The length of a junction between the B and Z conformations in DNA is three base pairs or less

Recently it has been suggested that double-helical complexes formed between the DNA sequences (CG)n(A)m and their conjugates, (T)m(CG)n, would be candidates for the formation of a B-Z junction in aqueous solution at high salt concentrations [Peticolas et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 2579-2583]. The junction was predicted to occur between a B-type helix in the d(A)m.d(T)m section and a Z-type helix in the self-complementary (CG)n.(CG)n sequence. In this paper we report Raman experiments on the deoxyoligonucleotides d(CGCGCGCGCGCGAAAAA) and d(CGCGCGAAAAA) and their complements. It is found the latter compound cannot be induced into the Z form in saturated salt solution but that the former sequence goes into a B-Z junction at 5.5 M salt. From a comparison of the relative intensity of the Raman conformational marker bands for B and Z DNA for both the A-T and C-G base pairs, it is shown that in 5.5 M NaCl solution none of the A-T base pairs are in the Z form, but nine of the C-G base pairs are in the Z form. The remaining three C-G base pairs are either in the junction or in the B form. Thus, the junction is formed from three or less C-G base pairs. If the solution is made 95 microM with NiCl2, then the entire duplex goes into the Z form and the Raman bands of the adenine are completely changed into those of the Z form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)