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DNA origami : a substrate for the study of molecular motorsWickham, Shelley January 2011 (has links)
DNA origami is a method for constructing 2-dimensional nanostructures with arbitrary shapes, by folding a long piece of viral genomic DNA into an extended pattern (Rothemund, 2006). In this thesis DNA origami nanostructures that in- corporate active transport are developed, by combining rectangular DNA origami tiles with either synthetic DNA motors, or the protein motor F1-ATPase. The transport of an autonomous, unidirectional, and processive 'burnt-bridges' DNA motor across an extended linear track anchored to a DNA origami tile is demonstrated. Ensemble fluorescence measurements are used to characterise motor transport, and are compared to a simple deterministic model of stepping. The motor moves 100 nm along a track at 0.1 nms-1 Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to study the transport of individual motor molecules along the track with single-step resolution. A DNA origami track for a 'two-foot' DNA motor is also developed, and is characterised by AFM and ensemble fluorescence measurements. The burnt-bridges DNA motor is then directed through a track network with either 1 or 3 bifurcations. Ensemble fluorescence measurements demonstrate that the path taken can be controlled by the addition of external control strands, or pre-programmed into the motor. A method for attaching the rotary motor protein F1-ATPase to DNA origami tiles is developed. Different bulk and single-molecule methods for demonstrat- ing protein binding are explored. Single-molecule observations of rotation of the protein motor on a DNA origami substrate are made, and are of equivalent data quality to existing techniques.
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Sequence dependent conformational variations in DNA holliday junctionsHays, Franklin A. 14 April 2005 (has links)
Four-stranded DNA junctions (also known as Holliday junctions) are structural
intermediates involved in a growing number of biological processes including DNA
repair, genetic recombination, and viral integration. Although previous studies have
focused on understanding the conformational variability and sequence-dependent
formation of Holliday junctions in solution there have been relatively few insights into
junction structure at the atomic level. Recent crystallographic studies have
demonstrated that the more compact stacked-X junction form has an antiparallel
alignment of DNA strands and standard Watson-Crick base pairs across the central
crossover region. Junction formation within this crystallographic system was seen to
be dependent on a common trinucleotide sequence motif ("ACC-triplet" at the 6th, 7th
and 8th positions of the decanucleotide sequence d(CCnnnN₆N₇N₈GG)) containing a
series of stabilizing direct and solvent-mediated hydrogen bonding interactions. This
thesis addresses questions concerning the nucleotide sequence-dependent formation
and conformational variability of DNA Holliday junctions as determined by single
crystal x-ray diffraction.
We have used the modified bases 2,6-diaminopurine and inosine to
demonstrate that minor groove interactions adjacent to the trinucleotide junction core
are not major contributors to overall conformation. In addition, incorporation of
guanine into the sixth position of this core does not have a significant effect on
junction geometry. Meanwhile, incorporation of 5-bromouracil into the eighth
position perturbs the geometry in terms of the interduplex angle as well as the defined
conformational variables, J[subscript roll] and J[subscript slide]. These novel junction structures demonstrate
that the nucleotide sequence within the central core generates a position specific
relationship between molecular interactions at the junction crossover and overall
structural geometry.
A systematic crystallographic screen of the trinucleotide core region is
presented here as an unbiased, comprehensive, search for sequences that stabilize
junctions. As the result of this screen, we can extend the core sequence motif to
'N₆Y₇C₈' where N₆ is an adenine, guanine, or cytosine nucleotide and Y₇ is either a
cytosine or thymine (if N₆ = adenine) nucleotide. Using these novel junction
structures, we demonstrate that base sequence within the central core has a significant
effect on the overall geometry of the junction. Thus, this central region of the
structure may serve as a linchpin for determining the local and global conformation
and overall variability of the four-stranded DNA Holliday junction. These
observations raise some interesting questions regarding the importance of this core
region in biological processes such as genetic recombination. / Graduation date: 2005
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The effect of cytosine methylation on DNA structureVargason, Jeffrey M. 26 February 2002 (has links)
DNA methylation is common in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and has been
implicated in various biological roles including gene silencing, X-chromosome
inactivation, and genomic imprinting. 5-methylcytosine the "fifth base" of the
genetic code comprises 1-3% of the human genome and is primarily found on
cytosines within the context of the CpG sequence. Although progress has been
made in understanding the biological roles of 5-methylcytosine, we are only
beginning to uncover how it changes the local structure and global conformation of
DNA. This thesis deals with the local perturbations in structure and hydration and
the global conformational changes induced by the presence of 5-methylcytosine in
DNA as determined by single crystal x-ray diffraction.
