Structure of a 16-mer RNA duplex r(GCAGACUUAAAUCUGC)2 with wobble C.A+ mismatches

A review on point mutations via proton transfer in DNA base pairs in the absence and presence of electric fields

This comprehensive review focuses on spontaneous mutations that may occur during DNA replication, the fundamental process responsible for transferring genetic information. In 1963, Löwdin postulated that these mutations are primarily a result of proton transfer reactions within the hydrogen-bonded DNA base pairs. The single and double proton transfer reactions within the base pairs in DNA result in zwitterions and rare tautomers, respectively. For persistent mutations, these products must be generated at high rates and should be thermodynamically stable. This review covers the proton transfer reactions studied experimentally and computationally. The review also examines the influence of externally applied electric fields on the thermodynamics and kinetics of proton transfer reactions within DNA base pairs, and their biological implications.

Insights into the A-C Mismatch Conformational Ensemble in Duplex DNA and its Role in Genetic Processes through a Structure-based Review

Knowing the conformational ensembles formed by mismatches is crucial for understanding how they are generated and repaired and how they contribute to genomic instability. Here, we review structural and energetic studies of the A-C mismatch in duplex DNA and use the information to identify critical conformational states in its ensemble and their significance in genetic processes. In the 1970s, Topal and Fresco proposed the A-C wobble stabilized by two hydrogen bonds, one requiring protonation of adenine-N1. Subsequent NMR and X-ray crystallography studies showed that the protonated A-C wobble was in dynamic equilibrium with a neutral inverted wobble. The mismatch was shown to destabilize duplex DNA in a sequence- and pH-dependent manner by 2.4-3.8 kcal/mol and to have an apparent pKa ranging between 7.2 and 7.7. The A-C mismatch conformational repertoire expanded as structures were determined for damaged and protein-bound DNA. These structures included Watson-Crick-like conformations forming through tautomerization of the bases that drive replication errors, the reverse wobble forming through rotation of the entire nucleotide proposed to increase the fidelity of DNA replication, and the Hoogsteen base-pair forming through the flipping of the adenine base which explained the unusual specificity of DNA polymerases that bypass DNA damage. Thus, the A-C mismatch ensemble encompasses various conformational states that can be selectively stabilized in response to environmental changes such as pH shifts, intermolecular interactions, and chemical modifications, and these adaptations facilitate critical biological processes. This review also highlights the utility of existing 3D structures to build ensemble models for nucleic acid motifs.

Analysis of Template Variations on RNA Synthesis by Respiratory Syncytial Virus Polymerase

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant threat to infants and elderly individuals globally. Currently, there are no effective therapies or treatments for RSV infection because of an insufficient understanding of the RSV viral machinery. In this study, we investigated the effects of the template variations on RNA synthesis by the RSV polymerase through in vitro RNA synthesis assays. We confirmed the previously reported back-priming activity of the RSV polymerase, which is likely due to the secondary structure of the RNA template. We found that the expansion of the hairpin loop size of the RNA template abolishes the RSV polymerase back-priming activity. At the same time, it seemingly does not affect the de novo RNA synthesis activities of the RSV polymerase. Interestingly, our results show that the RSV polymerase also has a new primer-based terminal extension activity that adds nucleotides to the template and primer in a nonspecific manner. We also mapped the impact of the RNA 5' chemical group on its mobility in a urea-denaturing RNA gel shift assay. Overall, these results enhance our knowledge about the RNA synthesis processes of the RSV polymerase and may guide future therapeutic efforts to develop effective antiviral drugs for RSV treatment.

The influence of base pair tautomerism on single point mutations in aqueous DNA

The relationship between base pair hydrogen bond proton transfer and the rate of spontaneous single point mutations at ambient temperatures and pressures in aqueous DNA is investigated. By using an ensemble-based multiscale computational modelling method, statistically robust rates of proton transfer for the A:T and G:C base pairs within a solvated DNA dodecamer are calculated. Several different proton transfer pathways are observed within the same base pair. It is shown that, in G:C, the double proton transfer tautomer is preferred, while the single proton transfer process is favoured in A:T. The reported range of rate coefficients for double proton transfer is consistent with recent experimental data. Notwithstanding the approximately 1000 times more common presence of single proton transfer products from A:T, observationally there is bias towards G:C to A:T mutations in a wide range of living organisms. We infer that the double proton transfer reactions between G:C base pairs have a negligible contribution towards this bias for the following reasons: (i) the maximum half-life of the G*:C* tautomer is in the range of picoseconds, which is significantly smaller than the milliseconds it takes for DNA to unwind during replication, (ii) statistically, the majority of G*:C* tautomers revert back to their canonical forms through a barrierless process, and (iii) the thermodynamic instability of the tautomers with respect to the canonical base pairs. Through similar reasoning, we also deduce that proton transfer in the A:T base pair does not contribute to single point mutations in DNA.

