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Vögele J, Duchardt-Ferner E, Kruse H, Zhang Z, Sponer J, Krepl M, Wöhnert J. Structural and dynamic effects of pseudouridine modifications on noncanonical interactions in RNA. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:790-807. [PMID: 36868785 PMCID: PMC10187676 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079506.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Pseudouridine is the most frequently naturally occurring RNA modification, found in all classes of biologically functional RNAs. Compared to uridine, pseudouridine contains an additional hydrogen bond donor group and is therefore widely regarded as a structure stabilizing modification. However, the effects of pseudouridine modifications on the structure and dynamics of RNAs have so far only been investigated in a limited number of different structural contexts. Here, we introduced pseudouridine modifications into the U-turn motif and the adjacent U:U closing base pair of the neomycin-sensing riboswitch (NSR)-an extensively characterized model system for RNA structure, ligand binding, and dynamics. We show that the effects of replacing specific uridines with pseudouridines on RNA dynamics crucially depend on the exact location of the replacement site and can range from destabilizing to locally or even globally stabilizing. By using a combination of NMR spectroscopy, MD simulations and QM calculations, we rationalize the observed effects on a structural and dynamical level. Our results will help to better understand and predict the consequences of pseudouridine modifications on the structure and function of biologically important RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Vögele
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Elke Duchardt-Ferner
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Holger Kruse
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zhengyue Zhang
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
- CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Krepl
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jens Wöhnert
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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2
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Rafalskiy VV, Zyubin AY, Moiseeva EM, Kupriyanova GS, Mershiev IG, Kryukova NO, Kon II, Samusev IG, Belousova YD, Doktorova SA. Application of vibrational spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance methods for drugs pharmacokinetics research. Drug Metab Pers Ther 2023; 38:3-13. [PMID: 36169571 DOI: 10.1515/dmpt-2022-0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The development of new methods for determining the concentration of drugs is an actual topic today. The article contains a detailed review on vibrational spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance methods using for pharmacokinetic research. This study is devoted to the possibility of using vibrational spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine the concentration of drugs and the use of these groups of techniques for therapeutic drug monitoring. CONTENT The study was conducted by using scientific libraries (Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Medline, GoogleScholar, eLIBRARY, PubMed) and reference literature. A search was conducted for the period from 2011 to 2021 in Russian and English, by combinations of words: 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), vibrational spectroscopy, Surface-Enhanced Raman spectroscopy, drug concentration, therapeutic drug monitoring. These methods have a number of advantages and are devoid of some of the disadvantages of classical therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) methods - high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. This review considers the possibility of using the methods of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and 1H NMR-spectroscopy to assess the concentration of drugs in various biological media (blood, urine), as well as to study intracellular metabolism and the metabolism of ophthalmic drugs. 1Н NMR-spectroscopy can be chosen as a TDM method, since it allows analyzing the structure and identifying metabolites of various drugs. 1Н NMR-based metabolomics can provide information on the side effects of drugs, predict response to treatment, and provide key information on the mechanisms of action of known and new drug compounds. SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK SERS and 1Н NMR-spectroscopy have great potential for further study and the possibility of introducing them into clinical practice, including for evaluating the efficacy and safety of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir V Rafalskiy
- Department of Therapy of the Medical Institute of the IKBFU, Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Andrey Yu Zyubin
- REC "Fundamental and Applied Photonics, Nanophotonics", IKBFU, Kaliningrad, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Nadezhda O Kryukova
- Department of Fundamental Medicine of the Medical Institute of the IKBFU, Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Igor I Kon
- REC "Fundamental and Applied Photonics, Nanophotonics", Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Ilya G Samusev
- REC "Fundamental and Applied Photonics, Nanophotonics", Kaliningrad, Russia
| | | | - Svetlana A Doktorova
- Medical Institute of the IKBFU, Kaliningrad, Russia
- Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University Institute of Medicine - Clinical Trial Center of IKBFUA, Kaliningrad, Russia
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3
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de Jesus V, Biedenbänder T, Vögele J, Wöhnert J, Fürtig B. NMR assignment of non-modified tRNA Ile from Escherichia coli. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2022; 16:165-170. [PMID: 35275364 PMCID: PMC9068674 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-022-10075-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
tRNAs are L-shaped RNA molecules of ~ 80 nucleotides that are responsible for decoding the mRNA and for the incorporation of the correct amino acid into the growing peptidyl-chain at the ribosome. They occur in all kingdoms of life and both their functions, and their structure are highly conserved. The L-shaped tertiary structure is based on a cloverleaf-like secondary structure that consists of four base paired stems connected by three to four loops. The anticodon base triplet, which is complementary to the sequence of the mRNA, resides in the anticodon loop whereas the amino acid is attached to the sequence CCA at the 3'-terminus of the molecule. tRNAs exhibit very stable secondary and tertiary structures and contain up to 10% modified nucleotides. However, their structure and function can also be maintained in the absence of nucleotide modifications. Here, we present the assignments of nucleobase resonances of the non-modified 77 nt tRNAIle from the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. We obtained assignments for all imino resonances visible in the spectra of the tRNA as well as for additional exchangeable and non-exchangeable protons and for heteronuclei of the nucleobases. Based on these assignments we could determine the chemical shift differences between modified and non-modified tRNAIle as a first step towards the analysis of the effect of nucleotide modifications on tRNA's structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa de Jesus
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Biedenbänder
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Department Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jennifer Vögele
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jens Wöhnert
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Boris Fürtig
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany.
