Protein-Induced Sequence Diversity of Z-DNA

摘要

Right-handed B-DNA is a major form of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and used for the structural support of genetic information. It has been also known that DNA can form diverse shapes either in vivo or in vitro. Among them, left-handed Z-DNA is one of the most well known non-B-DNA structures. Although the biological roles of Z-DNA in vivo have been elusive despite of intense studies since its discovery decades ago, recent finding of Z-DNA binding motif, Z alpha, provides a promising outlook to elucidate the relevance of Z-DNA in biological systems. The Zorwas first identified from an RNA editing enzyme; human dsRNA adenosine deaminase 1 (hADAR1) that has two Z alpha-motif-containing-domains, Z alpha_(ADAR1) and Z beta_(ADAR1), at the N-terminal region. Soon findings of several other proteins containing one or two Z alpha motifs have been followed. The Z alpha_(ADAR1), the first N-terminal Z alpha domain from human ADAR1, has been used as a tool to investigate Z-DNA in vitro as well as in vivo. Its competent ability to specifically recognize Z-conformation of nucleic acids could broaden its further uses.