Crystal structures of disordered Z-type helices

The X-ray crystal structures of a decamer sequence d(CGCGTACGCG)2 and a tetradecamer sequence d(CGCGCGTACGCGCG)2 are presented here. Both sequences are alternating pyrimidine-purine repeat sequences and they form disordered, pseudo-continuous left handed Z-type helices. They demonstrate interesting variants of the ‘bundles of columns of helices’ mode of packing.