Single-molecule studies of nucleic acid motors

An associative memory Hamiltonian model for DNA and nucleosomes

A model for DNA and nucleosomes is introduced with the goal of studying chromosomes from a single base level all the way to higher-order chromatin structures. This model, dubbed the Widely Editable Chromatin Model (WEChroM), reproduces the complex mechanics of the double helix including its bending persistence length and twisting persistence length, and their respective temperature dependence. The WEChroM Hamiltonian is composed of chain connectivity, steric interactions, and associative memory terms representing all remaining interactions leading to the structure, dynamics, and mechanical characteristics of the B-DNA. Several applications of this model are discussed to demonstrate its applicability. WEChroM is used to investigate the behavior of circular DNA in the presence of positive and negative supercoiling. We show that it recapitulates the formation of plectonemes and of structural defects that relax mechanical stress. The model spontaneously manifests an asymmetric behavior with respect to positive or negative supercoiling, similar to what was previously observed in experiments. Additionally, we show that the associative memory Hamiltonian is also capable of reproducing the free energy of partial DNA unwrapping from nucleosomes. WEChroM is designed to emulate the continuously variable mechanical properties of the 10nm fiber and, by virtue of its simplicity, is ready to be scaled up to molecular systems large enough to investigate the structural ensembles of genes. WEChroM is implemented in the OpenMM simulation toolkits and is freely available for public use.

DNA fluctuations reveal the size and dynamics of topological domains

DNA supercoiling is a key regulatory mechanism that orchestrates DNA readout, recombination, and genome maintenance. DNA-binding proteins often mediate these processes by bringing two distant DNA sites together, thereby inducing (transient) topological domains. In order to understand the dynamics and molecular architecture of protein-induced topological domains in DNA, quantitative and time-resolved approaches are required. Here, we present a methodology to determine the size and dynamics of topological domains in supercoiled DNA in real time and at the single-molecule level. Our approach is based on quantifying the extension fluctuations-in addition to the mean extension-of supercoiled DNA in magnetic tweezers (MT). Using a combination of high-speed MT experiments, Monte Carlo simulations, and analytical theory, we map out the dependence of DNA extension fluctuations as a function of supercoiling density and external force. We find that in the plectonemic regime, the extension variance increases linearly with increasing supercoiling density and show how this enables us to determine the formation and size of topological domains. In addition, we demonstrate how the transient (partial) dissociation of DNA-bridging proteins results in the dynamic sampling of different topological states, which allows us to deduce the torsional stiffness of the plectonemic state and the kinetics of protein-plectoneme interactions. We expect our results to further the understanding and optimization of magnetic tweezer measurements and to enable quantification of the dynamics and reaction pathways of DNA processing enzymes in the context of physiologically relevant forces and supercoiling densities.

Mars, a molecule archive suite for reproducible analysis and reporting of single-molecule properties from bioimages

The rapid development of new imaging approaches is generating larger and more complex datasets, revealing the time evolution of individual cells and biomolecules. Single-molecule techniques, in particular, provide access to rare intermediates in complex, multistage molecular pathways. However, few standards exist for processing these information-rich datasets, posing challenges for wider dissemination. Here, we present Mars, an open-source platform for storing and processing image-derived properties of biomolecules. Mars provides Fiji/ImageJ2 commands written in Java for common single-molecule analysis tasks using a Molecule Archive architecture that is easily adapted to complex, multistep analysis workflows. Three diverse workflows involving molecule tracking, multichannel fluorescence imaging, and force spectroscopy, demonstrate the range of analysis applications. A comprehensive graphical user interface written in JavaFX enhances biomolecule feature exploration by providing charting, tagging, region highlighting, scriptable dashboards, and interactive image views. The interoperability of ImageJ2 ensures Molecule Archives can easily be opened in multiple environments, including those written in Python using PyImageJ, for interactive scripting and visualization. Mars provides a flexible solution for reproducible analysis of image-derived properties, facilitating the discovery and quantitative classification of new biological phenomena with an open data format accessible to everyone.

