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Home Q & A Board Biology-Related Homework Help Cell Biology
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crazzyjazzy crazzyjazzy
wrote...
13 years ago
How might Z-DNA influence gene expression?

I know Z-DNA is a left-handed double helix and is longer and thinner than the normal B-DNA.  I also know that it is forms readily in regions of the DNA that contain alternating purines and pyrimidines, or when cyotsines have an extra methyl group.

The answer I am thinking is that Z-DNA would have altered major and minor grooves and therefore that would affect its molecular interactions, such as transcription and therefore gene expression.

Is this right?  Thanks in advance.
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wrote...
#1
Educator
13 years ago
Hey, with Z-DNA, it is commonly believed to provide torsional strain relief (supercoiling) while DNA transcription occurs. In other words, the formation of Z-DNA relaxes negative superhelical turns. In addition, the existence of Z-DNA may also affect nucleosome positioning on promoters, which could strongly influence gene expression.
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