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DNA Types A, B & Z


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The A-form of DNA exists under conditions of dehydration or high-salt concentrations.

 

The Z-form I believe exists only in the lab. In addition to these three there are also C, D, E, and P forms. All of these....if I am correct are found under laboratory conditions, only. I could be wrong about this, however.

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The A form of DNA is biologically relevant because it is the conformation taken by double stranded RNAs and DNA-RNA hybrids. Furthermore, some bacteria can convert their DNA from B-DNA to A-DNA when they form spores (Mohr, SC. et al. (1991) PNAS 88, 77-81). Supposedly, the DNA is more resistant to degradation in the A conformation than in the B conformation.

 

Z-DNA is primarily though to be an artifact of the laboratory and there is no evidence that it is biologically relevant.

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