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Spectroscopy Approaches for Probing Fast Biomolecular Dynamics and Interactions

Single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, and particularly its Förster resonance energy transfer implementation (SM-FRET), provides the opportunity to resolve the stochastic conformational fluctuations undergone by individual protein molecules while they fold-unfold, bind to their partners, or carry out catalysis. Such information is key to resolve the microscopic pathways and mechanisms underlying such processes, and cannot be obtained from bulk experiments. To fully resolve protein conformational dynamics, SM-FRET experiments need to reach microsecond, and even sub-microsecond, time resolutions. The key to reach such resolution lies in increasing the efficiency at which photons emitted by a single molecule are collected and detected by the instrument (photon count rates). In this chapter, we describe basic procedures that an end user can follow to optimize the confocal microscope optics in order to maximize the photon count rates. We also discuss the use of photoprotection cocktails specifically designed to reduce fluorophore triplet buildup at high irradiance (the major cause of limiting photon emission rates) while improving the mid-term photostability of the fluorophores. Complementary strategies based on the data analysis are discussed in depth by other authors in Chap. 14 .

RNA Folding and Unfolding Under Force: Single-Molecule Experiments and Their Analysis

We have previously described (Geffroy et al. Methods Mol Biol 1665:25-40, 2018) how to unfold (or fold) a single RNA molecule under force using a dual-beam optical trap setup. In this chapter, we complementarily describe how to analyze the corresponding data and how to interpret it in terms of RNA three-dimensional structure. As with all single-molecule methods, single RNA molecule force data often exhibit several discrete states where state-to-state transitions are blurred in a noisy signal. In order to cope with this limitation, we have implemented a novel strategy to analyze the data, which uses a hidden Markov modeling procedure. A representative example of such an analysis is presented.

Force measurements show that uL4 and uL24 mechanically stabilize a fragment of 23S rRNA essential for ribosome assembly

In vitro reconstitution studies have shown that ribosome assembly is highly cooperative and starts with the binding of a few ribosomal (r-) proteins to rRNA. It is unknown how these early binders act. Focusing on the initial stage of the assembly of the large subunit of the Escherichia coli ribosome, we prepared a 79-nucleotide-long region of 23S rRNA encompassing the binding sites of the early binders uL4 and uL24. Force signals were measured in a DNA/RNA dumbbell configuration with a double optical tweezers setup. The rRNA fragment was stretched until unfolded, in the absence or in the presence of the r-proteins (either uL4, uL24, or both). We show that the r-proteins uL4 and uL24 individually stabilize the rRNA fragment, both acting as molecular clamps. Interestingly, this mechanical stabilization is enhanced when both proteins are bound simultaneously. Independently, we observe a cooperative binding of uL4 and uL24 to the rRNA fragment. These two aspects of r-proteins binding both contribute to the efficient stabilization of the 3D structure of the rRNA fragment under investigation. We finally consider implications of our results for large ribosomal subunit assembly.

Subangstrom Measurements of Enzyme Function Using a Biological Nanopore, SPRNT

Nanopores are emerging as new single-molecule tools in the study of enzymes. Based on the progress in nanopore sequencing of DNA, a tool called Single-molecule Picometer Resolution Nanopore Tweezers (SPRNT) was developed to measure the movement of enzymes along DNA in real time. In this new method, an enzyme is loaded onto a DNA (or RNA) molecule. A single-stranded DNA end of this complex is drawn into a nanopore by an electrostatic potential that is applied across the pore. The single-stranded DNA passes through the pore's constriction until the enzyme comes into contact with the pore. Further progression of the DNA through the pore is then controlled by the enzyme. An ion current that flows through the pore's constriction is modulated by the DNA in the constriction. Analysis of ion current changes reveals the advance of the DNA with high spatiotemporal precision, thereby providing a real-time record of the enzyme's activity. Using an engineered version of the protein nanopore MspA, SPRNT has spatial resolution as small as 40pm at millisecond timescales, while simultaneously providing the DNA's sequence within the enzyme. In this chapter, SPRNT is introduced and its extraordinary potential is exemplified using the helicase Hel308. Two distinct substates are observed for each one-nucleotide advance; one of these about half-nucleotide long steps is ATP dependent and the other is ATP independent. The spatiotemporal resolution of this low-cost single-molecule technique lifts the study of enzymes to a new level of precision, enabling exploration of hitherto unobservable enzyme dynamics in real time.

