The high resolution crystal structure of the DNA decamer d(AGGCATGCCT)

The crystal structure of the DNA decamer d(AGGCATGCCT) has been determined to a resolution of 1.3 A and R factor of 13.9%. The structure has a unique conformation with each of the decamer single strands forming base-pairing interactions with two symmetry-related strands. The central eight bases of the decamer form an A-DNA octamer duplex with one symmetry-related strand whilst the terminal 5'-A and T-3' bases are flipped out and away from the octamer helix axis to form base-pairing interactions with a second symmetry-related strand. These A.T base-pairs lie perpendicular to the crystallographic c axis and pack within the unit cell in conjunction with a symmetry-related A.T base-pair displaced by 3.4 A degrees along the c axis. A novel base triplet interaction of the type A*(G.C) is present in the structure with interaction from the major groove side of the terminal 5'-A base to the minor groove of the central A-DNA octamer. This structure reports the first example of cobalt hexammine binding to a right-handed DNA duplex. The crystallographic asymmetric unit contains two cobalt hexammine ligands with one site in the major groove coordinating via hydrogen bonds to the 5'-AGG bases, and the second site located between DNA molecules and interacting with the oxygen atoms of phosphate groups.