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Hadzic MCAS, Sigel RKO, Börner R. Single-Molecule Kinetic Studies of Nucleic Acids by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2439:173-190. [PMID: 35226322 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2047-2_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Single-molecule microscopy is often used to observe and characterize the conformational dynamics of nucleic acids (NA). Due to the large variety of NA structures and the challenges specific to single-molecule observation techniques, the data recorded in such experiments must be processed via multiple statistical treatments to finally yield a reliable mechanistic view of the NA dynamics. In this chapter, we propose a comprehensive protocol to analyze single-molecule trajectories in the scope of single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy. The suggested protocol yields the conformational states common to all molecules in the investigated sample, together with the associated conformational transition kinetics. The given model resolves states that are indistinguishable by their observed FRET signals and is estimated with 95% confidence using error calculations on FRET states and transition rate constants. In the end, a step-by-step user guide is given to reproduce the protocol with the Multifunctional Analysis Software to Handle single-molecule FRET data (MASH-FRET).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roland K O Sigel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Richard Börner
- Laserinstitut Hochschule Mittweida, University of Applied Sciences Mittweida, Mittweida, Germany.
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2
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Analysis of the conformational space and dynamics of RNA helicases by single-molecule FRET in solution and on surfaces. Methods Enzymol 2022; 673:251-310. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Zelger-Paulus S, Hadzic MCAS, Sigel RKO, Börner R. Encapsulation of Fluorescently Labeled RNAs into Surface-Tethered Vesicles for Single-Molecule FRET Studies in TIRF Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2113:1-16. [PMID: 32006303 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0278-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Imaging fluorescently labeled biomolecules on a single-molecule level is a well-established technique to follow intra- and intermolecular processes in time, usually hidden in the ensemble average. The classical approach comprises surface immobilization of the molecule of interest, which increases the risk of restricting the natural behavior due to surface interactions. Encapsulation of such biomolecules into surface-tethered phospholipid vesicles enables to follow one molecule at a time, freely diffusing and without disturbing surface interactions. Further, the encapsulation allows to keep reaction partners (reactants and products) in close proximity and enables higher temperatures otherwise leading to desorption of the direct immobilized biomolecules.Here, we describe a detailed protocol for the encapsulation of a catalytically active RNA starting from surface passivation over RNA encapsulation to data evaluation of single-molecule FRET experiments in TIRF microscopy. We present an optimized procedure that preserves RNA functionality and applies to investigations of, e.g., large ribozymes and RNAs, where direct immobilization is structurally not possible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roland K O Sigel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Richard Börner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Laserinstitut Hochschule Mittweida, University of Applied Sciences Mittweida, Mittweida, Germany.
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Zhao M, Steffen FD, Börner R, Schaffer MF, Sigel RKO, Freisinger E. Site-specific dual-color labeling of long RNAs for single-molecule spectroscopy. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:e13. [PMID: 29136199 PMCID: PMC5814972 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Labeling of long RNA molecules in a site-specific yet generally applicable manner is integral to many spectroscopic applications. Here we present a novel covalent labeling approach that is site-specific and scalable to long intricately folded RNAs. In this approach, a custom-designed DNA strand that hybridizes to the RNA guides a reactive group to target a preselected adenine residue. The functionalized nucleotide along with the concomitantly oxidized 3'-terminus can subsequently be conjugated to two different fluorophores via bio-orthogonal chemistry. We validate this modular labeling platform using a regulatory RNA of 275 nucleotides, the btuB riboswitch of Escherichia coli, demonstrate its general applicability by modifying a base within a duplex, and show its site-selectivity in targeting a pair of adjacent adenines. Native folding and function of the RNA is confirmed on the single-molecule level by using FRET as a sensor to visualize and characterize the conformational equilibrium of the riboswitch upon binding of its cofactor adenosylcobalamin. The presented labeling strategy overcomes size and site constraints that have hampered routine production of labeled RNA that are beyond 200 nt in length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Fabio D Steffen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Richard Börner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | | | - Roland K O Sigel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Eva Freisinger
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
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5
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Paudel BP, Fiorini E, Börner R, Sigel RKO, Rueda DS. Optimal molecular crowding accelerates group II intron folding and maximizes catalysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:11917-11922. [PMID: 30397128 PMCID: PMC6255197 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1806685115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike in vivo conditions, group II intron ribozymes are known to require high magnesium(II) concentrations ([Mg2+]) and high temperatures (42 °C) for folding and catalysis in vitro. A possible explanation for this difference is the highly crowded cellular environment, which can be mimicked in vitro by macromolecular crowding agents. Here, we combined bulk activity assays and single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET) to study the influence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on catalysis and folding of the ribozyme. Our activity studies reveal that PEG reduces the [Mg2+] required, and we found an "optimum" [PEG] that yields maximum activity. smFRET experiments show that the most compact state population, the putative active state, increases with increasing [PEG]. Dynamic transitions between folded states also increase. Therefore, this study shows that optimal molecular crowding concentrations help the ribozyme not only to reach the native fold but also to increase its in vitro activity to approach that in physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishnu P Paudel
- Molecular Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
- Single Molecule Imaging, Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Erica Fiorini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Richard Börner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roland K O Sigel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David S Rueda
- Molecular Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom;
- Single Molecule Imaging, Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
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6
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Abstract
