The conformational preferences of DNA strands from the promoter regions of the VEGF and BCL-2 oncogenes

Abstract

Dissociation of a DNA duplex to single strands with their subsequent folding into tetraplex structures, including G-quadruplexes and i-motifs, is an essential step involved in regulation of various genomic events. Hence, it is important to understand the conformational preferences of DNA strands potentially capable of adopting tetraplex conformations. In this work, we characterized the conformational preferences of equimolar mixtures of G-rich and C-rich DNA strands from the promoter regions of the VEGF and BCL-2 oncogenes as a function of pH, potassium concentration, and temperature.