5-methylcytosine induces a novel conformation in the structure of duplex
DNA. This conformation has characteristics of both the A-DNA and B-DNA
conformations as well as some unique defining characteristics. This distinct duplex
provides a structural rationale for the increased rate of deamination in 5-methylcytosine relative to cytosine. In addition to this novel conformation, 5-methylcytosine stabilizes intermediates within the B-DNA to A-DNA transition pathway, thus providing a crystallographic map of the transition from B-DNA to A-DNA.
5-methylcytosine was also used as a tool to probe the stabilizing features of
the DNA four-way junction (known as the Holliday junction). The first crystal
structures of Holliday junctions were found serendipitously while studying duplex
DNA. The DNA four-way junction formation in these crystals was thought to be
stabilized by a network of sequence dependent hydrogen bonds at the junction
crossover. In this thesis, 5-methylcytosine was used to perturb these hydrogen
bonds; however, the junction persisted, suggesting that there is flexibility in the
types of sequences that can accommodate junction formation in the crystal, as well
as, flexibility in the global structure of the junction. Overall, this work describes
the effects of 5-methylcytosine on the local and global structure and hydration of
DNA structure, as well as raising some interesting questions regarding the
biological impact of methylation induced DNA structure. / Graduation date: 2002
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The analysis and prediction of DNA structureBasham, Beth E. 11 March 1998 (has links)
As genome sequencing projects begin to come to completion, the
challenge becomes one of determining how to understand the information
contained within the DNA. DNA is a polymorphic macromolecule; the A- B-
and Z-DNA conformations have been observed by a variety of physical
techniques. The magnitude of the energetic differences between these
conformations suggests that these conformations may be important
biologically and thus relevant in the analysis of genomes. A computer
program, NASTE, was developed to evaluate the helical parameters of the
set of Z-DNA crystal structures in order to determine the true conformation
of Z-DNA and to understand the effects of various factors on the observed
structure and stability. A thermodynamic method, elucidated in part with a
genetic algorithm, was developed to predict the sequence-dependent
propensity of DNA sequences for A- versus B-DNA in both the crystal and
in natural DNA. Predictions from this method were tested by studying the
conformation of short oligonucleotides using circular dichroism
spectroscopy. Finally, the thermodynamic method was applied in an
algorithm, AHUNT, to identify regions in genomic DNA with a high
propensity to form A-DNA. Significant amounts of A-DNA were identified
in eukaryotic and archeabacterial genes. E. coli genes have less A-DNA
than would be predicted from their (G+C) content. These results are
discussed with respect to the intracellular environment of the genomes. / Graduation date: 1998
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Base inclinations for DNA in solutions and films as revealed by linear dichroismKang, Hunseung 22 November 1993 (has links)
Graduation date: 1994
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Path of DNA within Mu transpososomes: order, dynamics and topology of Mu end-enhancer interactionsPathania, Shailja 28 August 2008 (has links)
Not available / text
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Structural studies of a group I intron splicing factor and a continuous three-dimensional DNA latticePaukstelis, Paul John 28 August 2008 (has links)
Not available / text
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Structural characterization of B-DNA and its interactions with cations and intercalating ligandsHowerton, Shelley B. 05 1900 (has links)
No description available.
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Development and application of a molecular dynamics platform for the analysis of DNA structure and distortionMenzies, Georgina Elizabeth January 2014 (has links)
No description available.
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Alternative DNA structures, studied using atomic force microscopyMela, Ioanna January 2014 (has links)
No description available.
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