i-motif DNA

i-motif DNA is a newly-discovered type of deoxyribonucleic acid that is found in the nuclei of human cells. An abbreviation of intercalated motif, the four-strand i-motif is unlike the iconic double helix DNA[1].

History

The i-motif type was first noted by researchers in the 1990s, but until now had only ever been witnessed in vitro, not in living cells.[2] The latest discovery announced in 2018 was headed at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, at the University of New South Wales, with the University of Sydney, and funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of the Australian Research Council. Co-leaders of the research team were A/Prof Daniel Christ, Head of the Antibody Therapeutics Lab at Garvan, and Clinical genomicist A/Prof Marcel Dinger[1].

Discovery

Dr. Mahdi Zeraati at Garven says the i-motif was dicovered for its appearing and disappearing within the cell and distinctive connections via cytosines rather than letters. The research team developed a precise new tool to find the i-motif – a fragment of an antibody molecule – that could specifically recognise and attach to i-motifs "with a very high affinity"[1].

Structure

Described as a "twisted knot", it has a quadruplex structure made up of two parallel duplexes.This structure is visible in the G1 stage of the cell cycle. And they are also seen in promotor sites and in telomeres.[3]

The molecule is stable in acidic conditions, but begins to become unstable in basic or neutral solutions. I-motif DNA is rich in unusual cytosine-cytosine bonds.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Public statement: "Found: A new form of DNA in our cells."
  2. ↑ "Scientists Have Confirmed a New DNA Structure Inside Human Cells", article by Peter Dockrill 23 April 2018
  3. ↑ "i-Motif DNA: Structure, stability and targeting with ligands". Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. 22 (16): 4407–4418. 2014-08-15. doi:10.1016/j.bmc.2014.05.047. ISSN 0968-0896.
  4. ↑ "DNA i-motifs found in human cells". cen.acs.org. Retrieved 2018-04-30.


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