Modular magnetic tweezers for single-molecule characterizations of helicases

Magnetic tweezers provide a versatile toolkit supporting the mechanistic investigation of helicases. In the present article, we show that custom magnetic tweezers setups are straightforward to construct and can easily be extended to provide adaptable platforms, capable of addressing a multitude of enquiries regarding the functions of these fascinating molecular machines. We first address the fundamental components of a basic magnetic tweezers scheme and review some previous results to demonstrate the versatility of this instrument. We then elaborate on several extensions to the basic magnetic tweezers scheme, and demonstrate their applications with data from ongoing research. As our methodological overview illustrates, magnetic tweezers are an extremely useful tool for the characterization of helicases and a custom built instrument can be specifically tailored to suit the experimenter's needs.

MspA nanopore as a single-molecule tool: From sequencing to SPRNT

Single-molecule picometer resolution nanopore tweezers (SPRNT) is a new tool for analyzing the motion of nucleic acids through molecular motors. With SPRNT, individual enzymatic motions along DNA as small as 40 pm can be resolved on sub-millisecond time scales. Additionally, SPRNT reveals an enzyme’s exact location with respect to a DNA strand’s nucleotide sequence, enabling identification of sequence-specific behaviors. SPRNT is enabled by a mutant version of the biological nanopore formed by Mycobacterium smegmatis porin A (MspA). SPRNT is strongly rooted in nanopore sequencing and therefore requires a solid understanding of basic principles of nanopore sequencing. Furthermore, SPRNT shares tools developed for nanopore sequencing and extends them to analysis of single-molecule kinetics. As such, this review begins with a brief history of our work developing the nanopore MspA for nanopore sequencing. We then describe the underlying principles of SPRNT, how it works in detail, and propose some potential future uses. We close with a comparison of SPRNT to other techniques and we present the methods that will enable others to use SPRNT.

Single-molecule portrait of DNA and RNA double helices

The composition and geometry of the genetic information carriers were described as double-stranded right helices sixty years ago. The flexibility of their sugar-phosphate backbones and the chemistry of their nucleotide subunits, which give rise to the RNA and DNA polymers, were soon reported to generate two main structural duplex states with biological relevance: the so-called A and B forms. Double-stranded (ds) RNA adopts the former whereas dsDNA is stable in the latter. The presence of flexural and torsional stresses in combination with environmental conditions in the cell or in the event of specific sequences in the genome can, however, stabilize other conformations. Single-molecule manipulation, besides affording the investigation of the elastic response of these polymers, can test the stability of their structural states and transition models. This approach is uniquely suited to understanding the basic features of protein binding molecules, the dynamics of molecular motors and to shedding more light on the biological relevance of the information blocks of life. Here, we provide a comprehensive single-molecule analysis of DNA and RNA double helices in the context of their structural polymorphism to set a rigorous interpretation of their material response both inside and outside the cell. From early knowledge of static structures to current dynamic investigations, we review their phase transitions and mechanochemical behaviour and harness this fundamental knowledge not only through biological sciences, but also for Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine.

Probing DNA helicase kinetics with temperature-controlled magnetic tweezers

Motor protein functions like adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis or translocation along molecular substrates take place at nanometric scales and consequently depend on the amount of available thermal energy. The associated rates can hence be investigated by actively varying the temperature conditions. In this article, a thermally controlled magnetic tweezers (MT) system for single-molecule experiments at up to 40 °C is presented. Its compact thermostat module yields a precision of 0.1 °C and can in principle be tailored to any other surface-coupled microscopy technique, such as tethered particle motion (TPM), nanopore-based sensing of biomolecules, or super-resolution fluorescence imaging. The instrument is used to examine the temperature dependence of translocation along double-stranded (ds)DNA by individual copies of the protein complex AddAB, a helicase-nuclease motor involved in dsDNA break repair. Despite moderately lower mean velocities measured at sub-saturating ATP concentrations, almost identical estimates of the enzymatic reaction barrier (around 21-24 k(B)T) are obtained by comparing results from MT and stopped-flow bulk assays. Single-molecule rates approach ensemble values at optimized chemical energy conditions near the motor, which can withstand opposing loads of up to 14 piconewtons (pN). Having proven its reliability, the temperature-controlled MT described herein will eventually represent a routinely applied method within the toolbox for nano-biotechnology.

