Kinked DNA. Energetics and conditions favoring its formation

Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the formation of kinks in DNA in the manner proposed by Crick and Klug produces a conformation which corresponds to a local energy minimum when the phosphate backbone is charged. This conformation becomes the global minimum under certain conditions which neutralize the anionic backbone oxygens. A sequence preference for kink formation is predicted. The possible role of kinking in experimentally observed phenomena and experimental means of demonstrating the existence of kinks are discussed.