International
Tables for
Crystallography
Volume F
Crystallography of biological macromolecules
Edited by M. G. Rossmann and E. Arnold

© International Union of Crystallography 2006
International Tables for Crystallography (2006). Vol. F. ch. 23.3, p. 589   | 1 | 2 |

Figure 23.3.1.1 

R. E. Dickersona*

a Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1570, USA
Correspondence e-mail: red@mbi.ucla.edu

[Figure 23.3.1.1]
Figure 23.3.1.1

`Hot wire' painting of A-DNA by Irving Geis. Geis produced two dramatic paintings of horse-heart cytochrome c, in which the sole light source was the central iron atom within the haem, producing a glowing `molecular lantern' effect. One painting showed this central luminous haem surrounded by hydrophobic side chains; the other featured the polar side chains extending out from the surface. These are to be seen today on the front and back covers of Voet & Voet's Biochemistry (Voet & Voet, 1990[link], 1995[link]). In the present A-DNA painting, Geis chose the imaginary central axis of the helix as a monofilament light source, thereby reversing the conventional illumination: atoms lining the deep major groove glow brightly, whereas the outer surface of the helix is in dark silhouette. Geis struggled with the B helix as an artistic subject, but was never satisfied with the results. Hence, this glowing A-DNA helix represents his nucleic acid artistic legacy. Reprinted courtesy of the estate of Irving Geis. Rights owned by Howard Hughes Medical Institute.