1
|
Zhang Q, Liu A, Song X, Xu S, Da L, Lin D, Jiang C. Ultrasensitive Fluorescent Microsensors Based on Aptamers Modified with SYBR Green I for Visual Quantitative Detection of Organophosphate Pesticides. Anal Chem 2024; 96:9636-9642. [PMID: 38808501 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are widely utilized in agricultural production, and the residues threaten public health and environmental safety due to their toxicity. Herein, a novel and simple DNA aptamer-based sensor has been fabricated for the rapid, visual, and quantitative detection of profenofos and isocarbophos. The proposed DNA aptamers with a G-quadruplex spatial structure could be recognized by SYBR Green I (SG-I), resulting in strong green fluorescence emitted by SG-I. The DNA aptamers exhibit a higher specific binding ability to target OP molecules through aromatic ring stacking, disrupting the interaction between SG-I and DNA aptamers to induce green fluorescence quenching. Meanwhile, the fluorescence wavelength of G-quadruplex fluorescence emission peaks changes, accompanied by an obvious fluorescence variation from green to blue. SG-I-modified aptasensor without any additive reference fluorescence units for use in multicolor fluorescence assay for selective monitoring of OPs was first developed. The developed aptasensor provides a favorable linear range from 0 to 200 nM, with a low detection limit of 2.48 and 3.01 nM for profenofos and isocarbophos, respectively. Moreover, it offers high selectivity and stability in real sample detection with high recoveries. Then, a self-designed portable smartphone sensing platform was successfully used for quantitative result outputs, demonstrating experience in designing a neotype sensing strategy for point-of-care pesticide monitoring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qianru Zhang
- Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
- Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, Anhui 232038, China
| | - Anqi Liu
- Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Xin Song
- Hefei Public Security Bureau, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Shihao Xu
- Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Liangguo Da
- School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, Anhui 232038, China
| | - Dan Lin
- Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Changlong Jiang
- Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cervenak M, Molnár OR, Horváth P, Smeller L. Stabilization of G-Quadruplex Structures of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome by TMPyP4, BRACO19, and PhenDC3. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2482. [PMID: 38473730 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The G-quadruplex is one of the non-canonical structures formed by nucleic acids, which can be formed by guanine-rich sequences. They became the focus of much research when they were found in several oncogene promoter regions and also in the telomeres. Later on, they were discovered in viruses as well. Various ligands have been developed in order to stabilize DNA G-quadruplexes, which were believed to have an anti-cancer or antiviral effect. We investigated three of these ligands, and whether they can also affect the stability of the G-quadruplex-forming sequences of the RNA genome of SARS-CoV-2. All three investigated oligonucleotides showed the G-quadruplex form. We characterized their stability and measured their thermodynamic parameters using the Förster resonance energy transfer method. The addition of the ligands caused an increase in the unfolding temperature, but this effect was smaller compared to that found earlier in the case of G-quadruplexes of the hepatitis B virus, which has a DNA genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miklós Cervenak
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Réka Molnár
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Horváth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Semmelweis University, 1092 Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Smeller
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Smeller L. Pressure Tuning Studies of Four-Stranded Nucleic Acid Structures. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021803. [PMID: 36675317 PMCID: PMC9866529 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Four-stranded folded structures, such as G-quadruplexes and i-motifs in the genome, have attracted a growing interest nowadays since they have been discovered in the telomere and in several oncogene promoter regions. Their biological relevance is undeniable since their existence in living cells has been observed. In vivo they take part in the regulation of gene expression, in vitro they are used in the analytical biochemistry. They are attractive and promising targets for cancer therapy. Pressure studies can reveal specific aspects of the molecular processes. Pressure tuning experiments allow the determination of the volumetric parameters of the folded structures and of the folding-unfolding processes. Here, we review the thermodynamic parameters with a special focus on the volumetric ones, which were determined using pressure tuning spectroscopic experiments on the G-quadruplex and i-motif nucleic acid forms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- László Smeller
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó u. 37-47, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Molnár OR, Végh A, Somkuti J, Smeller L. Characterization of a G-quadruplex from hepatitis B virus and its stabilization by binding TMPyP4, BRACO19 and PhenDC3. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23243. [PMID: 34853392 PMCID: PMC8636512 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02689-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific guanine rich nucleic acid sequences can form non-canonical structures, like the four stranded G-quadruplex (GQ). We studied the GQ-forming sequence (named HepB) found in the genome of the hepatitis B virus. Fluorescence-, infrared- and CD-spectroscopy were used. HepB shows a hybrid form in presence of K+, but Na+, Li+, and Rb+ induce parallel structure. Higher concentrations of metal ions increase the unfolding temperature, which was explained by a short thermodynamic calculation. Temperature stability of the GQ structure was determined for all these ions. Na+ has stronger stabilizing effect on HepB than K+, which is highly unusual. The transition temperatures were 56.6, 53.8, 58.5 and 54.4 °C for Na+, K+, Li+, and Rb+ respectively. Binding constants for Na+ and K+ were 10.2 mM and 7.1 mM respectively. Study of three ligands designed in cancer research for GQ targeting (TMPyP4, BRACO19 and PhenDC3) showed unequivocally their binding to HepB. Binding was proven by the increased stability of the bound form. The stabilization was higher than 20 °C for TMPyP4 and PhenDC3, while it was considerably lower for BRACO19. These results might have medical importance in the fight against the hepatitis B virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Réka Molnár
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary
| | - András Végh
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.,Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
| | - Judit Somkuti
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary
| | - László Smeller
