CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF C-T-C-T-C-G-A-G-A-G - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOLLIDAY JUNCTION

The structure of the B-DNA decamer of sequence C-T-C-T-C-G-A-G-A-G sho ws a crossed arrangement of helices in the C2 crystal lattice. This is the fourth example of a crossed arrangement of B-DNA oligomers in a c rystal, and in spite of the fact that each of these four crystallizes in a different lattice, all have nearly identical structures at the cr ossing contact. This ubiquitous crossing arrangement may be used to ge nerate a structure for the Holliday junction that is fully consistent with the available physical data.