2-O-Methyl-8-methylguanosine as a Z-Form RNA stabilizer for structural and functional study of Z-RNA

Abstract

In contrast to Z-DNA that was stabilized and well-studied for its structure by chemical approaches, the stabilization and structural study of Z-RNA remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a Z-form RNA stabilizer m8Gm, and demonstrated that incorporation of m8Gm into RNA can markedly stabilize the Z-RNA at low salt conditions. Using the m8Gm-contained Z-RNA, we determined the structure of Z-RNA and investigated the interaction of protein and Z-RNA.