A reversible B–A transition of DNA duplexes induced by synthetic cationic copolymers

Abstract

Although the B-form duplex is the canonical DNA structure, the A-form duplex plays critical roles in controlling gene expression. Here, reversible B–A transitions of DNA duplexes were induced by synthetic cationic and anionic polymers. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that the B–A transition was regulated by the dehydration of the DNA duplex caused by polymer binding.