A preliminary neutron crystallographic study of an A-DNA crystal

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2009 Mar 1;65(Pt 3):232-5. doi: 10.1107/S1744309109002668. Epub 2009 Feb 12.

Abstract

The LADI-III diffractometer at the Institut Laue-Langevin has been used to carry out a preliminary neutron crystallographic study of the self-complementary DNA oligonucleotide d(AGGGGCCCCT)(2) in the A conformation. The results demonstrate the viability of a full neutron crystallographic analysis with the aim of providing enhanced information on the ion-water networks that are known to be important in stabilizing A-DNA. This is the first account of a single-crystal neutron diffraction study of A-DNA. The study was carried out with the smallest crystal used to date for a neutron crystallographic study of a biological macromolecule.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization
  • DNA, A-Form / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen
  • Neutron Diffraction*
  • Oligonucleotides / chemistry

Substances

  • DNA, A-Form
  • Oligonucleotides
  • Hydrogen