are flipped out the Z-shaped sugar-phosphate backbone. This transition
renders guanines in Z-DNA more sensitive to dimethylsulfate
and diethylsulfate modification [128,129]. This was also the case
when guanines were located in the loop region of a hairpin structure;
rendering the exposed G bases hypersensitive to peroxynitrite
(relative to B-DNA) [130]. The minor-groove is narrower in A-tracts
containing T–A steps [131], and AT-rich sequences [132], which
can enhance the negative electrostatic potential of the DNA. Such
sequences can also reduce the accessibility of H4 and H5 by OH
radicals, impacting the radiation-induced DNA breakage events.