Complex formation of divalent metal ions with uridine 5'-O-thiomonophosphate or methyl thiophosphate: comparison of complex stabilities with those of the parent phosphate ligands

Mechanistic study of carboxylic acid and phosphate ester cleavage by oximate metal complexes surpassing the limiting reactivity of highly basic free oximate anions

Two tridentate and one tetradentate new ligands containing the terminal oxime group separated from secondary amino and pyridine groups as additional binding sites by two or three methylene groups have been prepared. Their acid-base properties, as well as the composition and stability of their complexes with Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) ions, were determined by potentiometric and spectrophotometric titrations. The X-ray structure of a Cd(ii) complex of a related tridentate oxime ligand previously studied in solution was determined. All oximate complexes show high reactivity in the cleavage of aryl acetates, paraoxon, parathion and 4-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate, with rate constants significantly surpassing the limiting rate constants observed for highly basic free oximate anions. The second-order rate constants for individual oximate complexes in solution are assigned to each ligand, metal cation and substrate. The results of the cleavage of 4-substituted phenyl acetates were analyzed in terms of Brønsted correlations with the leaving group pKa, which demonstrated a change in the rate determining step from the nucleophilic attack to the leaving group departure upon an increase in the leaving group basicity. The zero slope of the Brønsted correlation for the nucleophilic attack indicates transition state stabilization through electrophilic assistance by the metal ion. This interpretation is supported by metal selectivity in the relative efficiency of the cleavage of paraoxon and parathion. The existence of the alpha-effect in ester cleavage by coordinated oximates is confirmed by an analysis of the Brønsted correlations with the nucleophile basicity for metal bound oximate and alkoxo or hydroxo nucleophiles. The very high reactivity of the oximate complexes of the new ligands is attributed to transition state stabilization and to the removal of the solvational imbalance of oximate anions that impedes the expected increase in the reactivity of highly basic free anions.

Metal ion complexes of nucleoside phosphorothioates reflecting the ambivalent properties of lead(ii)

The lead(ii)-lone pair leads to ambivalency: hemidirected (distorted, non-spherical) coordination spheres result from electronegative O-coordination and holodirected (symmetric, spherical) ones from less electronegative S-coordination.

Corroboration of Zn(ii)–Mg(ii)-tertiary structure interplays essential for the optimal catalysis of a phosphorothiolate thiolesterase ribozyme

The TW17 ribozyme, a catalytic RNA selected from a pool of artificial RNA, is specific for the Zn²⁺-dependent hydrolysis of a phosphorothiolate thiolester bond. Here, we describe the organic synthesis of both guanosine α-thio-monophosphate and the substrates required for selecting and characterizing the TW17 ribozyme, and for deciphering the catalytic mechanism of the ribozyme. By successively substituting the substrate originally conjugated to the RNA pool with structurally modified substrates, we demonstrated that the TW17 ribozyme specifically catalyzes phosphorothiolate thiolester hydrolysis. Metal titration studies of TW17 ribozyme catalysis in the presence of Zn²⁺ alone, Zn²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and Zn²⁺ and [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ supported our findings that Zn²⁺ is absolutely required for ribozyme catalysis, and indicated that optimal ribozyme catalysis involves the presence of outer-sphere and one inner-sphere Mg²⁺. A survey of the TW17 ribozyme activity at various pHs revealed that the activity of the ribozyme critically depends on the alkaline conditions. Moreover, a GNRA tetraloop-containing ribozyme constructed with active catalysis in trans provided catalysis and multiple substrate turnover efficiencies significantly higher than ribozymes lacking a GNRA tetraloop. This research supports the essential roles of Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, and a GNRA tetraloop in modulating the TW17 ribozyme structure for optimal ribozyme catalysis, leading also to the formulation of a proposed reaction mechanism for TW17 ribozyme catalysis.

Zn(ii) and Mg(ii) and GAGA tetraloop in the ion atmosphere of the TW17 ribozyme is critical to optimal ribozyme catalysis at alkaline pH.

