Triple Helix Formation

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The sequence specific recognition of double helical DNA is essential for regulation of cellular functions including transcription, replication, and cell division. Although triple stranded structures of polynucleotides were discovered decades ago, the biological function has remained unknown. Such triple helices were proposed to be involved in processes like regulation of gene expression, maintenance of folded chromosome conformations, chromosome condensation during mitosis, and induction of local conformational changes in B DNA (Morgan, 1979). Sequence specific oligonucleotide recognition of duplex DNA by forming triple helix offers powerful implications for the study of molecular biology. Oligonucleotide with efficient cleaving moiety could become useful tool in chromosome analysis. gene mapping, and isolation. Triple helix formation selectively protect the target site from restriction endonuclease and methylase, allowing specific restriction endonuclease cleavage at the triple helix target site. The fact the triple helix formation blocks the birding of specific DNA binding protein offers a new tool for analyzing protein-DNA interactions in promoter, and in some cases such oligonucleotide or their analogs might be designed to function as artificial gene specific repressor in vivo. Oligonucleotide-directed DNA binding protein can be degined to recognize specific double helical DNA sites by triple helix formation.