The crystallographic study of left-handed Z-DNA d(CGCGCG)2 and thermine complexes crystallized at various temperatures and at various concentration of cations

In crystals of complexes of thermine and d(CGCGCG)2 molecules grown at 4, 10, and 20 °C, the numbers of thermine molecules connected to the DNA molecule were dependent on the temperature of the crystallization. Two molecules of thermine and one Mg2+ ion were connected to DNA molecule when thermine and d(CGCGCG)2 were co-crystallized at 4 and at 20 °C. When an increased concentration of magnesium and thermine molecules were co-crystallized with d(CGCGCG)2 molecules at 10 °C, three Mg2+ ions and only one thermine molecule were bound with a d(CGCGCG)2 molecule. The number of polyamines and of Mg2+ ions connected to DNA was dependent on the atomic values of the polyamine and of the metal ion. The binding of more Mg2+ ions occurred when the atomic value of Mg2+ exceeded that of the corresponding mono- or polyamine, and when the Mg2+ ion concentration was elevated. Furthermore, this study is the first documentation of a naturally occurring polyamine bound to the minor groove of DNA in a crystal structure.