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News & Blogs » Protein News » For the First Time: A New Structure of DNA has been Discovered

For the First Time: A New Structure of DNA has been Discovered

Apr 27, 2018

New Structure of DNA Picture Since 1953, the iconic ‘double helix’ structure of DNA has the universally known only shape for DNA. However, for the first time in the World, researchers have identified a new DNA structure is called the “i-motif” in living cells.

In a new study published in Nature Chemistry, researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Researcher have identified a new DNA structure inside living cells. This study has shown that DAN can actually exists in other shapes, outside the standard “double helix” for short stretches of time. Scientists hypothesis that these different shapes couple play an important role in determining how and when the DNA code is ‘read.’ The i-motif is described as a four stranded twisted ‘knot’ of DNA. The I-motif is very unique; cysteines on the same strand of DNA bind to each other instead of to guanines.

The structure of the i-motif has been studied in detailed and has previously only been witnessed in vitro. In order to detect the i-motif in living cells, researchers developed an antibody fragment that can specifically recognize and attaches to i-motifs with very high affinity. The antibody also didn’t detect DNA in the helical form, nor did it recognize ‘G-quadruplex structures.’ With this novel tool, researcher were able to uncover the location of ‘i-motifs’ DNA in a range of human cell lines. They were able to identify fluorescently, areas of the nucleus that house these i-motif structures. Researchers were able to show that i-motifs also form in late G1 phase of the cell cycle, when DNA is being ‘read’. They also appear in some promoter regions on the DNA, in telomeres , and ‘end sections’ of chromosomes that have been shown to be important in ageing. Researchers are excited to understand what this new DNA structure is used for and to explore if it plays a role in certain disease forms.