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Gorb L, Voiteshenko I, Hurmach V, Zarudnaya M, Nyporko A, Shyryna T, Platonov M, Roszak S, Rasulev B. From RNA sequence to its three-dimensional structure: geometrical structure, stability and dynamics of selected fragments of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. NAR Genom Bioinform 2024; 6:lqae062. [PMID: 38835951 PMCID: PMC11148665 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqae062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In this computational study, we explore the folding of a particular sequence using various computational tools to produce two-dimensional structures, which are then transformed into three-dimensional structures. We then study the geometry, energetics and dynamics of these structures using full electron quantum-chemical and classical molecular dynamics calculations. Our study focuses on the SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragment GGaGGaGGuguugcaGG and its various structures, including a G-quadruplex and five different hairpins. We examine the impact of two types of counterions (K+ and Na+) and flanking nucleotides on their geometrical characteristics, relative stability and dynamic properties. Our results show that the G-quadruplex structure is the most stable among the constructed hairpins. We confirm its topological stability through molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, we observe that the nucleotide loop consisting of seven nucleotides is the most flexible part of the RNA fragment. Additionally, we find that RNA networks of intermolecular hydrogen bonds are highly sensitive to the surrounding environment. Our findings reveal the loss of 79 old hydrogen bonds and the formation of 91 new ones in the case when the G-quadruplex containing flanking nucleotides is additionally stabilized by Na+ counterions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid Gorb
- Department of Molecular and Quantum Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150, Akademika Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Ivan Voiteshenko
- Department of Molecular and Quantum Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150, Akademika Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 60 Volodymyrska Street, Kyiv01033, Ukraine
| | - Vasyl Hurmach
- Department of Molecular and Quantum Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150, Akademika Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Margarita Zarudnaya
- Department of Molecular and Quantum Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150, Akademika Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Alex Nyporko
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 60 Volodymyrska Street, Kyiv01033, Ukraine
| | - Tetiana Shyryna
- Department of Molecular and Quantum Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150, Akademika Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Maksym Platonov
- Department of Molecular and Quantum Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150, Akademika Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Szczepan Roszak
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, 50-370Wrocław, Poland
| | - Bakhtiyor Rasulev
- Department of Coatings and Polymer Materials, North Dakota State University, NDSU Department 2760, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
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Bali SD, Ahsan M, Revanasiddappa PD. Structural Insights into the Antiparallel G-Quadruplex in the Presence of K + and Mg 2+ Ions. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:1499-1512. [PMID: 36757392 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
G-Quadruplex (GQ) is a secondary structural unit of DNA, formed at the telomere region of the chromosome with a high guanine content. It is reported that the GQs can hinder many biological processes. Thus, research thrives to explore the structural stability of GQs. Studies based on circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments established the vital role of cations such as K+ and Mg2+ in the stability of antiparallel G-quadruplexes (AGQs). However, there is a need to understand how stability in AGQ is attained in the presence of cations. Here, we employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, steered MD (SMD) simulations, and QM/MM calculations to understand the biophysical and electronic bases of the stability imparted to AGQs via cation binding. Our results showed that Mg2+ prefers to bind in the plane with the guanine tetrad, whereas K+ binds in between the AGQ tetrads. Thus, three Mg2+ cations or two K+ ions are needed to stabilize an AGQ molecule, where each and every tetrad binds to Mg2+ more robustly with a higher binding affinity. SMD revealed that the traversal of K+ through the AGQ central channel required less force than that of Mg2+, illustrating the presence of more strong interactions between Mg2+ and AGQ tetrads compared to K+. The stabilization in the AGQ tetrads due to cation binding is reassessed by employing ab initio simulations. Mixed QM/MM calculations confirmed that Mg2+ binds strongly to AGQ compared to K+, and it induces higher interactions between the guanine tetrads. However, K+ binding to AGQ induces a higher stabilization energy than Mg2+ binding to AGQ tetrads. Despite the higher binding energy, Mg2+ binding imparts lower stabilization to AGQ due to its unfavorable fermionic quantum energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu D Bali
- Department of Biotechnology, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru 572103, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohd Ahsan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California 92521-9800, United States
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Biver T. Discriminating between Parallel, Anti-Parallel and Hybrid G-Quadruplexes: Mechanistic Details on Their Binding to Small Molecules. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134165. [PMID: 35807410 PMCID: PMC9268745 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4) are now extensively recognised as a peculiar non-canonical DNA geometry that plays a prime importance role in processes of biological relevance whose number is increasing continuously. The same is true for the less-studied RNA G4 counterpart. G4s are stable structures; however, their geometrical parameters may be finely tuned not only by the presence of particular sequences of nucleotides but also by the salt content of the medium or by a small molecule that may act as a peculiar topology inducer. As far as the interest in G4s increases and our knowledge of these species deepens, researchers do not only verify the G4s binding by small molecules and the subsequent G4 stabilisation. The most innovative studies now aim to elucidate the mechanistic details of the interaction and the ability of a target species (drug) to bind only to a peculiar G4 geometry. In this focused review, we survey the advances in the studies of the binding of small molecules of medical interest to G4s, with particular attention to the ability of these species to bind differently (intercalation, lateral binding or sitting atop) to different G4 topologies (parallel, anti-parallel or hybrid structures). Some species, given the very high affinity with some peculiar G4 topology, can first bind to a less favourable geometry and then induce its conversion. This aspect is also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarita Biver