Adenine·cytosine substitutions are an alternative pathway of compensatory mutation in angiosperm ITS2

Compensatory mutations are crucial for functional RNA because they maintain RNA configuration and thus function. Compensatory mutation has traditionally been considered to be a two-step substitution through the GU-base-pair intermediate. We tested for an alternative AC-mediated compensatory mutation (ACCM). We investigated ACCMs by using a comprehensive sampling of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) from 3934 angiosperm species in 80 genera and 55 families. We predicted ITS2 consensus secondary structures by using LocARNA for structure-based alignment and partitioning paired and unpaired regions. We examined and compared the substitution rates and frequencies among base pairs by using RNA-specific models. Base-pair states of ACCMs were mapped onto the inferred phylogenetic trees to infer their evolution. All types of compensatory mutations involving the AC intermediate were observed, but the most frequent substitutions were with AU or GC pairs, which are part of the AU-AC-GC pathway. Compared with the GU intermediate, AC had a lower frequency and higher mutability. Within the AU-AC-GC pathway, the AU-AC substitution rate was much slower than the AC-GC substitution rate. No consistently higher overall rate was identified for either pathway among all 80 sampled lineages, though compensatory mutations through the AC intermediate averaged about half that through the GU intermediate. These results demonstrate an alternative compensatory mutation between AU and GC that helps address the controversial inference of inferred simultaneous double substitutions.

RNA Binding and HEPN-Nuclease Activation Are Decoupled in CRISPR-Cas13a

CRISPR-Cas13a enzymes are RNA-guided, RNA-activated RNases. Their properties have been exploited as powerful tools for RNA detection, RNA imaging, and RNA regulation. However, the relationship between target RNA binding and HEPN (higher eukaryotes and prokaryotes nucleotide binding) domain nuclease activation is poorly understood. Using sequencing experiments coupled with in vitro biochemistry, we find that Cas13a target RNA binding affinity and HEPN-nuclease activity are differentially affected by the number and the position of mismatches between the guide and the target. We identify a central binding seed for which perfect base pairing is required for target binding and a separate nuclease switch for which imperfect base pairing results in tight binding, but not HEPN-nuclease activation. These results demonstrate that the binding and cleavage activities of Cas13a are decoupled, highlighting a complex specificity landscape. Our findings underscore a need to consider the range of effects off-target recognition has on Cas13a RNA binding and cleavage behavior for RNA-targeting tool development.

A novel form of RNA double helix based on G·U and C·A+ wobble base pairing

Wobble base pairs are critical in various physiological functions and have been linked to local structural perturbations in double-helical structures of nucleic acids. We report a 1.38-Å resolution crystal structure of an antiparallel octadecamer RNA double helix in overall A conformation, which includes a unique, central stretch of six consecutive wobble base pairs (W helix) with two G·U and four rare C·A+ wobble pairs. Four adenines within the W helix are N1-protonated and wobble-base-paired with the opposing cytosine through two regular hydrogen bonds. Combined with the two G·U pairs, the C·A+ base pairs facilitate formation of a half turn of W-helical RNA flanked by six regular Watson-Crick base pairs in standard A conformation on either side. RNA melting experiments monitored by differential scanning calorimetry, UV and circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrate that the RNA octadecamer undergoes a pH-induced structural transition which is consistent with the presence of a duplex with C·A+ base pairs at acidic pH. Our crystal structure provides a first glimpse of an RNA double helix based entirely on wobble base pairs with possible applications in RNA or DNA nanotechnology and pH biosensors.

Helical Symmetry of Nucleic Acids: Obstacle or Help in Structure Solution?

Crystallographic molecular replacement method is the key tool to define an atomic structure of nucleic acids. Frequently nucleic acids are packed forming continuous helices in the crystal. This arrangement of individual molecules in "infinite" pseudo helical structures in crystal may be the reason why the molecular replacement fails to find a unique position of the search atomic model as the method requires. The Patterson function, calculated as a Fourier series with diffraction intensities, has auxiliary peaks for such a molecular packing. Those near the origin peak indicate the orientation of the helices. The coordinates of other peaks are related to the molecular position and the rotation angle between two such "infinite" helices. Thus, the peak analysis allows getting molecular position even without a search model. An intelligent selecting and averaging of the phase sets corresponding to multiple probable positions of the search model again result in a unique solution but in the form of a Fourier synthesis and not a model. This synthesis can be used then to build an atomic model as it is the case for usual phasing methods.

