The unusual structural properties and potential biological relevance of switchback DNA

Bharath Raj Madhanagopal, Hannah Talbot, Arlin Rodriguez, Jiss Maria Louis, Hana Zeghal, Sweta Vangaveti, Kaalak Reddy and Arun Richard Chandrasekaran ()
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Bharath Raj Madhanagopal: University at Albany, State University of New York
Hannah Talbot: University at Albany, State University of New York
Arlin Rodriguez: University at Albany, State University of New York
Jiss Maria Louis: University at Albany, State University of New York
Hana Zeghal: University at Albany, State University of New York
Sweta Vangaveti: University at Albany, State University of New York
Kaalak Reddy: University at Albany, State University of New York
Arun Richard Chandrasekaran: University at Albany, State University of New York

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Synthetic DNA motifs form the basis of nucleic acid nanotechnology. The biochemical and biophysical properties of these motifs determine their applications. Here, we present a detailed characterization of switchback DNA, a globally left-handed structure composed of two parallel DNA strands. Compared to a conventional duplex, switchback DNA shows lower thermodynamic stability and requires higher magnesium concentration for assembly but exhibits enhanced biostability against some nucleases. Strand competition and strand displacement experiments show that component sequences have an absolute preference for duplex complements instead of their switchback partners. Further, we hypothesize a potential role for switchback DNA as an alternate structure in sequences containing short tandem repeats. Together with small molecule binding experiments and cell studies, our results open new avenues for switchback DNA in biology and nanotechnology.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50348-3

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