Inner-Sphere Coordination of Divalent Metal Ion with Nucleobase in Catalytic RNA

Identification of the function of metal ions and the RNA moieties, particularly nucleobases, that bind metal ions is important in RNA catalysis. Here we combine single-atom and abasic substitutions to probe functions of conserved nucleobases in ribonuclease P (RNase P). Structural and biophysical studies of bacterial RNase P propose direct coordination of metal ions by the nucleobases of conserved uridine and guanosine in helix P4 of the RNA subunit (P RNA). To biochemically probe the function of metal ion interactions, we substituted the universally conserved bulged uridine (U51) in the P4 helix of circularly permuted Bacillus subtilis P RNA with 4-thiouridine, 4-deoxyuridine, and abasic modifications and G378/379 with 2-aminopurine, N7-deazaguanosine, and 6-thioguanosine. The functional group modifications of U51 decrease RNase P-catalyzed phosphodiester bond cleavage 16- to 23-fold, as measured by the single-turnover cleavage rate constant. The activity of the 4-thiouridine RNase P is partially rescued by addition of Cd(II) or Mn(II) ions. This is the first time a metal-rescue experiment provides evidence for inner-sphere divalent metal ion coordination with a nucleobase. Modifications of G379 modestly decrease the cleavage activity of RNase P, suggesting outer-sphere coordination of O6 on G379 to a metal ion. These data provide biochemical evidence for catalytically important interactions of the P4 helix of P RNA with metal ions, demonstrating that the bulged uridine coordinates at least one catalytic metal ion through an inner-sphere interaction. The combination of single-atom and abasic nucleotide substitutions provides a powerful strategy to probe functions of conserved nucleobases in large RNAs.

Structure-based insights into self-cleavage by a four-way junctional twister-sister ribozyme

Here we report on the crystal structure and cleavage assays of a four-way junctional twister-sister self-cleaving ribozyme. Notably, 11 conserved spatially separated loop nucleotides are brought into close proximity at the ribozyme core through long-range interactions mediated by hydrated Mg²⁺ cations. The C62–A63 step at the cleavage site adopts a splayed-apart orientation, with flexible C62 directed outwards, whereas A63 is directed inwards and anchored by stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Structure-guided studies of key base, sugar, and phosphate mutations in the twister-sister ribozyme, suggest contributions to the cleavage chemistry from interactions between a guanine at the active site and the non-bridging oxygen of the scissile phosphate, a feature found previously also for the related twister ribozyme. Our four-way junctional pre-catalytic structure differs significantly in the alignment at the cleavage step (splayed-apart vs. base-stacked) and surrounding residues and hydrated Mg²⁺ ions relative to a reported three-way junctional pre-catalytic structure of the twister-sister ribozyme.

Twister-sister is a self-cleaving ribozyme. Here, the authors report the 2.0 Å crystal structure of the four-way junctional twister-sister ribozyme in the pre-catalytic state and discuss mechanistic implications based on their mutagenesis experiments and comparisons with other ribozyme structures.

Thymidine 5'-O-monophosphorothioate induces HeLa cell migration by activation of the P2Y6 receptor

ATP, ADP, UTP, and UDP acting as ligands of specific P2Y receptors activate intracellular signaling cascades to regulate a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, differentiation, and cell death. Contrary to a widely held opinion, we show here that nucleoside 5'-O-monophosphorothioate analogs, containing a sulfur atom in a place of one nonbridging oxygen atom in a phosphate group, act as ligands for selected P2Y subtypes. We pay particular attention to the unique activity of thymidine 5'-O-monophosphorothioate (TMPS) which acts as a specific partial agonist of the P2Y6 receptor (P2Y6R). We also collected evidence for the involvement of the P2Y6 receptor in human epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa) cell migration induced by thymidine 5'-O-monophosphorothioate analog. The stimulatory effect of TMPS was abolished by siRNA-mediated P2Y6 knockdown and diisothiocyanate derivative MRS 2578, a selective antagonist of the P2Y6R. Our results indicate for the first time that increased stability of thymidine 5'-O-monophosphorothioate as well as its affinity toward the P2Y6R may be responsible for some long-term effects mediated by this receptor.