Camera-based three-dimensional real-time particle tracking at kHz rates and Ångström accuracy

Optical and magnetic tweezers are widely employed to probe the mechanics and activity of individual biomolecular complexes. They rely on micrometer-sized particles to detect molecular conformational changes from the particle position. Real-time particle tracking with Ångström accuracy has so far been only achieved using laser detection through photodiodes. Here we demonstrate that camera-based imaging can provide a similar performance for all three dimensions. Particle imaging at kHz rates is combined with real-time data processing being accelerated by a graphics processing unit. For particles that are fixed in the sample cell we can detect 3 Å sized steps that are introduced by cell translations at rates of 10 Hz, while for DNA-tethered particles 5 Å steps at 1 Hz can be resolved. Moreover, 20 particles can be tracked in parallel with comparable accuracy. Our approach provides a simple and robust way for high-resolution tweezers experiments using multiple particles at a time.

Type I restriction enzymes and their relatives

Type I restriction enzymes (REases) are large pentameric proteins with separate restriction (R), methylation (M) and DNA sequence-recognition (S) subunits. They were the first REases to be discovered and purified, but unlike the enormously useful Type II REases, they have yet to find a place in the enzymatic toolbox of molecular biologists. Type I enzymes have been difficult to characterize, but this is changing as genome analysis reveals their genes, and methylome analysis reveals their recognition sequences. Several Type I REases have been studied in detail and what has been learned about them invites greater attention. In this article, we discuss aspects of the biochemistry, biology and regulation of Type I REases, and of the mechanisms that bacteriophages and plasmids have evolved to evade them. Type I REases have a remarkable ability to change sequence specificity by domain shuffling and rearrangements. We summarize the classic experiments and observations that led to this discovery, and we discuss how this ability depends on the modular organizations of the enzymes and of their S subunits. Finally, we describe examples of Type II restriction-modification systems that have features in common with Type I enzymes, with emphasis on the varied Type IIG enzymes.

Detection of a quaternary organization into dimer of trimers of Corynebacterium ammoniagenes FAD synthetase at the single-molecule level and at the in cell level

Biochemical characterization of Corynebacterium ammoniagenes FADS (CaFADS) pointed to certain confusion about the stoichiometry of this bifunctional enzyme involved in the production of FMN and FAD in prokaryotes. Resolution of its crystal structure suggested that it might produce a hexameric ensemble formed by a dimer of trimers. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to direct imaging single CaFADS molecules bound to mica surfaces, while preserving their catalytic properties. AFM allowed solving individual CaFADS monomers, for which it was even possible to distinguish their sub-molecular individual N- and C-terminal modules in the elongated enzyme. Differences between monomers and higher stoichiometries were easily imaged, enabling us to detect formation of oligomeric species induced by ligand binding. The presence of ATP:Mg(2+) particularly induced the appearance of the hexameric assembly whose mean molecular volume resembles the crystallographic dimer of trimers. Finally, the AFM results are confirmed in cross-linking solution, and the presence of such oligomeric CaFADS species detected in cell extracts. All these results are consistent with the formation of a dimer of trimers during the enzyme catalytic cycle that might bear biological relevance.

Mechanical identities of RNA and DNA double helices unveiled at the single-molecule level

Double-stranded (ds) RNA is the genetic material of a variety of viruses and has been recently recognized as a relevant molecule in cells for its regulatory role. Despite that the elastic response of dsDNA has been thoroughly characterized in recent years in single-molecule stretching experiments, an equivalent study with dsRNA is still lacking. Here, we have engineered long dsRNA molecules for their individual characterization contrasting information with dsDNA molecules of the same sequence. It is known that dsRNA is an A-form molecule unlike dsDNA, which exhibits B-form in physiological conditions. These structural types are distinguished at the single-molecule level with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and are the basis to understand their different elastic response. Force-extension curves of dsRNA with optical and magnetic tweezers manifest two main regimes of elasticity, an entropic regime whose end is marked by the A-form contour-length and an intrinsic regime that ends in a low-cooperative overstretching transition in which the molecule extends to 1.7 times its A-form contour-length. DsRNA does not switch between the A and B conformations in the presence of force. Finally, dsRNA presents both a lower stretch modulus and overstretching transition force than dsDNA, whereas the electrostatic and intrinsic contributions to the persistence length are larger.