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Milovanović B, Stanojević A, Etinski M, Petković M. Intriguing Intermolecular Interplay in Guanine Quartet Complexes with Alkali and Alkaline Earth Cations. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:3002-3014. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c01165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Branislav Milovanović
- Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Stanojević
- Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mihajlo Etinski
- Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milena Petković
- Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
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Savastano M, Bazzicalupi C, García-Gallarín C, López de la Torre MD, Bianchi A, Melguizo M. Supramolecular forces and their interplay in stabilizing complexes of organic anions: tuning binding selectivity in water. Org Chem Front 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c8qo01152d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The interplay of different supramolecular forces in stabilizing organic anion complexes with s-tetrazine-based ligands in aqueous solution: a microscopic description.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Savastano
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”
- University of Florence
- 50019 Sesto Fiorentino
- Italy
- CSGI
| | - Carla Bazzicalupi
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”
- University of Florence
- 50019 Sesto Fiorentino
- Italy
| | | | | | - Antonio Bianchi
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”
- University of Florence
- 50019 Sesto Fiorentino
- Italy
| | - Manuel Melguizo
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry
- University of Jaén
- 23071 Jaén
- Spain
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Zaccaria F, Fonseca Guerra C. RNA versus DNA G-Quadruplex: The Origin of Increased Stability. Chemistry 2018; 24:16315-16322. [PMID: 30215872 PMCID: PMC6282516 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201803530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
DNA quadruplexes have been the subject of investigation because of their biological relevance and because of their potential application in supramolecular chemistry. Similarly, RNA quadruplexes are now gaining increasing attention. Although DNA and RNA quadruplexes are structurally very similar, the latter show higher stability. In this study we report dispersion‐corrected density functional theory (DFT‐D) quantum chemical calculations that were undertaken to understand the difference in stabilities of RNA and DNA quadruplexes. The smallest meaningful model of a stack of quartets, interacting with alkali metal cations, was simulated in an aqueous environment. The energy decomposition analysis allows for in‐depth examination of the interaction energies, emphasising the role of noncovalent interactions and better electrostatics in determining RNA‐GQs higher stabilities, particularly pinpointing the role of the extra 2′‐OH groups. Furthermore, our computations present new insights on why the cation is required for self‐assembly: unexpectedly the cation is not necessary to relieve the repulsion between the oxygen atoms in the central cavity, but it is needed to overcome the entropic penalty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Zaccaria
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and, Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081, HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Célia Fonseca Guerra
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and, Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081, HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300, RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Villani G. Quantum Mechanical Investigation of the G-Quadruplex Systems of Human Telomere. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:9934-9944. [PMID: 31459122 PMCID: PMC6644616 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The three G-quadruplexes involved in the human telomere have been studied with an accurate quantum mechanical approach, and the possibility of reducing them to a simpler model has been tested. The similarities and the differences of these three systems are shown and discussed. Each system has been analyzed through different properties and compared to the others. In particular, we have considered: (1) the shape of the cavity and the atomic charges around it; (2) the electric field in and out of the cavity; (3) the stabilization energy due to the stacking of G-tetrads, to the H-bonds and to the ion interactions; and, finally, (4) to study the mechanism of the process of the ion inclusion in the cavity, the curves of potential energy due to the movement of the Na+ and K+ ions toward the cavity. The results suggest that a detailed study is essential in order to obtain the quantitative properties of these complex systems, but also that some qualitative behaviors can be schematized. Our study makes it clear that the entry of an ion in the cavity of these systems is a complex process, where it is possible to find stable structures with the ion out and in the cavity. Moreover, it is possible that more than one diabatic state is involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Villani
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici, ICCOM—CNR
(UOS Pisa), Area della Ricerca di Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, I-56124 Pisa, Italy
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Zeng CH, Wu H, Luo Z, Yao J. Weak interactions cause selective cocrystal formation of lanthanide nitrates and tetra-2-pyridinylpyrazine. CrystEngComm 2018. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ce02098h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Two series of cocrystals Ln(NO3)5·H2TPPZ are synthesized enlightening the lanthanide contraction effect and weak hydrogen bonding interactions in determining the selective cocrystallization, stability and energy transfer for luminescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hui Zeng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)
- CAS Key Laboratory of Photochemistry
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Haiming Wu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)
- CAS Key Laboratory of Photochemistry
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Zhixun Luo
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)
- CAS Key Laboratory of Photochemistry
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Jiannian Yao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)
- CAS Key Laboratory of Photochemistry
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
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