The RNA 3D Motif Atlas: Computational methods for extraction, organization and evaluation of RNA motifs

RNA 3D motifs occupy places in structured RNA molecules that correspond to the hairpin, internal and multi-helix junction "loops" of their secondary structure representations. As many as 40% of the nucleotides of an RNA molecule can belong to these structural elements, which are distinct from the regular double helical regions formed by contiguous AU, GC, and GU Watson-Crick basepairs. With the large number of atomic- or near atomic-resolution 3D structures appearing in a steady stream in the PDB/NDB structure databases, the automated identification, extraction, comparison, clustering and visualization of these structural elements presents an opportunity to enhance RNA science. Three broad applications are: (1) identification of modular, autonomous structural units for RNA nanotechnology, nanobiology and synthetic biology applications; (2) bioinformatic analysis to improve RNA 3D structure prediction from sequence; and (3) creation of searchable databases for exploring the binding specificities, structural flexibility, and dynamics of these RNA elements. In this contribution, we review methods developed for computational extraction of hairpin and internal loop motifs from a non-redundant set of high-quality RNA 3D structures. We provide a statistical summary of the extracted hairpin and internal loop motifs in the most recent version of the RNA 3D Motif Atlas. We also explore the reliability and accuracy of the extraction process by examining its performance in clustering recurrent motifs from homologous ribosomal RNA (rRNA) structures. We conclude with a summary of remaining challenges, especially with regard to extraction of multi-helix junction motifs.

1.25 Å resolution structure of an RNA 20-mer that binds to the TREX2 complex

The 1.25 Å resolution H32:R crystal structure of a 20 nt ribonucleotide that binds to the TREX-2 complex with high affinity shows a double-stranded RNA duplex arranged along a crystallographic 31 axis in which the antiparallel chains overlap by 18 nucleotides and are related by a crystallographic twofold axis. The duplex shows C-A, U-U and C-C noncanonical base pairings together with canonical Watson-Crick A-U and G-C pairs and a G-U wobble.

The presence of highly disruptive 16S rRNA mutations in clinical samples indicates a wider role for mutations of the mitochondrial ribosome in human disease

Mitochondrial DNA mutations are well recognized as an important cause of disease, with over two hundred variants in the protein encoding and mt-tRNA genes associated with human disorders. In contrast, the two genes encoding the mitochondrial rRNAs (mt-rRNAs) have been studied in far less detail. This is because establishing the pathogenicity of mt-rRNA mutations is a major diagnostic challenge. Only two disease causing mutations have been identified at these loci, both mapping to the small subunit (SSU). On the large subunit (LSU), however, the evidence for the presence of pathogenic LSU mt-rRNA changes is particularly sparse. We have previously expanded the list of deleterious SSU mt-rRNA mutations by identifying highly disruptive base changes capable of blocking the activity of the mitoribosomal SSU. To do this, we used a new methodology named heterologous inferential analysis (HIA). The recent arrival of near-atomic-resolution structures of the human mitoribosomal LSU, has enhanced the power of our approach by permitting the analysis of the corresponding sites of mutation within their natural structural context. Here, we have used these tools to determine whether LSU mt-rRNA mutations found in the context of human disease and/or ageing could disrupt the function of the mitoribosomal LSU. Our results clearly show that, much like the for SSU mt-rRNA, LSU mt-rRNAs mutations capable of compromising the function of the mitoribosomal LSU are indeed present in clinical samples. Thus, our work constitutes an important contribution to an emerging view of the mitoribosome as an important element in human health.

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Identification of pathogenic mutations of mitochondrial rRNAs is problematic.

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We analysed 64 rare 16S rRNA mutations obtained from clinical samples.

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The mutations underwent heterologous inferential analysis (HIA).

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We show that highly disruptive 16S rRNA mutations are present in clinical samples.