Dependence of transcription-coupled DNA supercoiling on promoter strength in Escherichia coli topoisomerase I deficient strains

Transcription by RNA polymerase can induce the formation of hypernegatively supercoiled DNA in vitro and in vivo. This phenomenon has been nicely explained by a "twin-supercoiled-domain" model of transcription where a positively supercoiled domain is generated ahead of the RNA polymerase and a negatively supercoiled domain behind it. In Escherichia coli topA strains, DNA gyrase selectively converts the positively supercoiled domain into negative supercoils to produce hypernegatively supercoiled DNA. In this article, in order to examine whether promoter strength affects transcription-coupled DNA supercoiling (TCDS), we developed a two-plasmid system in which a linear, non-supercoiled plasmid was used to express lac repressor constitutively while a circular plasmid was used to gage TCDS in E. coli cells. Using this two-plasmid system, we found that TCDS in topA strains is dependent on promoter strength. We also demonstrated that transcription-coupled hypernegative supercoiling of plasmid DNA did not need the expression of a membrane-insertion protein for strong promoters; however, it might require co-transcriptional synthesis of a polypeptide. Furthermore, we found that for weak promoters the expression of a membrane-insertion tet gene was not sufficient for the production of hypernegatively supercoiled DNA. Our results can be explained by the "twin-supercoiled-domain" model of transcription where the friction force applied to E. coli RNA polymerase plays a critical role in the generation of hypernegatively supercoiled DNA.

Orientation and rotational motions of single molecules by polarized total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (polTIRFM)

In this article, we describe methods to detect the spatial orientation and rotational dynamics of single molecules using polarized total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (polTIRFM). polTIRFM determines the three-dimensional angular orientation and the extent of wobble of a fluorescent probe bound to the macromolecule of interest. We discuss single-molecule versus ensemble measurements, as well as single-molecule techniques for orientation and rotation, and fluorescent probes for orientation studies. Using calmodulin (CaM) as an example of a target protein, we describe a method for labeling CaM with bifunctional rhodamine (BR). We also describe the physical principles and experimental setup of polTIRFM. We conclude with a brief introduction to assays using polTIRFM to assess the interaction of actin and myosin.

Membrane-associated nanomotors for macromolecular transport

Nature has endowed cells with powerful nanomotors to accomplish intricate mechanical tasks, such as the macromolecular transport across membranes occurring in cell division, bacterial conjugation, and in a wide variety of secretion systems. These biological motors couple the chemical energy provided by ATP hydrolysis to the mechanical work needed to transport DNA and/or protein effectors. Here, we review what is known about the molecular mechanisms of these membrane-associated machines. Sequence and structural comparison between these ATPases reveal that they share a similar motor domain, suggesting a common evolutionary ancestor. Learning how these machines operate will lead the design of nanotechnology devices with unique applications in medicine and engineering.

The dimer state of GyrB is an active form: implications for the initial complex assembly and processive strand passage

In a previous study, we presented the dimer structure of DNA gyrase B′ domain (GyrB C-terminal domain) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and proposed a ‘sluice-like’ model for T-segment transport. However, the role of the dimer structure is still not well understood. Cross-linking and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments showed that the dimer structure exists both in the B′ protein and in the full-length GyrB in solution. The cross-linked dimer of GyrB bound GyrA very weakly, but bound dsDNA with a much higher affinity than that of the monomer state. Using cross-linking and far-western analyses, the dimer state of GyrB was found to be involved in the ternary GyrA–GyrB–DNA complex. The results of mutational studies reveal that the dimer structure represents a state before DNA cleavage. Additionally, these results suggest that the dimer might also be present between the cleavage and reunion steps during processive transport.

