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Kolbeck PJ, Vanderlinden W, Gemmecker G, Gebhardt C, Lehmann M, Lak A, Nicolaus T, Cordes T, Lipfert J. Molecular structure, DNA binding mode, photophysical properties and recommendations for use of SYBR Gold. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:5143-5158. [PMID: 33905507 PMCID: PMC8136779 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SYBR Gold is a commonly used and particularly bright fluorescent DNA stain, however, its chemical structure is unknown and its binding mode to DNA remains controversial. Here, we solve the structure of SYBR Gold by NMR and mass spectrometry to be [2-[N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N-propylamino]-4-[2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-(benzo-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-methylidene]-1-phenyl-quinolinium] and determine its extinction coefficient. We quantitate SYBR Gold binding to DNA using two complementary approaches. First, we use single-molecule magnetic tweezers (MT) to determine the effects of SYBR Gold binding on DNA length and twist. The MT assay reveals systematic lengthening and unwinding of DNA by 19.1° ± 0.7° per molecule upon binding, consistent with intercalation, similar to the related dye SYBR Green I. We complement the MT data with spectroscopic characterization of SYBR Gold. The data are well described by a global binding model for dye concentrations ≤2.5 μM, with parameters that quantitatively agree with the MT results. The fluorescence increases linearly with the number of intercalated SYBR Gold molecules up to dye concentrations of ∼2.5 μM, where quenching and inner filter effects become relevant. In summary, we provide a mechanistic understanding of DNA-SYBR Gold interactions and present practical guidelines for optimal DNA detection and quantitative DNA sensing applications using SYBR Gold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline J Kolbeck
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Willem Vanderlinden
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Gerd Gemmecker
- Bavarian NMR Center (BNMRZ), Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Christian Gebhardt
- Physical and Synthetic Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Martin Lehmann
- Plant Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Aidin Lak
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Nicolaus
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Thorben Cordes
- Physical and Synthetic Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jan Lipfert
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
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Chung WJ, Cui Y, Chen CS, Wei WH, Chang RS, Shu WY, Hsu IC. Freezing shortens the lifetime of DNA molecules under tension. J Biol Phys 2017; 43:511-524. [PMID: 28887655 PMCID: PMC5696304 DOI: 10.1007/s10867-017-9466-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA samples are commonly frozen for storage. However, freezing can compromise the integrity of DNA molecules. Considering the wide applications of DNA molecules in nanotechnology, changes to DNA integrity at the molecular level may cause undesirable outcomes. However, the effects of freezing on DNA integrity have not been fully explored. To investigate the impact of freezing on DNA integrity, samples of frozen and non-frozen bacteriophage lambda DNA were studied using optical tweezers. Tension (5–35 pN) was applied to DNA molecules to mimic mechanical interactions between DNA and other biomolecules. The integrity of the DNA molecules was evaluated by measuring the time taken for single DNA molecules to break under tension. Mean lifetimes were determined by maximum likelihood estimates and variances were obtained through bootstrapping simulations. Under 5 pN of force, the mean lifetime of frozen samples is 44.3 min with 95% confidence interval (CI) between 36.7 min and 53.6 min while the mean lifetime of non-frozen samples is 133.2 min (95% CI: 97.8–190.1 min). Under 15 pN of force, the mean lifetimes are 10.8 min (95% CI: 7.6–12.6 min) and 78.5 min (95% CI: 58.1–108.9 min). The lifetimes of frozen DNA molecules are significantly reduced, implying that freezing compromises DNA integrity. Moreover, we found that the reduced DNA structural integrity cannot be restored using regular ligation process. These results indicate that freezing can alter the structural integrity of the DNA molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ju Chung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Yujia Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
| | - Chi-Shuo Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Wesley H Wei
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, 419 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Rong-Shing Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Wun-Yi Shu
- Institute of Statistics, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ian C Hsu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
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Xu K, Fu Y, Chung W, Zheng X, Cui Y, Hsu IC, Kao WJ. Thiol-ene-based biological/synthetic hybrid biomatrix for 3-D living cell culture. Acta Biomater 2012; 8:2504-16. [PMID: 22484717 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2012.