Complex formation of cadmium with sugar residues, nucleobases, phosphates, nucleotides, and nucleic acids

Cadmium(II), commonly classified as a relatively soft metal ion, prefers indeed aromatic-nitrogen sites (e.g., N7 of purines) over oxygen sites (like sugar-hydroxyl groups). However, matters are not that simple, though it is true that the affinity of Cd(2+) towards ribose-hydroxyl groups is very small; yet, a correct orientation brought about by a suitable primary binding site and a reduced solvent polarity, as it is expected to occur in a folded nucleic acid, may facilitate metal ion-hydroxyl group binding very effectively. Cd(2+) prefers the guanine(N7) over the adenine(N7), mainly because of the steric hindrance of the (C6)NH(2) group in the adenine residue. This Cd(2+)-(N7) interaction in a guanine moiety leads to a significant acidification of the (N1)H meaning that the deprotonation reaction occurs now in the physiological pH range. N3 of the cytosine residue, together with the neighboring (C2)O, is also a remarkable Cd(2+) binding site, though replacement of (C2)O by (C2)S enhances the affinity towards Cd(2+) dramatically, giving in addition rise to the deprotonation of the (C4)NH(2) group. The phosphodiester bridge is only a weak binding site but the affinity increases further from the mono- to the di- and the triphosphate. The same also holds for the corresponding nucleotides. Complex stability of the pyrimidine-nucleotides is solely determined by the coordination tendency of the phosphate group(s), whereas in the case of purine-nucleotides macrochelate formation takes place by the interaction of the phosphate-coordinated Cd(2+) with N7. The extents of the formation degrees of these chelates are summarized and the effect of a non-bridging sulfur atom in a thiophosphate group (versus a normal phosphate group) is considered. Mixed ligand complexes containing a nucleotide and a further mono- or bidentate ligand are covered and it is concluded that in these species N7 is released from the coordination sphere of Cd(2+). In the case that the other ligand contains an aromatic residue (e.g., 2,2'-bipyridine or the indole ring of tryptophanate) intramolecular stack formation takes place. With buffers like Tris or Bistris mixed ligand complexes are formed. Cd(2+) coordination to dinucleotides and to dinucleoside monophosphates provides some insights regarding the interaction between Cd(2+) and nucleic acids. Cd(2+) binding to oligonucleotides follows the principles of coordination to its units. The available crystal studies reveal that N7 of purines is the prominent binding site followed by phosphate oxygens and other heteroatoms in nucleic acids. Due to its high thiophilicity, Cd(2+) is regularly used in so-called thiorescue experiments, which lead to the identification of a direct involvement of divalent metal ions in ribozyme catalysis.

Characterization of metal ion-nucleic acid interactions in solution

Metal ions are inextricably involved with nucleic acids due to their polyanionic nature. In order to understand the structure and function of RNAs and DNAs, one needs to have detailed pictures on the structural, thermodynamic, and kinetic properties of metal ion interactions with these biomacromolecules. In this review we first compile the physicochemical properties of metal ions found and used in combination with nucleic acids in solution. The main part then describes the various methods developed over the past decades to investigate metal ion binding by nucleic acids in solution. This includes for example hydrolytic and radical cleavage experiments, mutational approaches, as well as kinetic isotope effects. In addition, spectroscopic techniques like EPR, lanthanide(III) luminescence, IR and Raman as well as various NMR methods are summarized. Aside from gaining knowledge about the thermodynamic properties on the metal ion-nucleic acid interactions, especially NMR can be used to extract information on the kinetics of ligand exchange rates of the metal ions applied. The final section deals with the influence of anions, buffers, and the solvent permittivity on the binding equilibria between metal ions and nucleic acids. Little is known on some of these aspects, but it is clear that these three factors have a large influence on the interaction between metal ions and nucleic acids.

