GATC motifs may alter the conformation of DNA depending on sequence context and N6-adenine methylation status: possible implications for DNA-protein recognition.

摘要: As part of our analysis the role a uniquely clustered set dam methylation sites (the motif GATC) within origin DNA replication in Escherichia coli, we have studied effect GATCs various states on intrinsic curvature DNA. We designed linkers and used commercially available containing GATC motifs. The were ligated electrophoretic mobility resulting multimers different was tested relative to reference fragments. report that properly phased certain sequence environments modulate these effects may be enhanced by N6-adenine GATCs. These structural alterations turn affect DNA-protein interactions, especially those involving proteins rely both primary structure for recognition. present an example, where introduction integration host factor (IHF) binding site, which does not alter consensus sequence, reduces affinity protein modified site.