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DNA Structure and the Effect of Methylation

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Molecular Biology of DNA Methylation

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Molecular Biology ((SSMOL))

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Abstract

The traditional B form of DNA is a right-handed antiparallel double helix. It is in this form that DNA exists in solution at physiological salt conditions. It should be borne in mind however that the structure of DNA even in the B form is far from regular, and the helical twist angle can vary between 40.0° and 27.7°, giving DNA molecules with an average of 10.4 to 10.6 base pairs per turn. In this form the base sugar linkage is normally anti with the C8 (purine) or C6 (pyrimidine) above the sugar ring, which has the endo configuration (see Figure 3.1) (Dickerson, 1983a; Wang, 1979; Rhodes & Klug, 1981; Trifonov, 1982).

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© 1985 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Adams, R.L.P., Burdon, R.H. (1985). DNA Structure and the Effect of Methylation. In: Molecular Biology of DNA Methylation. Springer Series in Molecular Biology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5130-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5130-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9576-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-5130-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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