DNA quadruplexes and dynamical genetics

In a recent paper, we have put forward the hypothesis that there exist smar t purposive mechanisms tandem repeat length managers - which regulate the l ength of some tandem repeat, or cause rearrangements, and are almost always driven by some variable number tandem repeat. We have called the framework in which such mechanisms act 'dynamical genetics'. The purpose of this pap er is to contribute to lay the foundations of a molecular study of the abov e mechanisms, by proposing a hypothesis, based on various kinds of supporti ng evidence and plausibility arguments, about the special importance of DNA quadruplexes for dynamical genetics, and by considering the involved enzym es. This hypothesis states that a tandem repeat length manager acts almost always by monitoring a DNA tract that has the characteristics of being a va riable number tandem repeat and/or forming a DNA quadruplex, and that it is almost always driven by at least one of them. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.