Nucleic acid-passivated semiconductor nanocrystals: biomolecular templating of form and function

Bright, photostable luminescent labels are powerful tools for the in vitro and in vivo imaging of biological events. Semiconductor nanocrystals have emerged as attractive alternatives to commonly used organic lumophores because of their high quantum yields and the spectral tunability that can be achieved through synthetic control. Although conventional synthetic methods generally yield high-quality nanocrystals with excellent optical properties for biological imaging, ligand exchange and biological conjugation are necessary to make nanocrystals biocompatible and biospecific. These steps can substantially deteriorate the optical characteristics of these nanocrystals. Moreover, the complexity of multistep nanocrystal synthesis, typically requiring inert and anhydrous conditions, prohibits many end users of these lumiphores from generating their own custom materials. We sought to streamline semiconductor nanocrystal synthesis and develop synthetic routes that would be accessible to scientists from all disciplines. In search of such an approach, we turned to nucleic acids as a programmable and versatile ligand set and found that these biomolecules are indeed appropriate for biocompatible semiconductor nanocrystals preparation. In this Account, we summarize our work on nucleic acids-programmed nanocrystal synthesis that has resulted in the successful development of a one-step synthesis of biofunctionalized nanocrystals in aqueous solution. We first discuss results obtained with nucleotide-capped cadmium and lead chalcogenide-based nanocrystals that served to guide further investigation of polynucleotide-assisted synthesis. We investigated the roles of individual nucleobases and their structures in passivation of the surfaces of nanocrystals and modulating morphology and optical characteristics. The nucleic acid structures and sequences and the reaction conditions greatly influence the nanocrystals' optical properties and morphologies. Moreover, studies using live cells reveal low toxicity and rapid uptake of DNA-passivated CdS nanocrystals, demonstrating their suitability for bioimaging. Finally, we describe a new approach that leads to the production of biofunctionalized, DNA-capped nanocrystals in a single step. Chimeric DNA molecules enable this strategy, providing both a domain for nanocrystal passivation and a domain for biomolecule recognition. Nanocrystals synthesized using this approach possess good spectral characteristics as well as high specificity to cognate DNA, protein, and cancer cell targets. Overall, this approach could make nanocrystal lumiphores more readily accessible to researchers working in the biological sciences.

Discrimination in metal-ion binding to RNA dinucleotides with a non-bridging oxygen or sulfur in the phosphate diester link

Replacement of a non-bridging oxygen in the phosphate diester bond by a sulfur has become quite popular in nucleic acid research and is often used as a probe, for example, in ribozymes, where the normally essential Mg(2+) is partly replaced by a thiophilic metal ion to reactivate the system. Despite these widely applied rescue experiments no detailed studies exist quantifying the affinity of metal ions to such terminal sulfur atoms. Therefore, we performed potentiometric pH titrations to determine the binding properties of pUp((S))U(3-) towards Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), and Pb(2+), and compared these data with those previously obtained for the corresponding pUpU(3-) complexes. The primary binding site in both dinucleotides is the terminal phosphate group. Theoretically, also the formation of 10-membered chelates involving the terminal oxygen or sulfur atoms of the (thio)phosphate bridge is possible with both ligands. The results show that Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) exist as open (op) isomers binding to both dinucleotides only at the terminal phosphate group. Whereas Cd(pUpU)(-) only exists as Cd(pUpU)(-)(op), Cd(pUp((S))U)(-) is present to about 64 % as the S-coordinated macrochelate, Cd(pUp((S))U)(-)(cl/PS). Zn(2+) forms with pUp((S))U(3-) three isomeric species, that is, Zn(pUp((S))U)(-)(op), Zn(pUp((S))U)(-)(cl/PO), and Zn(pUp((S))U)(-)(cl/PS), which occur to about 33, 12 (O-bound), and 55 %, respectively. Pb(2+) forms the 10-membered chelate with both nucleotides involving only the terminal oxygen atoms of the (thio)phosphate bridge, that is, no indication of S binding was discovered in this case. Hence, Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) show pronounced thiophilic properties, whereas Mg(2+), Mn(2+), and Pb(2+) coordinate to the oxygen, macrochelate formation being of relevance with Pb(2+) only.

