Interplay between DNA sequence and negative superhelicity drives R-loop structures
2019; National Academy of Sciences; Volume: 116; Issue: 13 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1073/pnas.1819476116
ISSN1091-6490
AutoresRobert Stolz, Shaheen Sulthana, Stella R. Hartono, Maika Malig, Craig J. Benham, Frédéric Chédin,
Tópico(s)RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
ResumoSignificance Three-stranded R-loop structures form during transcription when the nascent RNA transcript rehybridizes to the template DNA strand. This creates an RNA:DNA hybrid and forces the nontemplate DNA strand into a single-stranded, looped-out state. R-loops form universally over conserved hotspot regions. To date, the physicochemical bases underlying R-loop formation remain unclear. Using a “first-principle” mathematical approach backed by experimental validation, we elucidated the relative contributions of DNA sequence and DNA topology to R-loop formation. Our work provides a quantitative assessment of the energies underlying R-loop formation and of their interplay. It further reveals these structures as important regulators of the DNA topological state.
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