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Department of Biochemistry

Faculty Profiles

Nancy C. Stellwagen, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor

Current Research

My laboratory studies sequence-dependent DNA structure using a variety of biophysical techniques, including gel and capillary electrophoresis, transient electric birefringence, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism. Current studies include:

• DNA curvature. Although some DNA restriction fragments exhibit stable curvature of the helix backbone, the relationship between sequence and curvature is not well understood. We are currently investigating sequence-dependent DNA curvature by comparing naturally-occurring DNAs with derivatives missing one or more “bending elements”, and looking for previously unknown bending elements.
• Preferential counterion binding. Previous studies have suggested that DNA curvature may be due to the preferential binding of counterions in the major and minor grooves of the DNA helix. We are investigating whether sequence dependent counterion binding actually occurs and how it varies with DNA sequence and the type of counterion.
• Minihairpins. Certain DNA and RNA sequences form very stable minihairpins, with only 2 or 3 base pairs in the stem and 3 or 4 nucleotides in the loop. We are investigating the sequence dependence and thermal stability of a variety of minihairpins, in order to better understand the unusual stability of these structures.

Recent Publications

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