Acid-base and metal-ion-binding properties of xanthosine 5'-monophosphate (XMP) in aqueous solution: complex stabilities, isomeric equilibria, and extent of macrochelation

The four acidity constants of threefold protonated xanthosine 5'-monophosphate, H3(XMP)+, reveal that at the physiological pH of 7.5 (XMP-H)(3-) strongly dominates (and not XMP(2-) as given in textbooks); this is in contrast to the related inosine (IMP(2-)) and guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP(2-)) and it means that XMP should better be named as xanthosinate 5'-monophosphate. In addition, evidence is provided for a tautomeric (XMP-HN1)(3-)/(XMP-HN3)(3-) equilibrium. The stability constants of the M(H;XMP)+ species were estimated and those of the M(XMP) and M(XMP-H)- complexes (M2+=Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+) measured potentiometrically in aqueous solution. The primary M2+ binding site in M(XMP) is (mostly) N7 of the monodeprotonated xanthine residue, the proton being at the phosphate group. The corresponding macrochelates involving P(O)2(OH)- (most likely outer-sphere) are formed to approximately 65% for nearly all M2+. In M(XMP-H)- the primary M2+ binding site is (mostly) the phosphate group; here the formation degree of the N7 macrochelates varies widely from close to zero for the alkaline earth ions, to approximately 50% for Mn2+, and approximately 90% or more for Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+. Because for (XMP-H)(3-) the micro stability constants quantifying the M2+ affinity of the xanthosinate and PO3(2-) residues are known, one may apply a recently developed quantification method for the chelate effect to the corresponding macrochelates; this chelate effect is close to zero for the alkaline earth ions and it amounts to about one log unit for Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+. This method also allows calculation of the formation degrees of the monodentatally coordinated isomers; this information is of relevance for biological systems because it demonstrates how metal ions can switch from one site to another through macrochelate formation. These insights are meaningful for metal-ion-dependent reactions of XMP in metabolic pathways; previous mechanistic proposals based on XMP(2-) need revision.

Molecular basis of pregnancy-induced breast cancer protection

We have postulated that the lifetime protective effect of an early pregnancy against breast cancer is due to the complete differentiation of the mammary gland characterized by a specific genomic signature imprinted by the physiological process of pregnancy. In the present work, we show evidence that the breast tissue of postmenopausal parous women has had a shifting of stem cell 1 to stem cell 2 with a genomic signature different from similar structures derived from postmenopausal nulliparous women that have stem cell 1. Those genes that are significantly different are grouped in major categories on the basis of their putative functional significance. Among them are those gene transcripts related to immune surveillance, DNA repair, transcription, chromatin structure/activators/co-activators, growth factor and signal transduction pathway, transport and cell trafficking, cell proliferation, differentiation, cell adhesion, protein synthesis and cell metabolism. From these data, it was concluded that during pregnancy there are significant genomic changes that reflect profound alterations in the basic physiology of the mammary gland that explain the protective effect against carcinogenesis. The implication of this knowledge is that when the genomic signature of protection or refractoriness to carcinogenesis is acquired by the shifting of stem cell 1 to stem cell 2, the hormonal milieu induced by pregnancy or pregnancy-like conditions is no longer required. This is a novel concept that challenges the current knowledge that a chemopreventive agent needs to be given for a long period to suppress a metabolic pathway or abrogate the function of an organ.

Nucleoside 5'-triphosphates: self-association, acid-base, and metal ion-binding properties in solution

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP(4-)) and related nucleoside 5'-triphosphates (NTP(4-)) serve as substrates in the form of metal ion complexes in enzymic reactions taking part thus in central metabolic processes. With this in mind, the coordination chemistry of NTPs is critically reviewed and the conditions are defined for studies aiming to describe the properties of monomeric complexes because at higher concentrations (>1 mM) self-stacking may take place. The metal ion (M(2+)) complexes of purine-NTPs are more stable than those of pyrimidine-NTPs; this stability enhancement is attributed, in accord with NMR studies, to macrochelate formation of the phosphate-coordinated M(2+) with N7 of the purine residue and the formation degrees of the resulting isomeric complexes are listed. Furthermore, the formation of mixed-ligand complexes (including also those with buffer molecules), the effect of a reduced solvent polarity on complex stability and structure (giving rise to selectivity), the use of nucleotide analogues as antiviral agents, and the effect of metal ions on group transfer reactions are summarized.