The DNAs of several plant viruses were analyzed for the presence of alternating purine-pyrimidine sequences that can potentially undergo B to Z transition. The DNA of the caulimoviruses (plant retroviruses) was compared with that of the geminiviruses, with the cDNA of an RNA plant virus, and with several computer-generated random sequences. Our analysis indicates that potential Z-DNA sites tend to be restricted in the DNA of the caulimoviruses, whereas the same does not occur significantly in the other viral DNAs examined. This result is discussed in relation to the mode of replication of the caulimoviral DNA and offers additional evidence of the existence of selection processes regulating the frequency and distribution of the Z-DNA sites in the different genomes.
Comparative Analysis of Alternating Purine-Pyrimidine Tracts and Potential Z-DNA Sequences inDNA Plant Viruses
A. Amici;MANCINI, Giorgio
1989-01-01
Abstract
The DNAs of several plant viruses were analyzed for the presence of alternating purine-pyrimidine sequences that can potentially undergo B to Z transition. The DNA of the caulimoviruses (plant retroviruses) was compared with that of the geminiviruses, with the cDNA of an RNA plant virus, and with several computer-generated random sequences. Our analysis indicates that potential Z-DNA sites tend to be restricted in the DNA of the caulimoviruses, whereas the same does not occur significantly in the other viral DNAs examined. This result is discussed in relation to the mode of replication of the caulimoviral DNA and offers additional evidence of the existence of selection processes regulating the frequency and distribution of the Z-DNA sites in the different genomes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
