DNA helix rise per base pair

Value 0.34 nm
Organism Generic
Reference Arnott S, Chandrasekaran R, Birdsall DL, Leslie AG, Ratliff RL. Left-handed DNA helices. Nature. 1980 Feb 21 283(5749):743-5. p.743 left column 4th paragraph & p. 744 table 1PubMed ID7354864
Primary Source [3] Langridge, Wilson, Hooper, Wilkins & Hamilton The molecular configuration of deoxyribonucleic acid: I. X-ray diffraction study of a crystalline form of the lithium salt 1960 J. molec. biol. 2. 19-37 doi:10.1016/S0022-2836(60)80004-6 link
Comments P.743 left column 4th paragraph: "The B form (Fig. 1b) has the same symmetry (10t) and helix pitch (3.35nm) as in other DNAs (primary source). The overall intensity distribution in the diffraction pattern also suggests that the normal B-DNA conformation is unchanged although the orthorhombic unit cell with a=3.61nm, b=3.79nm, c=3.35nm probably contains twice as many DNA chains as the usual cell." B form DNA, the most common form. P.744 table 1 3rd note beneath table: "This is the C2'-endo model of Arnott & Huskins, 1973 J. Mol Biology 81, 93-105 re-refined by Arnott S & Chandrasekaran R (unpublished data)." Note- Mandelkern et al. 1981, PMID 7338906 2nd sentence in p. 153 give a rise of 3.36 Å per base-pair.
Entered by Ron Milo - Admin
ID 100667