Forcing a connection: impacts of single-molecule force spectroscopy on in vivo tension sensing

Mechanical tension plays a large role in cell development ranging from morphology to gene expression. On the molecular level, the effects of tension can be seen in the dynamic arrangement of membrane proteins as well as the recruitment and activation of intracellular proteins. Forces applied to biopolymers during in vitro force measurements offer greater understanding of the effects of tension on molecules in live cells, and experimental techniques involving test tubes and live cells can often overlap. Indeed, when forces exerted on cellular components can be calibrated ex vivo with force spectroscopy, a powerful tool is available for researchers in probing cellular mechanotransduction on the molecular scale. This review will discuss the techniques used in measuring both cellular traction forces and single-molecule force spectroscopy. Emphasis will be placed on the use of fluorescence reporter systems for the development of in vivo tension sensors that can be used for calibration with single molecule force methods.

Efficient preparation of internally modified single-molecule constructs using nicking enzymes

Investigations of enzymes involved in DNA metabolism have strongly benefited from the establishment of single molecule techniques. These experiments frequently require elaborate DNA substrates, which carry chemical labels or nucleic acid tertiary structures. Preparing such constructs often represents a technical challenge: long modified DNA molecules are usually produced via multi-step processes, involving low efficiency intermolecular ligations of several fragments. Here, we show how long stretches of DNA (>50 bp) can be modified using nicking enzymes to produce complex DNA constructs. Multiple different chemical and structural modifications can be placed internally along DNA, in a specific and precise manner. Furthermore, the nicks created can be resealed efficiently yielding intact molecules, whose mechanical properties are preserved. Additionally, the same strategy is applied to obtain long single-strand overhangs subsequently used for efficient ligation of ss- to dsDNA molecules. This technique offers promise for a wide range of applications, in particular single-molecule experiments, where frequently multiple internal DNA modifications are required.

Graphical models for inferring single molecule dynamics

BACKGROUND

The recent explosion of experimental techniques in single molecule biophysics has generated a variety of novel time series data requiring equally novel computational tools for analysis and inference. This article describes in general terms how graphical modeling may be used to learn from biophysical time series data using the variational Bayesian expectation maximization algorithm (VBEM). The discussion is illustrated by the example of single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) versus time data, where the smFRET time series is modeled as a hidden Markov model (HMM) with Gaussian observables. A detailed description of smFRET is provided as well.

RESULTS

The VBEM algorithm returns the model's evidence and an approximating posterior parameter distribution given the data. The former provides a metric for model selection via maximum evidence (ME), and the latter a description of the model's parameters learned from the data. ME/VBEM provide several advantages over the more commonly used approach of maximum likelihood (ML) optimized by the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm, the most important being a natural form of model selection and a well-posed (non-divergent) optimization problem.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate the utility of graphical modeling for inference of dynamic processes in single molecule biophysics.

Energetics at the DNA supercoiling transition

Twisting a DNA molecule held under constant tension is accompanied by a transition from a linear to a plectonemic DNA configuration, in which part of the applied twist is absorbed in a superhelical structure. Recent experiments revealed the occurrence of an abrupt extension change at the onset of this transition. To elucidate its origin we study this abrupt DNA shortening using magnetic tweezers. We find that it strongly depends on the length of the DNA molecule and the ionic strength of the solution. This behavior can be well understood in the framework of a model in which the energy per writhe for the initial plectonemic loop is larger than for subsequent turns of the superhelix. By quantitative data analysis, relevant plectoneme energies and other parameters were extracted, providing good agreement with a simple theory. As a direct confirmation of the initial-loop model, we find that for a kinked DNA molecule the abrupt extension change occurs at significantly lower twist than the subsequent superhelix formation. This should allow pinning of the plectoneme position within supercoiled DNA if a kinked substrate is used, and enable the detection of enzymes and proteins which, themselves, bend or kink DNA.