Coarse-grained simulations of RNA and DNA duplexes

Although RNAs play many cellular functions, little is known about the dynamics and thermodynamics of these molecules. In principle, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations can investigate these issues, but with current computer facilities, these simulations have been limited to small RNAs and to short times. HiRe-RNA, a recently proposed high-resolution coarse-grained RNA that captures many geometric details such as base pairing and stacking, is able to fold RNA molecules to near-native structures in a short computational time. So far, it had been applied to simple hairpins, and here we present its application to duplexes of a couple dozen nucleotides and show how with replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) we can easily predict the correct double helix from a completely random configuration and study the dissociation curve. To show the versatility of our model, we present an application to a double stranded DNA molecule as well. A reconstruction algorithm allows us to obtain full atom structures from the coarse-grained model. Through atomistic molecular dynamics (MD), we can compare the dynamics starting from a representative structure of a low temperature replica or from the experimental structure, and show how the two are statistically identical, highlighting the validity of a coarse-grained approach for structured RNAs and DNAs.

The crystal structure of an oligo(U):pre-mRNA duplex from a trypanosome RNA editing substrate

Guide RNAs bind antiparallel to their target pre-mRNAs to form editing substrates in reaction cycles that insert or delete uridylates (Us) in most mitochondrial transcripts of trypanosomes. The 5' end of each guide RNA has an anchor sequence that binds to the pre-mRNA by base-pair complementarity. The template sequence in the middle of the guide RNA directs the editing reactions. The 3' ends of most guide RNAs have ∼15 contiguous Us that bind to the purine-rich unedited pre-mRNA upstream of the editing site. The resulting U-helix is rich in G·U wobble base pairs. To gain insights into the structure of the U-helix, we crystallized 8 bp of the U-helix in one editing substrate for the A6 mRNA of Trypanosoma brucei. The fragment provides three samples of the 5'-AGA-3'/5'-UUU-3' base-pair triple. The fusion of two identical U-helices head-to-head promoted crystallization. We obtained X-ray diffraction data with a resolution limit of 1.37 Å. The U-helix had low and high twist angles before and after each G·U wobble base pair; this variation was partly due to shearing of the wobble base pairs as revealed in comparisons with a crystal structure of a 16-nt RNA with all Watson-Crick base pairs. Both crystal structures had wider major grooves at the junction between the poly(U) and polypurine tracts. This junction mimics the junction between the template helix and the U-helix in RNA-editing substrates and may be a site of major groove invasion by RNA editing proteins.

Molecular recognition of 6'-N-5-hexynoate kanamycin A and RNA 1x1 internal loops containing CA mismatches

In our previous study to identify the RNA internal loops that bind an aminoglycoside derivative, we determined that 6'-N-5-hexynoate kanamycin A prefers to bind 1x1 nucleotide internal loops containing C·A mismatches. In this present study, the molecular recognition between a variety of RNAs that are mutated around the C·A loop and the ligand was investigated. Studies show that both loop nucleotides and loop closing pairs affect binding affinity. Most interestingly, it was shown that there is a correlation between the thermodynamic stability of the C·A internal loops and ligand affinity. Specifically, C·A loops that had relatively high or low stability bound the ligand most weakly whereas loops with intermediate stability bound the ligand most tightly. In contrast, there is no correlation between the likelihood that a loop forms a C-A(+) pair at lower pH and ligand affinity. It was also found that a 1x1 nucleotide C·A loop that bound to the ligand with the highest affinity is identical to the consensus site in RNAs that are edited by adenosine deaminases acting on RNA type 2 (ADAR2). These studies provide a detailed investigation of factors affecting small molecule recognition of internal loops containing C·A mismatches, which are present in a variety of RNAs that cause disease.

Major groove width variations in RNA structures determined by NMR and impact of 13C residual chemical shift anisotropy and 1H-13C residual dipolar coupling on refinement

Ribonucleic acid structure determination by NMR spectroscopy relies primarily on local structural restraints provided by (1)H- (1)H NOEs and J-couplings. When employed loosely, these restraints are broadly compatible with A- and B-like helical geometries and give rise to calculated structures that are highly sensitive to the force fields employed during refinement. A survey of recently reported NMR structures reveals significant variations in helical parameters, particularly the major groove width. Although helical parameters observed in high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of isolated A-form RNA helices are sensitive to crystal packing effects, variations among the published X-ray structures are significantly smaller than those observed in NMR structures. Here we show that restraints derived from aromatic (1)H- (13)C residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) and residual chemical shift anisotropies (RCSAs) can overcome NMR restraint and force field deficiencies and afford structures with helical properties similar to those observed in high-resolution X-ray structures.

