The alpha-C-12 scattering studied via the Trojan-Horse method

The Trojan-horse method has been suggested as a means to study a two-body reaction at astrophysical energies via a three-body breakup reaction. In order to test this method the Li-6(C-12,alpha(12)C)H-2 reaction was studied in a kinematically complete experiment at an incident energy of 18 MeV. Coincidence spectra show the presence of the quasi-free alpha-C-12 scattering process. The excitation function of the three-body reaction is calculated in the plane wave impulse approximation assuming quasi-free scattering and is compared with the experimental data. Also, the excitation function of the virtual a-12C elastic scattering is extracted from the three-body reaction cross section at low deuteron momenta and compared with the behaviour of the free scattering cross section

DNA secondary structures: stability and function of G-quadruplex structures

In addition to the canonical double helix, DNA can fold into various other inter- and intramolecular secondary structures. Although many such structures were long thought to be in vitro artefacts, bioinformatics demonstrates that DNA sequences capable of forming these structures are conserved throughout evolution, suggesting the existence of non-B-form DNA in vivo. In addition, genes whose products promote formation or resolution of these structures are found in diverse organisms, and a growing body of work suggests that the resolution of DNA secondary structures is critical for genome integrity. This Review focuses on emerging evidence relating to the characteristics of G-quadruplex structures and the possible influence of such structures on genomic stability and cellular processes, such as transcription