Right-handed and Left-handed DNA: Conformational Information in Genetic Material

Abstract

DNA is the central informational macromolecule in biological systems. The information contained in it is encoded in a sequence of nucleotides that has the ability to direct a variety of biological reactions. The most prominent of these are the reactions carried out by the coding nucleotides in RNA transcription. In thinking about DNA, we usually stress the informational content in terms of coding sequences. However, to understand the complete role of DNA, we must remember that transcription must be carried out in a regulated fashion. Some of the information that may be essential in regulating RNA transcription may not be expressed solely in coding sequences but may be found in sequences of nucleotides that induce the formation of specialized conformations in DNA itself. These conformations may then play a direct role in modifying or regulating the expression of the coding sequences. They may also play a role in a wide...