Sequence dependent conformations of oligomeric DNA's in aqueous solutions and in crystals

In order to determine the sequence dependence of the conformation of deoxynucleotides, Raman spectra have been obtained for the following oligodeoxynucleotides in aqueous salt solutions and in crystals: d(CpG)(I), d(TGCGCGCA)(II), d(CACGCGTG)(III), d(CGTGCACG)(IV), d(CGCATGCG)(V), d(ACGCGCGT)(VI), d(CGCGTACGCG)(VII), d(CGCACGTGCG)(VIII) and d(CGTGCGCACG)(IX), d(GCTATAGC) (X), d(GCATATGC) (XI), d(GGTATACC) (XII) and d(GGATATCC) (XIII). The normal B type conformation is observed for all the oligomer DNA's at low salt (0.1-1.0 M NaCl) concentration in the temperature range of 0-25 degrees C. It was considered possible that all of the first nine oligomers could go into the Z form in aqueous high salt (5.0-6.0 M NaCl) solutions, and under these conditions the last four were considered candidates to go into the A form. The B-type conformation was found to exist in high salt solutions for (I), (IV), (V), (VI), (X), (XI) and (XIII); the Z or partial Z conformation appears in high salt solution for the oligomers, (II), (III), (VII), (VIII) and (IX); an A or partial A conformation appears in high salt solution for (XII). In the crystalline state, (IV), (VIII), (X), and (XI) stay in the B-form and all of the other oligomers adopt the complete Z-form except for (XII) which crystallizes in the A form. In both the crystal and in aqueous solutions, the identification of the conformation genus was made by means of Raman spectroscopy. In the crystal of (I), grown at pH7.0, guanosine is found to be in C3'-endo/syn conformation and cytidine in C2'-endo/anti, which may be taken as the ideal building block of the typical Z conformation. At pH4, (I) crystallizes in a conformation similar to the B genus. A study of the thermally induced B to Z transition has been carried out for (II) and (III). Based on the analysis of Raman spectra of the alternating pyrimidine-purine oligomers which might be expected to go into the Z form, the tendency for these oligonucleotides to adopt the Z form can be ranked as: d(CGCGCGCG) greater than (II) greater than (III) greater than (V) approximately (VI) greater than (IV) for octamers and (VII) greater than (VIII) greater than (IX) for the decamers. Similarly, those oligomers which might have a tendency to go into the A form could be ranked as (XII) greater than (XIII) approximately (X) greater than (XI). These data should provide help in formulating rules for predicting the sequence dependence of the B to A and B to Z transitions. Some possible rules are explored, but precautions should be taken.