The decisive role of the water structure in changes of conformation of nucleic acids.

J Barciszewski; J Jurczak; S Porowski; T Specht; V A Erdmann

doi:10.18388/abp.1999_4191

The decisive role of the water structure in changes of conformation of nucleic acids.

J Barciszewski Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań.;
J Jurczak
S Porowski
T Specht
V A Erdmann

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18388/abp.1999_4191

Abstract

This review summarizes data on the structure and properties of water under normal conditions, at high salt concentration and under high pressure. We correlate the observed conformational transitions in nucleic acids with changes in water structure and activity, and suggest a mechanism of conformational transitions of nucleic acid involving these changes. We conclude that the Z-DNA form is induced only at low water activity caused by high salt concentrations and/or high pressure.

Published

1999-03-31

Issue

Vol. 46 No. 1 (1999)

Section

Articles

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