Download MendeleyAdaptation of the base-paired double-helix molecular architecture to extreme pressure.
Girard, E., Prange, T., Dhaussy, A.C., Migianu-Griffoni, E., Lecouvey, M., Chervin, J.C., Mezouar, M., Kahn, R., Fourme, R.(2007) Nucleic Acids Res 35: 4800-4808
- PubMed: 17617642
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkm511
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
2PKV, 2PL4, 2PL8, 2PLB - PubMed Abstract:
The behaviour of the d(GGTATACC) oligonucleotide has been investigated by X-ray crystallography at 295 K in the range from ambient pressure to 2 GPa (approximately 20,000 atm). Four 3D-structures of the A-DNA form (at ambient pressure, 0.55, 1.09 and 1.39 GPa) were refined at 1.60 or 1.65 A resolution. In addition to the diffraction pattern of the A-form, the broad meridional streaks previously explained by occluded B-DNA octamers within the channels of the crystalline A-form matrix were observed up to at least 2 GPa. This work highlights an important property of nucleic acids, their capability to withstand very high pressures, while keeping in such conditions a nearly invariant geometry of base pairs that store and carry genetic information. The double-helix base-paired architecture behaves as a molecular spring, which makes it especially adapted to very harsh conditions. These features may have contributed to the emergence of a RNA World at prebiotic stage.
Organizational Affiliation:
Synchrotron-SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France. eric.girard@synchrotron-soleil.fr
