Magnesium-dependent supercoiling-induced transition in (dG)n·(dC)nstretches and formation of a new G-structure by (dG)nstrand

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Abstract
Plasmids containing (dG)27.cntdot.(dC)27 inserts (pPG27), (dG)37.cntdot.(dC)37 inserts (pPG37), and (dG)24C(dG)21.cntdot.(dC)24G(dC)21 inserts (pPG46C) were constructed for the study of structural transitions within (dG)n.cntdot.(DC) stretches. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis has shown that a Mg2+-dependent supercoiling-induced structural transition takes place at pH 8 in plasmid pPG46C. The transition occurs at -0 = 0.06 and involves a supercoiling release corresponding to 5 superhelical turns. After denaturation of the restriction fragments containing (dGn.cntdot.(dC)n inserts, the strands do not renature completely and the (dG)n-containing strand migrates in PAGE much faster than the (dC)n-containing one. Chemical modification experiments with the (dG)n-strand have revealed the periodic nature of the protection of guanines against dimethyl sulfate methylation. The (dG)n strand in the presence of Mg2+ forms complexes with the complementary (dC)n strand, which differ from the native duplex in mobility. We believe these effects to be due to the formation of an intrastrand structure within the (dG)n strand stabilized by G.cntdot.G interactions (we called it G-structure), which in the presence of Mg2+ forms an interstrand complex, with the (dC)n strand.