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2012] [Revised: 03/06/2012] [Accepted: 03/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although various cell encapsulation materials are available commercially for a wide range of potential therapeutic cells, their combined clinical impact remains inconsistent. Synthetic materials such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels are mechanically robust and have been extensively explored but lack natural biofunctionality. Naturally derived materials including collagen, fibrin and alginate-chitosan are often labile and mechanically weak. In this paper we report the development of a hybrid biomatrix based on the thiol-ene reaction of PEG diacrylate (PEGdA) and cysteine/PEG-modified gelatin (gel-PEG-Cys). We hypothesized that covalent crosslinking decreases gelatin dissolution thus increasing gelatin resident time within the matrix and the duration of its biofunctionality; at the same time the relative ratio of PEGdA to gel-PEG-Cys in the matrix formulation directly affects hydrogel bulk and local microenvironment properties. Bulk viscoelastic properties were highly dependent on PEGdA concentration and total water content, while gel-PEG-Cys concentration was more critical to swelling profiles. Microviscoelastic properties were related to polymer concentration. The covalently crosslinked gel-PEG-Cys with PEGdA decreased gelatin dissolution out of the matrix and collagenase-mediated degradation. Fibroblasts and keratinocyte increased adhesion density and formed intercellular connections on stiffer hydrogel surfaces, while cells exhibited more cytoplasmic spreading and proliferation when entrapped within softer hydrogels. Hence, this material system contains multiparametric factors that can easily be controlled to modulate the chemical, physical and biological properties of the biomatrix for soft tissue scaffolding and cell presentation to reconstruct lost tissue architecture and physical functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kedi Xu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53705, USA
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Force field measurements within the exclusion zone of water. J Biol Phys 2011; 38:113-20. [PMID: 23277674 DOI: 10.1007/s10867-011-9237-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Water molecules play critical roles in many biological functions, such as protein dynamics, enzymatic activities, and cellular responses. Previous nuclear magnetic resonance and neutron scattering studies have shown that water molecules bind to specific sites on surfaces and form localized clusters. However, most current experimental techniques cannot measure dynamic behaviors of ordered water molecules on cell-size (10 μm) scale. Recently, the long-distance effect of structured water has been demonstrated by Pollack and his colleagues. Namely, there is a structured water layer near the hydrophilic surface that can exclude solutes (Zheng et al, Adv Colloid Interface Sci 127:19-27, 2006; Pollack 2006, Adv Colloid Interface Sci 103:173-196, 2003). The repelling forces of water clusters inside this exclusion region are investigated in this study. With a laser tweezers system, we found the existence of an unexpected force fields inside the solute-free exclusion zone near a Nafion surface. Our results suggest that the water clusters could transduce mechanical signals on the micrometer range within the exclusion zone. This unexpected inhomogeneous force field near the hydrophilic surface would provide a new insight into cellular activities, leading to a potential new physical chemistry mechanism for cell biology.
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Determining the binding mode and binding affinity constant of tyrosine kinase inhibitor PD153035 to DNA using optical tweezers. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 404:297-301. [PMID: 21130075 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.11.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2010] [Accepted: 11/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Accurately predicting binding affinity constant (K(A)) is highly required to determine the binding energetics of the driving forces in drug-DNA interactions. Recently, PD153035, brominated anilinoquinazoline, has been reported to be not only a highly selective inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor but also a DNA intercalator. Here, we use a dual-trap optical tweezers to determining K(A) for PD153035, where K(A) is determined from the changes in B-form contour length (L) of PD153035-DNA complex. Here, L is fitted using a modified wormlike chain model. We found that a noticeable increment in L in 1 mM sodium cacodylate was exhibited. Furthermore, our results showed that K(A)=1.18(±0.09)×10(4) (1/M) at 23±0.5°C and the minimum distance between adjacent bound PD153035≈11 bp. We anticipate that by using this approach we can determine the complete thermodynamic profiles due to the presence of DNA intercalators.
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Lipfert J, Klijnhout S, Dekker NH. Torsional sensing of small-molecule binding using magnetic tweezers. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 38:7122-32. [PMID: 20624816 PMCID: PMC2978369 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA-binding small molecules are widespread in the cell and heavily used in biological applications. Here, we use magnetic tweezers, which control the force and torque applied to single DNAs, to study three small molecules: ethidium bromide (EtBr), a well-known intercalator; netropsin, a minor-groove binding anti-microbial drug; and topotecan, a clinically used anti-tumor drug. In the low-force limit in which biologically relevant torques can be accessed (<10 pN), we show that ethidium intercalation lengthens DNA ∼1.5-fold and decreases the persistence length, from which we extract binding constants. Using our control of supercoiling, we measure the decrease in DNA twist per intercalation to be 27.3 ± 1° and demonstrate that ethidium binding delays the accumulation of torsional stress in DNA, likely via direct reduction of the torsional modulus and torque-dependent binding. Furthermore, we observe that EtBr stabilizes the DNA duplex in regimes where bare DNA undergoes structural transitions. In contrast, minor groove binding by netropsin affects neither the contour nor persistence length significantly, yet increases the twist per base of DNA. Finally, we show that topotecan binding has consequences similar to those of EtBr, providing evidence for an intercalative binding mode. These insights into the torsional consequences of ligand binding can help elucidate the effects of small-molecule drugs in the cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Lipfert
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands
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