Cited by 196DNA and Nucleic Acid ChemistryDNA Repair MechanismsChromosomal and Genetic Variations

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Dynamic alternative DNA structures in biology and disease

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Wang, Guliang, Vasquez, Karen M.·2023·Nature Reviews Genetics

DOI 10.1038/s41576-022-00539-9PMC PMC11634456

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Abstract

Repetitive elements in the human genome, once considered 'junk DNA', are now known to adopt more than a dozen alternative (that is, non-B) DNA structures, such as self-annealed hairpins, left-handed Z-DNA, three-stranded triplexes (H-DNA) or four-stranded guanine quadruplex structures (G4 DNA). These dynamic conformations can act as functional genomic elements involved in DNA replication and transcription, chromatin organization and genome stability. In addition, recent studies have revealed a role for these alternative structures in triggering error-generating DNA repair processes, thereby actively enabling genome plasticity. As a driving force for genetic variation, non-B DNA structures thus contribute to both disease aetiology and evolution.

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Authors: Wang, G., & Vasquez, K. M.
Affiliations: The University of Texas at Austin (US)
ORCID: Wang, Guliang
Vasquez, Karen M.
Venue: Nature Reviews Genetics
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2022-10-31
Volume: 24
Issue: 4
Pages: 211-234
ISSN: 1471-0056 (ISSN-L)
1471-0064
DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00539-9
PMC: PMC11634456
OpenAlex: W4307744067
Cited by: 196
References: 338
Citations by year: 2026: 52 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 1
FWCI: 3.83
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/text-and-data-mining (tdm)
www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/text-and-data-mining (vor)
Locations: Nature Reviews Genetics (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders: National Cancer Institute (R01CA093729)
Topics: Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA Repair Mechanisms
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
Keywords: non-B DNA structures, Z-DNA, H-DNA, triplex DNA, G-quadruplex, repetitive elements, genome stability, mutagenesis, DNA repair, DNA replication, transcription, chromatin organization, genomic instability, etiology, evolution
MeSH terms: Biology, DNA, DNA Replication, Humans, Genome, Human, G-Quadruplexes

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Dynamic alternative DNA structures in biology and disease

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