Explore the fascinating world of DNA structures and its Helix Variations with distinct characteristics and functions.

Discover the diverse forms of A-DNA, B-DNA, and Z-DNA, each with their unique helix shapes, base pairs per turn, and pitches.

While A-DNA boasts a narrower and regular structure with 11 base pairs per turn and a pitch of 3.4 nm, B-DNA presents a wider and irregular helix with 10 base pairs per turn and the same pitch. Z-DNA, on the other hand, showcases an irregular shape with 12 base pairs per turn and a shorter pitch of 2.9 nm.

Uncover their biological activities, where B-DNA stands out as an active participant in gene expression, while A-DNA remains inactive, and Z-DNA’s role still eludes us. T

hese DNA forms occur under specific conditions such as high salt for A-DNA, normal conditions for B-DNA, and low salt or high negative supercoiling for Z-DNA, possibly influenced by specific nucleotide sequences.

Delve into the research significance of these structures, with B-DNA being extensively studied, A-DNA lagging behind in exploration, and Z-DNA emerging as an intriguing area of research. Embark on a journey to understand the role of these DNA forms in gene expression and unveil the secrets hidden within their distinct features.

Feature	A-DNA	B-DNA	Z-DNA
Helix Shape	Narrower, Regular	Wider, Irregular	Irregular
Base Pairs per turn	11	10	12
Pitch (nm)	3.4	3.4	2.9
Biological Activity	Not Active	Active	Unknown
Occurrence	High Salt	Normal	Low Salt, High Negative Supercoiling or Specific Nucleotide Sequences
Role in gene expression	Unknown	Crucial	Potentially Regulates
Research Significance	Not well studied	Well studied	Emerging area of research