ChIP-Seq Strategy to Identify Z-DNA-Forming Sequences in the Human Genome

Different from the canonical right-handed B-DNA, a left-handed Z-DNA forms an alternating syn- and anti-base conformations along the double-stranded helix under physiological conditions. Z-DNA structure plays a role in transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodeling, and genome stability. To understand the biological function of Z-DNA and map the genome-wide Z-DNA-forming sites (ZFSs), a ChIP-Seq strategy is applied, which is a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and high-throughput DNA sequencing analysis. Cross-linked chromatin is sheared and its fragments associated with Z-DNA-binding proteins are mapped onto the reference genome sequence. The global information of ZFSs positioning can provide a useful resource for better understanding of DNA structure-dependent biological mechanism.