Recurrent RNA motifs as probes for studying RNA-protein interactions in the ribosome

To understand how the nucleotide sequence of ribosomal RNA determines its tertiary structure, we developed a new approach for identification of those features of rRNA sequence that are responsible for formation of different short- and long-range interactions. The approach is based on the co-analysis of several examples of a particular recurrent RNA motif. For different cases of the motif, we design combinatorial gene libraries in which equivalent nucleotide positions are randomized. Through in vivo expression of the designed libraries we select those variants that provide for functional ribosomes. Then, analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the selected clones would allow us to determine the sequence constraints imposed on each case of the motif. The constraints shared by all cases are interpreted as providing for the integrity of the motif, while those ones specific for individual cases would enable the motif to fit into the particular structural context. Here we demonstrate the validity of this approach for three examples of the so-called along-groove packing motif found in different parts of ribosomal RNA.

A CA(+) pair adjacent to a sheared GA or AA pair stabilizes size-symmetric RNA internal loops

RNA internal loops are often important sites for folding and function. Residues in internal loops can have pK_a values shifted close to neutral pH because of the local structural environment. A series of RNA internal loops were studied at different pH by UV absorbance versus temperature melting experiments and imino proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). A stabilizing CA pair forms at pH 7 in the and nearest neighbors when the CA pair is the first noncanonical pair (loop-terminal pair) in 3 × 3 nucleotide and larger size-symmetric internal loops. These and nearest neighbors, with CA adjacent to a closing Watson−Crick pair, are further stabilized when the pH is lowered from 7 to 5.5. The results are consistent with a significantly larger fraction (from ∼20% at pH 7 to ∼90% at pH 5.5) of adenines being protonated at the N1 position to form stabilizing wobble CA⁺ pairs adjacent to a sheared GA or AA pair. The noncanonical pair adjacent to the GA pair in can either stabilize or destabilize the loop, consistent with the sequence-dependent thermodynamics of GA pairs. No significant pH-dependent stabilization is found for most of the other nearest neighbor combinations involving CA pairs (e.g., and ), which is consistent with the formation of various nonwobble pairs observed in different local sequence contexts in crystal and NMR structures. A revised free-energy model, including stabilization by wobble CA⁺ pairs, is derived for predicting stabilities of medium-size RNA internal loops.

Crystallization and X-ray diffraction analysis of the Trp/amber editing site of hepatitis delta virus (+)RNA: a case of rational design

RNA editing by mammalian ADAR1 (Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA) is required for the life cycle of the hepatitis delta virus (HDV). Editing extends the single viral open reading frame to yield two protein products of alternate length. ADARs are believed to recognize double-stranded RNA substrates via a ;structure-based' readout mechanism. Crystals of 10-mer duplexes representing the HDV RNA-editing site diffracted to 1.35 A resolution, but suffered from merohedral twinning and averaging of the base registry. Expansion of the construct to include two flanking 3 x 1 internal loops yielded crystals in the primitive tetragonal space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.8 A resolution, revealing a unit cell with parameters a = 62.5, c = 63.5 A. The crystallization and X-ray analysis of multiple forms of the HDV RNA-editing substrate, encounters with common RNA crystal-growth defects and a strategy to overcome these problems are reported.

Molecular dynamics structures of peptide nucleic acid x DNA hybrid in the wild-type and mutated alleles of Ki-ras proto-oncogene--stereochemical rationale for the low affinity of PNA in the presence of an AC mismatch

The low affinity of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) to hybridize with DNA in the presence of a mismatch endows PNA with a high degree of discriminatory capacity that has been exploited in therapeutics for the selective inhibition of the expression of point-mutated genes. To obtain a structural basis for this intriguing property, molecular dynamics simulations are carried out on PNA x DNA duplexes formed at the Ki-ras proto-oncogene, comprising the point-mutated (GAT), and the corresponding wild-type (GGT) codon 12. The designed PNA forms an A...C mismatch with the wild-type sequence and a perfect A...T pair with the point mutated sequence. Results show that large movements in the pyrimidine base of the A...C mismatch cause loss of stacking, especially with its penultimate base, concomitant with a variable mismatch hydrogen bond, including its occasional absence. These, in turn, bring about dynamic water interactions in the vicinity of the mismatch. Enthalpy loss and the disproportionate entropy gain associated with these are implicated as the factors contributing to the increase in free energy and diminished stability of PNA x DNA duplex with the A...C mismatch. Absence of these in the isosequential DNA duplex, notwithstanding the A...C mismatch, is attributed to the differences in topology of PNA x DNA vis-à-vis DNA duplexes. It is speculated that similar effects might be responsible for the reduced stability observed in PNA x DNA duplexes containing other base pair mismatches, and also in mismatch containing PNA x DNA duplexes.

