Specific Recognition of Cruciform DNA by Nuclear Protein HMG1

作者：Marco Emilio Bianchi, Mônica Beltrame, Giacomo Paonessa · 发表于：Science · 年份：1989 · DOI：10.1126/science.2922595 · 被引用次数：611 · 研究领域：RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms、DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry、Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques

Cruciform DNA, a non-double helix form of DNA, can be generated as an intermediate in genetic recombination as well as from palindromic sequences under the effect of supercoiling. Eukaryotic cells are equipped with a DNA-binding protein that selectively recognizes cruciform DNA. Biochemical and immunological data showed that this protein is HMG1, an evolutionarily conserved, essential, and abundant component of the nucleus. The interaction with a ubiquitous protein points to a critical role for cruciform DNA conformations.