G-WIRES - SELF-ASSEMBLY OF A TELOMERIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDE, D(GGGGTTGGGG), INTO LARGE SUPERSTRUCTURES

The telomeric DNA oligonucleotide 5'-G(4)T(2)G(4)-3' (Tet 1.5) spontaneously assembles into large superstructures we have termed G-wires. G-wires can be resolved by gel electrophoresis as a ladder pattern. The self-association of Tet 1.5 is noncovalent and exhibits characteristics of G4-DNA, a parallel four-stranded structure stabilized by guanine tetrads. Formation of G-wires is dependent upon the presence of Na+ and/or K+, and once formed, G-wires are resistant to denaturation. The results described here extend our understanding of the structural potential of G-rich nucleic acids and may provide insight into the possible roles of G-rich sequences and the novel structures they can form in biological systems.