NMR structure of the 101-nucleotide core encapsidation signal of the Moloney murine leukemia virus

The full length, positive-strand genome of the Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus contains a "core encapsidation signal" that is essential for efficient genome packaging during virus assembly. We have determined the structure of a 101-nucleotide RNA that contains this signal (called mPsi) using a novel isotope-edited NMR approach. The method is robust and should be generally applicable to larger RNAs. mPsi folds into three stem loops, two of which (SL-C and SL-D) co-stack to form an extended helix. The third stem loop (SL-B) is connected to SL-C by a flexible, four-nucleotide linker. The structure contains five mismatched base-pairs, an unusual C.CG base-triple platform, and a novel "A-minor K-turn," in which unpaired adenosine bases A340 and A341 of a GGAA bulge pack in the minor groove of a proximal stem, and a bulged distal uridine (U319) forms a hydrogen bond with the phosphodiester of A341. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that these essential structural elements are conserved among the murine C-type retroviruses.

Non-Watson-Crick basepairing and hydration in RNA motifs: molecular dynamics of 5S rRNA loop E

Explicit solvent and counterion molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out for a total of >80 ns on the bacterial and spinach chloroplast 5S rRNA Loop E motifs. The Loop E sequences form unique duplex architectures composed of seven consecutive non-Watson-Crick basepairs. The starting structure of spinach chloroplast Loop E was modeled using isostericity principles, and the simulations refined the geometries of the three non-Watson-Crick basepairs that differ from the consensus bacterial sequence. The deep groove of Loop E motifs provides unique sites for cation binding. Binding of Mg(2+) rigidifies Loop E and stabilizes its major groove at an intermediate width. In the absence of Mg(2+), the Loop E motifs show an unprecedented degree of inner-shell binding of monovalent cations that, in contrast to Mg(2+), penetrate into the most negative regions inside the deep groove. The spinach chloroplast Loop E shows a marked tendency to compress its deep groove compared with the bacterial consensus. Structures with a narrow deep groove essentially collapse around a string of Na(+) cations with long coordination times. The Loop E non-Watson-Crick basepairing is complemented by highly specific hydration sites ranging from water bridges to hydration pockets hosting 2 to 3 long-residing waters. The ordered hydration is intimately connected with RNA local conformational variations.

Catalytic roles for proton transfer and protonation in ribozymes

Utilization of proton transfer in catalysis, which is well known in the mechanisms of protein enzymes, has been described only relatively recently for RNA enzymes. In this article, we present a current understanding of proton transfer by nucleic acids. Rate enhancement and specificity conferred by general acid-base catalysis are discussed. We also present possibilities for electrostatic catalysis from general acids and bases as well as cationic base pairs. The microenvironments of a large RNA provide the possibility of histidine-like pK(a)s for proton transfer, as well as lysine- and arginine-like pK(a)s for electrostatic catalysis. Discussion on proton transfer focuses on the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) and hairpin ribozymes, with select examples drawn from the protein literature. Discussion on electrostatic catalysis also draws on these two ribozymes, and a postulate for electrostatic catalysis by a cationic base pair in the mechanism of peptidyl transfer in the ribosome is presented. We also provide a perspective on possibilities for phosphoryl transfer mechanisms involving phosphorane intermediates and unusual tautomeric forms of the bases. Lastly, a distinction is made between ground state and "transition state" pK(a)s. We favor a model in which changes in pH lead to changes in the distribution of reactive and nonreactive ionizations of the ribozyme molecules in the ground state, and therefore suggest that "pK(a) changes in the transition state" do not provide an acceptable explanation for observed pH-rate profiles.

Protonation of non-Watson-Crick base pairs and encapsidation of turnip yellow mosaic virus RNA

The 5' UTR of turnip yellow mosaic virus RNA contains two conserved hairpins with internal loops consisting of C.C and C.A mismatches. In this article, evidence is presented indicating that the 5' proximal hairpin functions as an encapsidation initiation signal. Extensive mutagenesis studies on this hairpin and sequencing of virus progeny showed a clear preference for C.C and C.A mismatches within the internal loop. The importance of these mismatches lies in their pH-dependent protonation and stable base pair formation. Encapsidation efficiency was found to be severely affected for several mutants lacking the protonatable mismatches in the internal loop of the 5' proximal hairpin. Furthermore, gel mobility-shift assays were performed with various RNA hairpins and empty capsids with a hole. Protonatable hairpins containing C.C and/or C.A pairs were found to bind specifically to the interior of the protein shell under acidic conditions (pH 4.5) in the presence of spermidine. Based on these results we propose that this binding of protonated cytosines to the coat protein of turnip yellow mosaic virus may represent a new motif in RNA-protein interactions.

