Answer
Contacts can form between the protein and the edges of the base pairs that are exposed in the major groove of the DNA. These sequence-specific contacts can include hydrogen bonds with oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen atoms, as well as hydrophobic interactions with the methyl group on thymine. Arrangement of hydrogen-bond donors and hydrogen bond acceptors of A-T and G-C pairs would be different from one another which allow recognition of specific DNA sequences via the major groove.
Work Step by Step
Contacts can form between the protein and the edges of the base pairs that are exposed in the major groove of the DNA. These sequence-specific contacts can include hydrogen bonds with oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen atoms, as well as hydrophobic interactions with the methyl group on thymine. Arrangement of hydrogen-bond donors and hydrogen bond acceptors of A-T and G-C pairs would be different from one another which allow recognition of specific DNA sequences via the major groove.
