Specific-sequence DNA

At Oak Ridge, the focus was to develop specific-sequence DNA to improve the diffraction quality of NCP crystals. The positioning of the DNA on the histone core has to be precise so that all the NCPs are identical. A project was undertaken to understand the DNA sequence effects on nucleosome phasing [25]. Second, a DNA palindrome was developed to extend the two-fold symmetry of the histone core to the DNA. The objective was to eliminate the two-fold disorder caused by the indeterminacy of packing of an asymmetric particle into the crystal lattice. A palindrome based on one-half of the primary candidate sequence was constructed and methods were developed to produce the palindrome fragment in large quantities for reconstitution of NCPs. 

To detect specific sequences, DNA is usually transferred to a solid support, such as a sheet of nitrocellulose paper. For example, if bacteria are growing on an agar plate, cells from each colony will adhere to a nitrocellulose sheet pressed against the... 

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