Group II introns are large, autocatalytic ribozymes that catalyze RNA splicing and retrotransposition. Splicing by group II introns plays a major role in the metabolism of plants, fungi, and yeast and contributes to genetic variation in many bacteria. Group II introns have played a major role in genome evolution, as they are likely progenitors of spliceosomal introns, retroelements, and other machinery that controls genetic variation and stability. The structure and catalytic mechanism of group II introns have recently been elucidated through a combination of genetics, chemical biology, solution biochemistry, and crystallography. These studies reveal a dynamic machine that cycles progressively through multiple conformations as it stimulates the various stages of splicing. A central active site, containing a reactive metal ion cluster, catalyzes both steps of self-splicing. These studies provide insights into RNA structure, folding, and catalysis, as they raise new questions about the behavior of RNA machines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Marie Pyle
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.,Department of Chemistry, Yale University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New Haven, Connecticut 06520;
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Egloff D, Oleinich IA, Zhao M, König SLB, Sigel RKO, Freisinger E. Sequence-Specific Post-Synthetic Oligonucleotide Labeling for Single-Molecule Fluorescence Applications. ACS Chem Biol 2016; 11:2558-67. [PMID: 27409145 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.6b00343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The sequence-specific fluorescence labeling of nucleic acids is a prerequisite for various methods including single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) for the detailed study of nucleic acid folding and function. Such nucleic acid derivatives are commonly obtained by solid-phase methods; however, yields decrease rapidly with increasing length and restrict the practicability of this approach for long strands. Here, we report a new labeling strategy for the postsynthetic incorporation of a bioorthogonal group into single stranded regions of both DNA and RNA of unrestricted length. A 12-alkyne-etheno-adenine modification is sequence-selectively formed using DNA-templated synthesis, followed by conjugation of the fluorophore Cy3 via a copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). Evaluation of the labeled strands in smFRET measurements shows that the strategy developed here has the potential to be used for the study of long functional nucleic acids by (single-molecule) fluorescence or other methods. To prove the universal use of the method, its application was successfully extended to the labeling of a short RNA single strand. As a proof-of-concept, also the labeling of a large RNA molecule in form of a 633 nucleotide long construct derived from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae group II intron Sc.ai5γ was performed, and covalent attachment of the Cy3 fluorophore was shown with gel electrophoresis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Egloff
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse
190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Igor A. Oleinich
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse
190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Meng Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse
190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian L. B. König
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse
190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roland K. O. Sigel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse
190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Freisinger
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse
190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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König SLB, Hadzic M, Fiorini E, Börner R, Kowerko D, Blanckenhorn WU, Sigel RKO. BOBA FRET: bootstrap-based analysis of single-molecule FRET data. PLoS One 2013; 8:e84157. [PMID: 24386343 PMCID: PMC3873958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Time-binned single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments with surface-tethered nucleic acids or proteins permit to follow folding and catalysis of single molecules in real-time. Due to the intrinsically low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in smFRET time traces, research over the past years has focused on the development of new methods to extract discrete states (conformations) from noisy data. However, limited observation time typically leads to pronounced cross-sample variability, i.e., single molecules display differences in the relative population of states and the corresponding conversion rates. Quantification of cross-sample variability is necessary to perform statistical testing in order to assess whether changes observed in response to an experimental parameter (metal ion concentration, the presence of a ligand, etc.) are significant. However, such hypothesis testing has been disregarded to date, precluding robust biological interpretation. Here, we address this problem by a bootstrap-based approach to estimate the experimental variability. Simulated time traces are presented to assess the robustness of the algorithm in conjunction with approaches commonly used in thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of time-binned smFRET data. Furthermore, a pair of functionally important sequences derived from the self-cleaving group II intron Sc.ai5γ (d3'EBS1*/IBS1*) is used as a model system. Through statistical hypothesis testing, divalent metal ions are shown to have a statistically significant effect on both thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of their interaction. The Matlab source code used for analysis (bootstrap-based analysis of smFRET data, BOBA FRET), as well as a graphical user interface, is available via http://www.aci.uzh.ch/rna/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian L. B. König
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (RKOS); (SLBK)
| | - Mélodie Hadzic
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Erica Fiorini
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Richard Börner
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Danny Kowerko
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wolf U. Blanckenhorn
- Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roland K. O. Sigel
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (RKOS); (SLBK)
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Single molecule FRET data analysis procedures for FRET efficiency determination: Probing the conformations of nucleic acid structures. Methods 2013; 64:36-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2013.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Revised: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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König SLB, Liyanage PS, Sigel RKO, Rueda D. Helicase-mediated changes in RNA structure at the single-molecule level. RNA Biol 2013; 10:133-48. [PMID: 23353571 DOI: 10.4161/rna.23507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA helicases are a diverse group of RNA-dependent ATPases known to play a large number of biological roles inside the cell, such as RNA unwinding, remodeling, export and degradation. Understanding how helicases mediate changes in RNA structure is therefore of fundamental interest. The advent of single-molecule spectroscopic techniques has unveiled with unprecedented detail the interplay of RNA helicases with their substrates. In this review, we describe the characterization of helicase-RNA interactions by single-molecule approaches. State-of-the-art techniques are presented, followed by a discussion of recent advancements in this exciting field.
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