Quantitative FRET measurement by high-speed fluorescence excitation and emission spectrometer

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is an important method in studying biochemistry reactions. But quantifying FRET rapidly is difficult to do because of crosstalk between free donor, free acceptor and FRET fluorescent signals when only excitation or emission property of a FRET sample is measured. If FRET is studied with excitation-emission matrix (EEM) measurements, because the fluorescence intensity maxima of donor, acceptor, and FRET emissions occupy different regions within the EEM, FRET fluorescence can be easily separated out by linear unmixing. In this paper, we report a novel high-speed Fourier Fluorescence Excitation Emission spectrometer, which simultaneously measures three projections of EEM from a FRET sample, which are excitation, emission and excitation-emission cross-correlation spectra. We demonstrate that these three EEM projections can be measured and unmixed in approximately 1 ms to provide rapid quantitative FRET in the presence of free donors and acceptors. The system can be utilized to enable real-time biochemistry reaction studies.

Single-molecule studies of the replisome

Replication of DNA is carried out by the replisome, a multiprotein complex responsible for the unwinding of parental DNA and the synthesis of DNA on each of the two DNA strands. The impressive speed and processivity with which the replisome duplicates DNA are a result of a set of tightly regulated interactions between the replication proteins. The transient nature of these protein interactions makes it challenging to study the dynamics of the replisome by ensemble-averaging techniques. This review describes single-molecule methods that allow the study of individual replication proteins and their functioning within the replisome. The ability to mechanically manipulate individual DNA molecules and record the dynamic behavior of the replisome while it duplicates DNA has led to an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying DNA replication.

RNA reactions one molecule at a time

Much of the dynamics information is lost in bulk measurements because of the population averaging. Single-molecule methods measure one molecule at a time; they provide knowledge not obtainable by other means. In this article, we review the application of the two most widely used single-molecule methods--fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and force versus extension measurements--to several RNA reactions. First, we discuss folding/unfolding studies on a hairpin ribozyme that revealed multiple conformations of the RNA with distinct kinetics, and on a series of RNA pseudoknots, whose mechanical stabilities were found to show a strong correlation with their frameshifting efficiency during translation. We also discuss several RNA-related molecular motors. Single-molecule experiments revealed detailed mechanisms for the interaction of HIV reverse transcriptase and nucleic acid helicases (NS3 and RIG-1) with their substrates. Optical tweezers studies showed that translation of a single messenger RNA by a ribosome occurs by successive translocation-and-pause cycles. Single-molecule FRET experiments yielded important information on ribosome conformational changes and tRNA dynamics during translation. Overall, single-molecule experiments have been very valuable for understanding RNA reactions.

Visualizing DNA replication at the single-molecule level

Recent advances in single-molecule methodology have made it possible to study the dynamic behavior of individual enzymes and their interactions with other proteins in multiprotein complexes. Here, we describe newly developed methods to study the coordination of DNA unwinding, priming, and synthesis at the DNA-replication fork. The length of individual DNA molecules is used to measure the activity of single replisomes engaged in coordinated DNA replication. First, a tethered-particle technique is used to visualize the formation and release of replication loops. Second, a fluorescence imaging method provides a direct readout of replication rates and processivities from individual replisomes. The ability to directly observe transient reaction intermediates and characterize heterogeneous behavior makes these single-molecule approaches important new additions to the tools available to study DNA replication.

Mechanical design of translocating motor proteins

Translocating motors generate force and move along a biofilament track to achieve diverse functions including gene transcription, translation, intracellular cargo transport, protein degradation, and muscle contraction. Advances in single molecule manipulation experiments, structural biology, and computational analysis are making it possible to consider common mechanical design principles of these diverse families of motors. Here, we propose a mechanical parts list that include track, energy conversion machinery, and moving parts. Energy is supplied not just by burning of a fuel molecule, but there are other sources or sinks of free energy, by binding and release of a fuel or products, or similarly between the motor and the track. Dynamic conformational changes of the motor domain can be regarded as controlling the flow of free energy to and from the surrounding heat reservoir. Multiple motor domains are organized in distinct ways to achieve motility under imposed physical constraints. Transcending amino acid sequence and structure, physically and functionally similar mechanical parts may have evolved as nature's design strategy for these molecular engines.

Type III restriction enzymes communicate in 1D without looping between their target sites

To cleave DNA, Type III restriction enzymes must communicate the relative orientation of two asymmetric recognition sites over hundreds of base pairs. The basis of this long-distance communication, for which ATP hydrolysis by their helicase domains is required, is poorly understood. Several conflicting DNA-looping mechanisms have been proposed, driven either by active DNA translocation or passive 3D diffusion. Using single-molecule DNA stretching in combination with bulk-solution assays, we provide evidence that looping is both highly unlikely and unnecessary, and that communication is strictly confined to a 1D route. Integrating our results with previous data, a simple communication scheme is concluded based on 1D diffusion along DNA.

