Sequence-induced curvature of Tenebrio molitor satellite DNA |
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Authors: | M Plohl B Borstnik D Ugarkovi? V Gamulin |
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Affiliation: | Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruder Boskovi? Institute, Zagreb, Yugoslavia. |
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Abstract: | Single satellite DNA constitutes about 50% of the Tenebrio molitor genome. Electrophoresis of 142 base pair long satellite monomers on nondenaturating polyacrylamide gel shows retarded mobility, a characteristic of fragments with sequence-induced DNA curvature. Migrational analysis of circularly permuted satellite monomers revealed the existence of 2 bend centers in the monomer sequence. We calculated the trajectory of DNA helix axis according to the algorithm of De Santis et al. This model predicts that T molitor naked satellite DNA forms a solenoid structure with left-handed superhelix. One turn of the superhelix has approximately 310 base pairs and a 33 nm pitch. Point mutations found in the satellite DNA (1.8%) influence bending characteristics, but do not distort the general geometry of satellite superhelix. |
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