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4
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Zhang Z, Vögele J, Mráziková K, Kruse H, Cang X, Wöhnert J, Krepl M, Šponer J. Phosphorothioate Substitutions in RNA Structure Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulations, QM/MM Calculations, and NMR Experiments. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:825-840. [PMID: 33467852 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorothioates (PTs) are important chemical modifications of the RNA backbone where a single nonbridging oxygen of the phosphate is replaced with a sulfur atom. PT can stabilize RNAs by protecting them from hydrolysis and is commonly used as a tool to explore their function. It is, however, unclear what basic physical effects PT has on RNA stability and electronic structure. Here, we present molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, quantum mechanical (QM) calculations, and NMR spectroscopy measurements, exploring the effects of PT modifications in the structural context of the neomycin-sensing riboswitch (NSR). The NSR is the smallest biologically functional riboswitch with a well-defined structure stabilized by a U-turn motif. Three of the signature interactions of the U-turn: an H-bond, an anion-π interaction, and a potassium binding site; are formed by RNA phosphates, making the NSR an ideal model for studying how PT affects RNA structure and dynamics. By comparing with high-level QM calculations, we reveal the distinct physical properties of the individual interactions facilitated by the PT. The sulfur substitution, besides weakening the direct H-bond interaction, reduces the directionality of H-bonding while increasing its dispersion and induction components. It also reduces the induction and increases the dispersion component of the anion-π stacking. The sulfur force-field parameters commonly employed in the literature do not reflect these distinctions, leading to the unsatisfactory description of PT in simulations of the NSR. We show that it is not possible to accurately describe the PT interactions using one universal set of van der Waals sulfur parameters and provide suggestions for improving the force-field performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyue Zhang
- CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jennifer Vögele
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Klaudia Mráziková
- Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Holger Kruse
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Xiaohui Cang
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jens Wöhnert
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Miroslav Krepl
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
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5
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Andrałojć W, Pasternak K, Sarzyńska J, Zielińska K, Kierzek R, Gdaniec Z. The origin of the high stability of 3'-terminal uridine tetrads: contributions of hydrogen bonding, stacking interactions, and steric factors evaluated using modified oligonucleotide analogs. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:2000-2016. [PMID: 32967936 PMCID: PMC7668245 DOI: 10.1261/rna.076539.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
RNA G-quadruplexes fold almost exclusively into parallel-stranded structures and thus display much less structural diversity than their DNA counterparts. However, also among RNA G-quadruplexes peculiar structural elements can be found which are capable of reshaping the physico-chemical properties of the folded structure. A striking example is provided by a uridine tetrad (U-tetrad) placed on the 3'-terminus of the tetramolecular G-quadruplex. In this context, the U-tetrad adopts a unique conformation involving chain reversal and is responsible for a tremendous stabilization of the G-quadruplex (ΔTm up to 30°C). In this report, we attempt to rationalize the origin of this stabilizing effect by concurrent structural, thermal stability, and molecular dynamics studies of a series of G-quadruplexes with subtle chemical modifications at their 3'-termini. Our results provide detailed insights into the energetics of the "reversed" U-tetrad motif and the requirements for its formation. They point to the importance of the 2'OH to phosphate hydrogen bond and preferential stacking interactions for the formation propensity and stability of the motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Witold Andrałojć
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Karol Pasternak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Sarzyńska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Karolina Zielińska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Ryszard Kierzek
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Zofia Gdaniec
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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6
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Emwas AH, Szczepski K, Poulson BG, Chandra K, McKay RT, Dhahri M, Alahmari F, Jaremko L, Lachowicz JI, Jaremko M. NMR as a "Gold Standard" Method in Drug Design and Discovery. Molecules 2020; 25:E4597. [PMID: 33050240 PMCID: PMC7594251 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying disease models at the molecular level is vital for drug development in order to improve treatment and prevent a wide range of human pathologies. Microbial infections are still a major challenge because pathogens rapidly and continually evolve developing drug resistance. Cancer cells also change genetically, and current therapeutic techniques may be (or may become) ineffective in many cases. The pathology of many neurological diseases remains an enigma, and the exact etiology and underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. Viral infections spread and develop much more quickly than does the corresponding research needed to prevent and combat these infections; the present and most relevant outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, which originated in Wuhan, China, illustrates the critical and immediate need to improve drug design and development techniques. Modern day drug discovery is a time-consuming, expensive process. Each new drug takes in excess of 10 years to develop and costs on average more than a billion US dollars. This demonstrates the need of a complete redesign or novel strategies. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) has played a critical role in drug discovery ever since its introduction several decades ago. In just three decades, NMR has become a "gold standard" platform technology in medical and pharmacology studies. In this review, we present the major applications of NMR spectroscopy in medical drug discovery and development. The basic concepts, theories, and applications of the most commonly used NMR techniques are presented. We also summarize the advantages and limitations of the primary NMR methods in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul-Hamid Emwas
- Core Labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kacper Szczepski
