Solution conformation of an abasic DNA undecamer duplex d(CGCACXCACGC) x d(GCGTGTGTGCG): the unpaired thymine stacks inside the helix.

The three-dimensional structural analysis of DNA undecamer 5'd(C1G2C3A4C5X6C7A8C9G10C11)3', 3'd(G22C21G20T19G18T17G16T15G14C13G12)5' duplex in which the X residue is a modified abasic site [3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran] has been performed using NOESY, DQFCOSY, TOCSY, and 31P-1H HSQC-TOCSY spectra in relation with molecular dynamics simulations. A total of 249 distances and 224 dihedral angles were used for construction. The optimal distances were calculated using the complete relaxation matrix method from hybrid matrices which were built with the experimental NOE intensities and additional data derived from either standard A- or B-DNA. Six independent refined structures starting from canonical A- and B-DNA were determined on the basis of the NMR data, and all converged to a single family with average rms deviations below 0.6 A and final NOE Rx factors of 0.055 +/- 0.03. A satisfactory agreement was obtained between measured NOE intensities and those resulting from full relaxation matrix calculations. A single intrahelical form of right-handed DNA duplex is observed; the aromatic base of residue T17 opposite the abasic site is stacked inside the helix. No clear correlation was detected between the C5 and C7 residues, excluding their proximity and the looping out of the abasic site. The abasic site induces a kink of about 30 degrees in the DNA duplex. This kink allows the formation of a bifurcated hydrogen bond between the amino protons of C5 and the O4 oxygen of T17. A detailed analysis of the final structures and their comparison with previous studies of abasic site lesions are described.