Ancient history of X-ray crystal structure of B-DNA oligomers and its perspective

Abstract

This is a retrospective review on the anniversary of the first X-ray crystal structure of B-DNA dodecamer CGCGAATTCGCG solved by R. Dickerson's team at UCLA/CIT. Timely established conclusions, drawn from the X-ray crystal structures of DNA oligomers, have explained some of the patterns of DNA oligomers interacting in complex with DNA binding drugs and proteins. The studies provide us with the insight into sequence mechanics and the sequence-dependent mode by which DNA double stranded helices interact with one another in a crystal. How to extrapolate information from DNA X-ray crystal structures to physical characteristics and function of these molecules in a solution remains a challenge. Nevertheless, these results are useful in the biophysical studies of DNA molecules and may shed some light on how to approach nanotechnology from a fundamental science perspective.