DNA Fragments with Specific Nucleotide Sequences in Their Single-stranded Termini Exhibit Unusual Electrophoretic Mobilities

Overview

Journal Nucleic Acids Res

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Biochemistry

Date 1998 Jun 6

PMID 9518482

Citations 1

Authors

I Muiznieks

W DOERFLER

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

DNA restriction fragments, 120-650 base pairs (bp) in length, with 5'-GCGC-3', 5'-GGCC-3' or 3'-GCGC-5' single-stranded overhanging termini, give rise to diffuse bands of unusual electrophoretic mobility in non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels. This shift in electrophoretic mobility can be observed at 4-12 degreesC, not at higher temperatures, but is stabilized by 5-10 mM Mg2+, even at 37 degreesC. The nucleotide sequence in the abutting double-stranded part of the fragment does not affect this phenomenon, which is not caused by dimerization. The altered mobility may be due to the unusual terminal DNA structure, which is dependent on co-operative interactions among more than two neighboring G and C residues. The structure is stabilized by cytidine methylation. The biological role of such fragment structures in DNA repair and recombination is presently unknown.

Citing Articles

Discrete mobility of single-stranded DNA in non-denaturing gel electrophoresis.

Liu Q, Scaringe W, Sommer S Nucleic Acids Res. 2000; 28(4):940-3.

PMID: 10648786 PMC: 102567. DOI: 10.1093/nar/28.4.940.

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