Praseodymium promotes B-Z transition in self-assembled DNA nanostructures

Abstract

Millimolar concentrations of PrCl 3 can induce sequence-specific B-Z transition in various-self-assembled branched DNA (bDNA) nanostructures. Competitive dye binding and thermal kinetics suggest that the phosphate backbone and grooves of bDNA are wrapped with Pr 3+ for stabilizing the Z-bDNA. Application of EDTA can convert Z-DNA back to the B-form.