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Somkuti J, Molnár OR, Grád A, Smeller L. Pressure Perturbation Studies of Noncanonical Viral Nucleic Acid Structures. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1173. [PMID: 34827166 PMCID: PMC8615049 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes are noncanonical structures formed by guanine-rich sequences of the genome. They are found in crucial loci of the human genome, they take part in the regulation of important processes like cell proliferation and cell death. Much less is known about the subjects of this work, the viral G-quadruplexes. We have chosen three potentially G-quadruplex-forming sequences of hepatitis B. We measured the stability and the thermodynamic parameters of these quadruplexes. We also investigated the potential stabilization of these G-quadruplexes by binding a special ligand that was originally developed for cancer therapy. Fluorescence and infrared spectroscopic measurements were performed over wide temperature and pressure ranges. Our experiments indicate the small unfolding volume change of all three oligos. We found a difference between the unfolding of the 2-quartet and the 3-quartet G-quadruplexes. All three G-quadruplexes were stabilized by TMPyP4, which is a cationic porphyrin developed for stabilizing the human telomere.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - László Smeller
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (O.R.M.); (A.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Marilovtseva EV, Studitsky VM. Guanine Quadruplexes in Cell Nucleus Metabolism. Mol Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893321040075] [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]
|
7
|
Liu L, Scott L, Tariq N, Kume T, Dubins DN, Macgregor RB, Chalikian TV. Volumetric Interplay between the Conformational States Adopted by Guanine-Rich DNA from the c-MYC Promoter. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:7406-7416. [PMID: 34185535 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c04075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities of G-quadruplex structures have been extensively studied. In contrast, systematic investigations of the volumetric properties of G-quadruplexes determining their pressure stability are still relatively scarce. The G-rich strand from the promoter region of the c-MYC oncogene (G-strand) is known to adopt a range of conformational states including the duplex, G-quadruplex, and coil states depending on the presence of the complementary C-rich strand (C-strand) and solution conditions. In this work, we report changes in volume, ΔV, and adiabatic compressibility, ΔKS, accompanying interconversions of G-strand between the G-quadruplex, duplex, and coil conformations in the presence and absence of C-strand. We rationalize these volumetric characteristics in terms of the hydration and intrinsic properties of the DNA in each of the sampled conformational states. We further use our volumetric results in conjunction with the reported data on changes in expansibility, ΔE, and heat capacity, ΔCP, associated with G-quadruplex-to-coil transitions to construct the pressure-temperature phase diagram describing the stability of the G-quadruplex. The phase diagram is elliptic in shape, resembling the classical elliptic phase diagram of a globular protein, and is distinct from the phase diagram for duplex DNA. The observed similarity of the pressure-temperature phase diagrams of G-quadruplexes and globular proteins stems from their shared structural and hydration features that, in turn, result in the similarity of their volumetric properties. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first pressure-temperature stability diagram reported for a G-quadruplex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lutan Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Lily Scott
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Nabeel Tariq
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Takuma Kume
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - David N Dubins
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Robert B Macgregor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Tigran V Chalikian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Unraveling the binding characteristics of small ligands to telomeric DNA by pressure modulation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9714. [PMID: 33958702 PMCID: PMC8102477 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89215-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, non-canonical DNA structures, such as G-quadruplexes (GQs), were found to be highly pressure sensitive, suggesting that pressure modulation studies can provide additional mechanistic details of such biomolecular systems. Using FRET and CD spectroscopy as well as binding equilibrium measurements, we investigated the effect of pressure on the binding reaction of the ligand ThT to the quadruplex 22AG in solutions containing different ionic species and a crowding agent mimicking the intracellular milieu. Pressure modulation helped us to identify the different conformational substates adopted by the quadruplex at the different solution conditions and to determine the volumetric changes during complex formation and the conformational transitions involved. The magnitudes of the binding volumes are a hallmark of packing defects and hydrational changes upon ligand binding. The conformational substates of the GQ as well as the binding strength and the stoichiometry of complex formation depend strongly on the solution conditions as well as on pressure. High hydrostatic pressure can also impact GQs inside living cells and thus affect expression of genetic information in deep sea organisms. We show that sub-kbar pressures do not only affect the conformational dynamics and structures of GQs, but also their ligand binding reactions.
Collapse
|
9
|
Molnár OR, Somkuti J, Smeller L. Negative volume changes of human G-quadruplexes at unfolding. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05702. [PMID: 33354631 PMCID: PMC7744710 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes are tetrahelical structures. They are important targets for anti-cancer drugs, since they are situated at crucial positions within the genome. We studied the volumetric properties of the unfolding of three G-quadruplexes in the presence of potassium ion. The unfolding volume changes were determined using high-pressure fluorescence spectroscopy. The c-MYC, KIT, and VEGF sequences unfold with the transition volume of -17, -6 and -18 cm3/mol, respectively. The small magnitude of the unfolding volume of KIT could be explained by its unique structure and the lower amount of void volume. Since the cell interior is highly crowded, the available volume is restricted. Therefore the volumetric changes during the conformational transformations gain biological importance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Réka Molnár
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Somkuti
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Smeller
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Shin S, Kim HS, Kim MI, Lee J, Park HG, Kim J. Crowding and confinement effects on enzyme stability in mesoporous silicas. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 144:118-126. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|