Left-handed helical conformation of poly[d(A-m5C).d(G-T)].

Poly[d(G-C)] serves as the prototype for the right-to-left (B to Z) transition in he helical sense of DNA, both in solution and inthe crystal form. However, the question remains as to which other synthetic and natural DNAs have the potential to adopt left-handed conformations. One logical candidate is the canonical alternating purine-pyrimidine sequence d(A-C)n.d(G-T)n which seems to be widely disseminated in eukaryotic genomes. Our approach to this question is based on the enzymatic synthesis of poly[d(A-C).d(G-U)] derivatives with systematic methyl and halogen substitutions in the C-5 position of the pyrimidines C and U. Such modifications in poly[d(G-C)] have previously been shown to potentiate the B to Z transition. Here we report a highly cooperative, reversible, salt- and temperature-dependent transition for poly[d(A-m5C).d(G-T)], a repeat of the d(A-m5C) sequence which may occur in natural DNA. Spectroscopic studies and the demonstrated ability to bind anti-Z-DNA antibodies suggest that the new helical conformation is left-handed and shares structural features with known Z-DNA. However, a novel property, not exhibited by poly[d(G-C)], is the profound temperature dependence of the conformational equilibrium.