1.0Glossaryhttps://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossaryGlossaryhttps://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/author/adminglossary/Z-DNA - Definition of Z-DNArich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="x8dSA0VS4G"><a href="https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/z-dna/">Z-DNA</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/z-dna/embed/#?secret=x8dSA0VS4G" width="600" height="338" title="“Z-DNA” — Glossary" data-secret="x8dSA0VS4G" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script>
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A left-handed helix (molecular structure) of DNA, in contrast to A-DNA and B-DNA which are right-handed helix structures. The difference is in the direction of the double-helix twist. Z-DNA has the most base pairs per turn (in the helix), and so has the least twisted structure; it is very "skinny" and its name is taken from the zigzag path that the sugar-phosphate "backbone" follows along the helix. This is quite different from the smoothly curving path of the backbone of B-DNA. The Z-form of DNA has been found in polymers that have an alternating purine-pyrimidine sequence. The possible biological importance of Z-DNA is that it is much more stable at lower salt concentrations.