Stability and properties of Z-DNA containing artificial nucleobase 2'-O-methyl-8-methyl guanosine.

We synthesized several DNA oligonucleotides containing one or several 2'-O-methyl-8-methyl guanosine (m8 Gm) and demonstrated that these oligonucleotides not only stabilize the Z-DNA with a wide range of sequences under low salt conditions but also possess high thermal stability. Using artificial nucleobase-containing oligonucleotides, we studied the interaction of the Zα domain with Z-DNA. Furthermore, we showed that the m8 Gm-contained oligonucleotides allow to study the photochemical reaction of Z-DNA.