Crystal structure of paromomycin docked into the eubacterial ribosomal decoding A site

BACKGROUND

Aminoglycoside antibiotics interfere with translation in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by binding to the tRNA decoding A site of the 16S ribosomal RNA.

RESULTS

Crystals of complexes between oligoribonucleotides incorporating the sequence of the ribosomal A site of Escherichia coli and the aminoglycoside paromomycin have been solved at 2.5 A resolution. Each RNA fragment contains two A sites inserted between Watson-Crick pairs. The paromomycin molecules interact in an enlarged deep groove created by two bulging and one unpaired adenines. In both sites, hydroxyl and ammonium side chains of the antibiotic form 13 direct hydrogen bonds to bases and backbone atoms of the A site. In the best-defined site, 8 water molecules mediate 12 other hydrogen bonds between the RNA and the antibiotics. Ring I of paromomycin stacks over base G1491 and forms pseudo-Watson-Crick contacts with A1408. Both the hydroxyl group and one ammonium group of ring II form direct and water-mediated hydrogen bonds to the U1495oU1406 pair. The bulging conformation of the two adenines A1492 and A1493 is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between phosphate oxygens and atoms of rings I and II. The hydrophilic sites of the bulging A1492 and A1493 contact the shallow groove of G=C pairs in a symmetrical complex.

CONCLUSIONS

Water molecules participate in the binding specificity by exploiting the antibiotic hydration shell and the typical RNA water hydration patterns. The observed contacts rationalize the protection, mutation, and resistance data. The crystal packing mimics the intermolecular contacts induced by aminoglycoside binding in the ribosome.

tRNA recognition of tRNA-guanine transglycosylase from a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrococcus horikoshii

In the biosynthesis of archaeosine, archaeal tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) catalyzes the replacement of guanine at position 15 in the D loop of most tRNAs by a free precursor base. We examined the tRNA recognition of TGT from a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrococcus horikoshii. Mutational studies using variant tRNA(Val) transcripts revealed that both guanine and its location (position 15) were strictly recognized by TGT without any other sequence-specific requirements. It appeared that neither the global L-shaped structure of a tRNA nor the local conformation of the D loop contributed to recognition by TGT. A minihelix composed of the acceptor stem and D arm of tRNA(Val), designed as a potential minimal substrate, failed to serve as a substrate for TGT. Only a minihelix with mismatched nucleotides at the junction between the two domains served as a good substrate, suggesting that mismatched nucleotides in the helix provide the specific information that allows TGT to recognize the guanine in the D loop. Our findings indicate that the tRNA recognition requirements of P. horikoshii TGT are sufficiently limited and specific to allow the enzyme to recognize efficiently any tRNA species whose structure is not fully stabilized in an extremely high temperature environment.

The crystal structure of the octamer [r(guauaca)dC]2 with six Watson-Crick base-pairs and two 3' overhang residues

The crystal structure of an alternating RNA octamer, r(guauaca)dC (RNA bases are in lower case while the only DNA base is in upper case), with two 3' overhang residues one of them a terminal deoxycytosine and the other a ribose adenine, has been determined at 2.2 A resolution. The refined structure has an Rwork 18.6% and Rfree 26.8%. There are two independent duplexes (molecules I and II) in the asymmetric unit cell, a = 24.95, b = 45.25 and c = 73.67 A, with space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). Instead of forming a blunt end duplex with two a+.c mispairs and six Watson-Crick base-pairs, the strands in the duplex slide towards the 3' direction forming a two-base overhang (radC) and a six Watson-Crick base-paired duplex. The duplexes are bent (molecule I, 20 degrees; molecule II, 25 degrees) and stack head-to-head to form a right-handed superhelix. The overhang residues are looped out and the penultimate adenines of the two residues at the top end (A15) are anti and at the bottom (A7) end are syn. The syn adenine bases form minor groove A*(G.C) base triples with C8-H...N2 hydrogen bonds. The anti adenine in molecule II also forms a triple and a different C2-H...N3 hydrogen bond, while the other anti adenine in molecule I does not, it stacks on the looped out overhang base dC. The 3' terminal deoxycytosines form two stacked hemiprotonated trans d(C.C)+ base-pairs and the pseudo dyad related molecules form four consecutive deoxyribose and ribose zipper hydrogen bonds in the minor groove.

