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Abraham Punnoose J, Thomas KJ, Chandrasekaran AR, Vilcapoma J, Hayden A, Kilpatrick K, Vangaveti S, Chen A, Banco T, Halvorsen K. High-throughput single-molecule quantification of individual base stacking energies in nucleic acids. Nat Commun 2023; 14:631. [PMID: 36746949 PMCID: PMC9902561 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36373-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Base stacking interactions between adjacent bases in DNA and RNA are important for many biological processes and in biotechnology applications. Previous work has estimated stacking energies between pairs of bases, but contributions of individual bases has remained unknown. Here, we use a Centrifuge Force Microscope for high-throughput single molecule experiments to measure stacking energies between adjacent bases. We found stacking energies strongest between purines (G|A at -2.3 ± 0.2 kcal/mol) and weakest between pyrimidines (C|T at -0.5 ± 0.1 kcal/mol). Hybrid stacking with phosphorylated, methylated, and RNA nucleotides had no measurable effect, but a fluorophore modification reduced stacking energy. We experimentally show that base stacking can influence stability of a DNA nanostructure, modulate kinetics of enzymatic ligation, and assess accuracy of force fields in molecular dynamics simulations. Our results provide insights into fundamental DNA interactions that are critical in biology and can inform design in biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jibin Abraham Punnoose
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Kevin J Thomas
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | | | - Javier Vilcapoma
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Andrew Hayden
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Kacey Kilpatrick
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Sweta Vangaveti
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Alan Chen
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Thomas Banco
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Ken Halvorsen
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.
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McCarte B, Yeung OT, Speakman AJ, Elfick A, Dunn KE. Using ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy to study nanoswitches based on non-canonical DNA structures. Biochem Biophys Rep 2022; 31:101293. [PMID: 35677630 PMCID: PMC9167695 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2022.101293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-canonical forms of DNA are attracting increasing interest for applications in nanotechnology. It is frequently convenient to characterize DNA molecules using a label-free approach such as ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy. In this paper we present the results of our investigation into the use of this technique to probe the folding of quadruplex and triplex nanoswitches. We confirmed that four G-quartets were necessary for folding at sub-mM concentrations of potassium and found that the wrong choice of sequence for the linker between G-tracts could dramatically disrupt folding, presumably due to the presence of kinetic traps in the folding landscape. In the case of the triplex nanoswitch we examined, we found that the UV spectrum showed a small change in absorbance when a triplex was formed. We anticipate that our results will be of interest to researchers seeking to design DNA nanoswitches based on quadruplexes and triplexes. Ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy can probe non-canonical DNA structures. Absorbance at 295 nm tends to increase as G-quadruplexes form. Four G-quartets are needed to form a quadruplex with less than 1 mM potassium. Formation of DNA triplexes can also yield a small change in UV spectra. UV absorption is a cheap label-free method for studying DNA nanoswitches.
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Zhou L, Hayden A, Chandrasekaran AR, Vilcapoma J, Cavaliere C, Dey P, Mao S, Sheng J, Dey BK, Rangan P, Halvorsen K. Sequence-selective purification of biological RNAs using DNA nanoswitches. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2021; 1:100126. [PMID: 35072148 PMCID: PMC8782281 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2021.100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acid purification is a critical aspect of biomedical research and a multibillion-dollar industry. Here we establish sequence-selective RNA capture, release, and isolation using conformationally responsive DNA nanoswitches. We validate purification of specific RNAs ranging in size from 22 to 401 nt with up to 75% recovery and 99.98% purity in a benchtop process with minimal expense and equipment. Our method compared favorably with bead-based extraction of an endogenous microRNA from cellular total RNA, and can be programmed for multiplexed purification of multiple individual RNA targets from one sample. Coupling our approach with downstream LC/MS, we analyzed RNA modifications in 5.8S ribosomal RNA, and found 2'-O-methylguanosine, 2'-O-methyluridine, and pseudouridine in a ratio of ~1:7:22. The simplicity, low cost, and low sample requirements of our method make it suitable for easy adoption, and the versatility of the approach provides opportunities to expand the strategy to other biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifeng Zhou
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Andrew Hayden
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | | | - Javier Vilcapoma
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Cassandra Cavaliere
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Paromita Dey
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Song Mao
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Jia Sheng
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Bijan K. Dey
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Prashanth Rangan
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Ken Halvorsen
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
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Chandrasekaran AR, Trivedi R, Halvorsen K. Ribonuclease-Responsive DNA Nanoswitches. CELL REPORTS. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 2020; 1:100117. [PMID: 32803173 PMCID: PMC7425801 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2020.100117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
DNA has been used in the construction of dynamic DNA devices that can reconfigure in the presence of external stimuli. These nanodevices have found uses in fields ranging from biomedical to materials science applications. Here, we report a DNA nanoswitch that can be reconfigured using ribonucleases (RNases) and explore two applications: biosensing and molecular computing. For biosensing, we show the detection of RNase H and other RNases in relevant biological fluids and temperatures, as well as inhibition by the known enzyme inhibitor kanamycin. For molecular computing, we show that RNases can be used to enable erasing, write protection, and erase-rewrite functionality for information-encoding DNA nanoswitches. The simplistic mix-and-read nature of the ribonuclease-activated DNA nanoswitches could facilitate their use in assays for identifying RNase contamination in biological samples or for the screening and characterization of RNase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Richard Chandrasekaran
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Twitter: @arunrichardc
| | - Ruju Trivedi
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Ken Halvorsen
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Twitter: @HalvorsenLab
- Lead Contact
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Punnoose JA, Halvorsen K, Chandrasekaran AR. DNA nanotechnology in the undergraduate laboratory: Analysis of molecular topology using DNA nanoswitches. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION 2020; 97:1448-1453. [PMID: 33814597 PMCID: PMC8015199 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b01185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
There is a disconnect between the cutting-edge research done in academic labs, such as nanotechnology, and what is taught in undergraduate labs. In the current undergraduate curriculum, very few students get a chance to do hands-on experiments in nanotechnology-related experiments most of which are through selective undergraduate research programs. In most cases, complicated synthesis procedures, expensive reagents, and requirement of specific instrumentation prevent broad adaptation of nanotechnology-based experiments to laboratory courses. DNA, being a nanoscale molecule, has recently been used in bottom-up nanotechnology with applications in sensing, nano-robotics, and computing. In this article, we propose a simple experiment involving the synthesis of a DNA nanoswitch that can change its shape from a linear "off" state to a looped "on" state in the presence of a target DNA molecule. The experiment also demonstrates the programmable topology of the looped state of the nanoswitch and its effect on gel migration. The experiment is easy to adapt in an undergraduate laboratory, requires only agarose gel electrophoresis, a minimal set-up cost for materials, and can be completed in a 3-hour time frame.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ken Halvorsen
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
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