A stable complex between homopyrimidine oligomers and the homologous regions of duplex DNAs

Abstract
When plasmid DNA duplexes carrying the regular homopurine-homopyrimidine inserts(dGA) .cntdot. (dTC)n and (dG)n .cntdot. (dC)n are preincubated with homologous labeled oligo(dPy) ((dTC)n and (dC)n respectively) at acid pH, the label co-electrophoreses with the duplex DNA. Thus, a very strong complex is formed. Complementary oligo(dPu) does not form a complex under these conditions. No binding is observed for oligo(dPy) with non-homologous inserts as well as with vector plasmids without inserts. The complex is formed equally well with linear, nicked or superhelical DNA. The complex is not detected at pH > 6. Complex formation leads to very little, if any, unwinding of the duplex. The observed complex appears to be the Py .cntdot. Pu .cntdot. Py triplex consisting of TAT and CGC+ base-triads with protonated cytosines. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis patterns show that the presence of homologous oligo(dPy) destabilizes the formation of the H form.