The C-A mismatch base pair and the single-strand terminus in the E. coli initiator tRNA(fMet) acceptor stem adopt unusual conformations

Acceptor stem variants of tRNA(fMet) (Escherichia coli) have been characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance. The wild type contains a C1-A72 mismatch pair which is crucial for its biological function. For comparison, the mismatch was replaced by regular pairs U1-A72 and C1-G72. Further variants contain an altered discriminator base, G73, or a G1-C72/U73 combination. The stems of variants U1-A72/A73 and C1-G72/A73 have A-RNA geometry, which extends essentially to the single-strand terminus. C1-A72/G73 variant and wild type are structurally almost identical. C1 and A72 adopt peculiar conformations with C1 being largely destacked with respect to G2, while A73 stacks upon C1. The unique arrangement of the mismatch causes a distinctly different orientation of the single-strand terminus compared to variants with regular 1-72 base pairs, and to formyltransferase-complexed tRNA(fMet).

BanI restriction endonuclease binds in the major groove of DNA: an inhibition kinetic study using substrates with mismatch basepairs

Structural information on BanI-DNA interaction was obtained from simple inhibition kinetic assays using altered substrates. Self-complementary 13-mer oligodeoxynucleotides with or without mismatch basepairs in the BanI recognition sequence (GGPyPuCC) were synthesized. UV melting curves and CD spectra indicated double-stranded B-DNA structure for all the oligomers. Among the seven oligomers with recognition sequences, GGTACC, GGTGCC, GGTATC, GGCACC, GGAGCC, GGTAAC, and GGATCC, only the first two were cleaved with BanI. Kinetics of BanI cleavage of the native substrate was inhibited competitively by all of the other oligomers except the one with sequence GGCACC. From inhibition kinetic analysis in presence of a fixed concentration of the inhibitor, apparent K(m) and K(I) were determined. The data were analyzed in the context of alterations made in the hydrogen bonding potential in the major and minor groove of DNA within the recognition sequence due to basepair mismatches. Such analyses led to the conclusion that BanI, like BamHI, binds in the major groove and the central thymines make important contact with the protein.

Stitching together RNA tertiary architectures

The powerful explanatory paradigm of molecular biology requiring form to co-evolve with function has again been proven successful when, over the recent two decades, a wealth of biological functions have been uncovered for RNA. Previously considered as a mere mediator of the genetic code, RNA is now acknowledged as a key player in a wide variety of cellular processes. Along with the discovery of novel biological functions of RNA molecules, a number of RNA three-dimensional structures have been solved which beautifully demonstrate the molecular adaptability which allows RNA to participate as a key player in these functions. A distinct repertoire of molecular motifs provides a basis for the assembly of complex RNA tertiary architectures.

Crystal structure of an RNA duplex r(G GCGC CC)2 with non-adjacent G*U base pairs

The crystal structure of a self-complementary RNA duplex r(GGGCGCUCC)2with non-adjacent G*U and U*G wobble pairs separated by four Watson-Crick base pairs has been determined to 2.5 A resolution. Crystals belong to the space group R3; a = 33.09 A,alpha = 87.30 degrees with a pseudodyad related duplex in the asymmetric unit. The structure was refined to a final Rworkof 17.5% and Rfreeof 24.0%. The duplexes stack head-to-tail forming infinite columns with virtually no twist at the junction steps. The 3'-terminal cytosine nucleosides are disordered and there are no electron densities, but the 3' penultimate phosphates are observed. As expected, the wobble pairs are displaced with guanine towards the minor groove and uracil towards the major groove. The largest twist angles (37.70 and 40.57 degrees ) are at steps G1*C17/G2*U16 and U7*G11/C8*G10, while the smallest twist angles (28.24 and 27.27 degrees ) are at G2*U16/G3*C15 and C6*G12/U7*G11 and conform to the pseudo-dyad symmetry of the duplex. The molecule has two unequal kinks (17 and 11 degrees ) at the wobble sites and a third kink at the central G5 site which may be attributed to trans alpha (O5'-P), trans gamma (C4'-C5') backbone conformations. The 2'-hydroxyl groups in the minor groove form inter-column hydrogen bonding, either directly or through water molecules.