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Related Experiment Videos

Symmetric Holliday junction crossover isomers

S Zhang1, N C Seeman

  • 1Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY 10003.

Journal of Molecular Biology
|May 20, 1994
PubMed
Summary

This study investigated crossover preferences in symmetric Holliday junctions, finding that extensive symmetry does not lead to large preferences, suggesting limited impact on genetic recombination.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Holliday junctions are key intermediates in genetic recombination.
  • Naturally occurring junctions exhibit 2-fold symmetry, influencing branch migration.
  • Previous models used asymmetric, immobile junctions, revealing a crossover preference bias.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if crossover preference persists in Holliday junctions with symmetric sequences.
  • To investigate the influence of symmetry on the stability and structure of Holliday junctions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized nicked symmetric immobile junctions in a competition assay.
  • Measured crossover preferences for all six 2-fold symmetric dinucleotide sequences.
  • Employed 4-fold symmetric sequences as an internal control for systematic errors.

Main Results:

  • Small crossover preferences (< 650 cal/mol at 4°C) were observed for symmetric junctions.
  • Preferences diminished as 2-fold symmetry extended to tetranucleotides.
  • Measured preferences for 4-fold symmetric sequences were within experimental error.

Conclusions:

  • Extensive symmetry in Holliday junctions does not correlate with large crossover preferences.
  • The observed limited preferences suggest minimal impact on the mechanism of genetic recombination.

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