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
| | - Benjamin Gabriel Poulson
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
| | - Kousik Chandra
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
| | - Ryan T. McKay
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2W2, Canada;
| | - Manel Dhahri
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Yanbu El-Bahr 46423, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Fatimah Alahmari
- Nanomedicine Department, Institute for Research and Medical, Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Lukasz Jaremko
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
| | - Joanna Izabela Lachowicz
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Università di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
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7
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Duchardt-Ferner E, Juen M, Bourgeois B, Madl T, Kreutz C, Ohlenschläger O, Wöhnert J. Structure of an RNA aptamer in complex with the fluorophore tetramethylrhodamine. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:949-961. [PMID: 31754719 PMCID: PMC6954400 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA aptamers-artificially created RNAs with high affinity and selectivity for their target ligand generated from random sequence pools-are versatile tools in the fields of biotechnology and medicine. On a more fundamental level, they also further our general understanding of RNA-ligand interactions e. g. in regard to the relationship between structural complexity and ligand affinity and specificity, RNA structure and RNA folding. Detailed structural knowledge on a wide range of aptamer-ligand complexes is required to further our understanding of RNA-ligand interactions. Here, we present the atomic resolution structure of an RNA-aptamer binding to the fluorescent xanthene dye tetramethylrhodamine. The high resolution structure, solved by NMR-spectroscopy in solution, reveals binding features both common and different from the binding mode of other aptamers with affinity for ligands carrying planar aromatic ring systems such as the malachite green aptamer which binds to the tetramethylrhodamine related dye malachite green or the flavin mononucleotide aptamer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Duchardt-Ferner
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University, Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michael Juen
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Centre for Molecular Biosciences (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Benjamin Bourgeois
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Institute of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Tobias Madl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Institute of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christoph Kreutz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Centre for Molecular Biosciences (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Oliver Ohlenschläger
- Leibniz-Institute on Aging - Fritz-Lipmann-Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jens Wöhnert
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University, Frankfurt/M., Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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8
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Keller H, Weickhmann AK, Bock T, Wöhnert J. Adenine protonation enables cyclic-di-GMP binding to cyclic-GAMP sensing riboswitches. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2018; 24:1390-1402. [PMID: 30006500 PMCID: PMC6140456 DOI: 10.1261/rna.067470.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In certain structural or functional contexts, RNA structures can contain protonated nucleotides. However, a direct role for stably protonated nucleotides in ligand binding and ligand recognition has not yet been demonstrated unambiguously. Previous X-ray structures of c-GAMP binding riboswitch aptamer domains in complex with their near-cognate ligand c-di-GMP suggest that an adenine of the riboswitch either forms two hydrogen bonds to a G nucleotide of the ligand in the unusual enol tautomeric form or that the adenine in its N1 protonated form binds the G nucleotide of the ligand in its canonical keto tautomeric state. By using NMR spectroscopy we demonstrate that the c-GAMP riboswitches bind c-di-GMP using a stably protonated adenine in the ligand binding pocket. Thereby, we provide novel insights into the putative biological functions of protonated nucleotides in RNA, which in this case influence the ligand selectivity in a riboswitch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Keller
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - A Katharina Weickhmann
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thomas Bock
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jens Wöhnert
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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9
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Krepl M, Vögele J, Kruse H, Duchardt-Ferner E, Wöhnert J, Sponer J. An intricate balance of hydrogen bonding, ion atmosphere and dynamics facilitates a seamless uracil to cytosine substitution in the U-turn of the neomycin-sensing riboswitch. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:6528-6543. [PMID: 29893898 PMCID: PMC6061696 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The neomycin sensing riboswitch is the smallest biologically functional RNA riboswitch, forming a hairpin capped with a U-turn loop-a well-known RNA motif containing a conserved uracil. It was shown previously that a U→C substitution of the eponymous conserved uracil does not alter the riboswitch structure due to C protonation at N3. Furthermore, cytosine is evolutionary permitted to replace uracil in other U-turns. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to study the molecular basis of this substitution in the neomycin sensing riboswitch and show that a structure-stabilizing monovalent cation-binding site in the wild-type RNA is the main reason for its negligible structural effect. We then use NMR spectroscopy to confirm the existence of this cation-binding site and to demonstrate its effects on RNA stability. Lastly, using quantum chemical calculations, we show that the cation-binding site is altering the electronic environment of the wild-type U-turn so that it is more similar to the cytosine mutant. The study reveals an amazingly complex and delicate interplay between various energy contributions shaping up the 3D structure and evolution of nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Krepl
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jennifer Vögele
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Holger Kruse
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Elke Duchardt-Ferner
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jens Wöhnert
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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