Z-DNA-induced super-transport of energy within genomes

Vladimir V. Kulish, Li Heng and Peter Dröge

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2007, vol. 384, issue 2, 733-738

Abstract: Spontaneous transitions of genomic DNA segments from right-handed B-DNA into the left-handed, high-energy Z conformation are unstable within topologically relaxed DNA molecules, such as mammalian chromosomes. Here we show, from direct application of the principles of statistical physics with a promoter region in the mouse genome as a representative example, that the life span for this alternate DNA conformation may be much smaller than the characteristic time of thermal fluctuations that cause the B-to-Z transition. Surprisingly, such a short existence of Z-DNA is important because it can be responsible for super-transport of energy within a genome. This type of energy transport can be utilized by a cell to communicate information about the state of particular chromatin domains within chromosomes or as a buffer against genome instability.

Keywords: Super-transport of energy; DNA conformation; Information transport; Genome; Z-DNA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:384:y:2007:i:2:p:733-738

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2007.06.023

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