexibility, and reactivity of 3WJs. We anticipate that these results will guide the development of new DNA-based supramolecular receptors and nanosystems. © 2012 American Chemical Society.

AB - Branched nucleic acid molecules serve as key intermediates in DNA replication, recombination, and repair; architectural elements in RNA; and building blocks and functional components for nanoscience applications. Using a combination of high-resolution single-molecule FRET, time-resolved spectroscopy, and molecular modeling, we have probed the local and global structure of a DNA three-way junction (3WJ) in solution. We found that it adopts a Y-shaped, pyramidal structure, in which the bases adjacent to the branchpoint are unpaired, despite the full Watson-Crick complementarity of the molecule. The unpairing allows a nanoscale cavity to form at the junction center. Our structure accounts for earlier observations made of the structure, flexibility, and reactivity of 3WJs. We anticipate that these results will guide the development of new DNA-based supramolecular receptors and nanosystems. © 2012 American Chemical Society.

U2 - 10.1021/ja211802z

DO - 10.1021/ja211802z

M3 - Article

SN - 0002-7863

VL - 134

SP - 6280

EP - 6285

JO - Journal of the American Chemical Society

JF - Journal of the American Chemical Society

IS - 14

ER -

Branchpoint expansion in a fully complementary three-way DNA junction

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this