DNA structure and function

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is well known as the molecule that bears all of the genetic information necessary to construct and operate a living organism. The cell nuclei of all eucaryotic organisms contain DNA and each cell contains all the genetic code needed to assemble the entire organism - a remarkable duplication of information. The amount of information involved requires the individual DNA 

First base Second base Third base 

Each sequence of three bases in DNA may be translated into one of the 20 protein amino acids in an amino acid chain (Box 2.2). Each chain begins with the start code ATG corresponding to the amino acid methionine (Met). The information stored in DNA is used to encode the synthesis of all of the 

The protein amino acids are the basic building blocks for all peptide chains (amino acid polymers and oligomers) and protein chains (a protein is a large polypeptide), which make up the structure of an enormous number of biological molecules including enzymes. The chains are held together by peptide links (amide 

Within the DNA double helix, the hydrogen-bonded pairs are of a very specific type termed Watson-Crick base pairs (after James Watson and Francis Crick who first described the structure of 

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A good overview of DNA structure and function. E. Pennisi, Science 2003, 300, 282. Reviews of nucleic acid chemistry ... 

Arriza, J. L., Weinberger, C., Cerelli, G. et al. Cloning of the human mineralocorticoid receptor complementary DNA Structural and functional kinship with the glucocorticoid receptor. Science 237 268-275,1987. 

This is an unusual drug in that it contains a metal atom, platinum (Pt) in this case. Cisplatin reacts with DNA to cross-link bases, disrupting normal DNA structure and function. This agent has found broad use in cancer chemotherapy, including efficacy in tumors of the testis, ovary, bladder, head and neck, thyroid, cervix, and endometrium. It is also active against neuroblastoma and osteogenic sarcoma. 

J. L. Arriza, C. Weinberger, G. Cerelli, T. M. Glaser, B. L. Handelin, D. E. Housman, R. E. Evans (1987). Cloning of human mineralocorticoid receptor c-DNA structural and functional kinship with the glucocorticoid receptor. Science 227 268-275. 

Sinden, RR (1994) DNA Structure and Function, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego. 

D. Voet and J. Voet, Biochemistry, 2nd ed. (1995) John Wiley Sons (New York), pp. 830-914. DNA structure and function. 

A Lehmnger, D Nelson, and M Cox, Principles of Biochemistry, 3rd ed (1999), Worth Publishers (New York), pp 907-930 DNA structure and function J Le Pecq and C Paoletti,/ Mol. Biol. 27, 87 (1967) A Fluorescent Complex Be tween Ethidium Bromide and Nucleic Acids ... 

C Mathews, K van Holde, and K Ahern, Biochemistry, 3rd ed (2000), Benjamin/ Cummings (San Francisco), pp 84-125 DNA structure and function K Strothkamp and R Strothkamp,/ Chem. Educ. 71,77-79 (1994) Fluorescence Measurements of Ethidium Binding to DNA ... 

A. Herbert and A. Rich. 1999. Left-handed Z-DNA Structure and Function Genetica 106 37-47. (PubMed)... 

Ionizing radiation is genotoxic, causing chromosomal damage, DNA fragmentation, and large-scale changes in the DNA structure and function. 

DNA structure and function are so important for living organisms that they must possess efficient mechanisms for the rapid and accurate synthesis of DNA. DNA synthesis, referred to as replication, occurs by a semiconservative mechanism, that is, each of the two parental strands serves as a template to synthesize a new strand. 

Due to the anticancer activity of some amine-coordinated Pt compounds, there has been extensive interest in the complexes of Pt with oligonucleotides and nucleotides. These Pt complexes normally have square planar geometry and, in the case of bases and dinucleotides, can template more extensive supramolecular structures. Certain cw-Pt complexes are highly effective anticancer agents, the most famous being cisplatin or d5-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) and a related compound, carboplatin, cM-diammine(cyclobutane-l,l-dicarboxylato)platinum(II). There have been extensive studies of the coordination properties of Pt compounds with nucleic acid bases to further understand the effect of these drugs on DNA structure and function. ... 

Abstract The physical aspects of DNA structure and function are overviewed. Major DNA structures are described, which include the canonical Watson-Crick double helix (B form), B , A, Z duplex forms, parallel-stranded DNA, triplexes and quadruplexes. Theoretical models, which are used to treat DNA, are considered with special emphasis on the elastic-rod model. DNA topology, supercoiling and their biological significance are extensively discussed. Recent developments in the understanding of molecular interactions responsible for the stability of the DNA double helix are presented. 

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