Comparative photostability studies of BODIPY and fluorescein dyes by using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

In single-molecule applications, the photostability of fluorescent molecules is a key parameter. We apply fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to compare the photostability of four fluorescein and four borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes of similar structure but different triplet yields. The latter class of dyes are more stable. In the kinetic analysis the, diffusion and photobleaching are treated as competitive processes. Corrections, which account for saturation and for experimental artefacts, are achieved solely by using experimental data. Photobleaching is found to occur mainly through the first excited singlet state S(1), in contrast to previous findings.

Real-time single-molecule observation of rolling-circle DNA replication

We present a simple technique for visualizing replication of individual DNA molecules in real time. By attaching a rolling-circle substrate to a TIRF microscope-mounted flow chamber, we are able to monitor the progression of single-DNA synthesis events and accurately measure rates and processivities of single T7 and Escherichia coli replisomes as they replicate DNA. This method allows for rapid and precise characterization of the kinetics of DNA synthesis and the effects of replication inhibitors.

Torsional stiffness of single superparamagnetic microspheres in an external magnetic field

We used magnetic tweezers to measure the torsional stiffness of single micrometer-sized superparamagnetic spheres as a function of the applied magnetic field. By investigating the axial fluctuations of DNA-bound microspheres, we found that considerable rotational microsphere fluctuations can occur. Quantitative noise analysis allowed us to determine the rotational stiffness of individual microspheres, which was found to saturate at high magnetic fields. The saturation can be qualitatively explained considering the properties of the magnetic nanoparticles within the microsphere. Consequences for spatial resolution limits in single-molecule magnetic tweezer experiments and usage of DNA mechanics as a sensitive probe in magnetometry are discussed.

Single molecule studies of homologous recombination

Single molecule methods offer an unprecedented opportunity to examine complex macromolecular reactions that are obfuscated by ensemble averaging. The application of single molecule techniques to study DNA processing enzymes has revealed new mechanistic details that are unobtainable from bulk biochemical studies. Homologous DNA recombination is a multi-step pathway that is facilitated by numerous enzymes that must precisely and rapidly manipulate diverse DNA substrates to repair potentially lethal breaks in the DNA duplex. In this review, we present an overview of single molecule assays that have been developed to study key aspects of homologous recombination and discuss the unique information gleaned from these experiments.

EcoR124I: from plasmid-encoded restriction-modification system to nanodevice

SUMMARY

Plasmid R124 was first described in 1972 as being a new member of incompatibility group IncFIV, yet early physical investigations of plasmid DNA showed that this type of classification was more complex than first imagined. Throughout the history of the study of this plasmid, there have been many unexpected observations. Therefore, in this review, we describe the history of our understanding of this plasmid and the type I restriction-modification (R-M) system that it encodes, which will allow an opportunity to correct errors, or misunderstandings, that have arisen in the literature. We also describe the characterization of the R-M enzyme EcoR124I and describe the unusual properties of both type I R-M enzymes and EcoR124I in particular. As we approached the 21st century, we began to see the potential of the EcoR124I R-M enzyme as a useful molecular motor, and this leads to a description of recent work that has shown that the R-M enzyme can be used as a nanoactuator. Therefore, this is a history that takes us from a plasmid isolated from (presumably) an infected source to the potential use of the plasmid-encoded R-M enzyme in bionanotechnology.

A practical guide to single-molecule FRET

Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is one of the most general and adaptable single-molecule techniques. Despite the explosive growth in the application of smFRET to answer biological questions in the last decade, the technique has been practiced mostly by biophysicists. We provide a practical guide to using smFRET, focusing on the study of immobilized molecules that allow measurements of single-molecule reaction trajectories from 1 ms to many minutes. We discuss issues a biologist must consider to conduct successful smFRET experiments, including experimental design, sample preparation, single-molecule detection and data analysis. We also describe how a smFRET-capable instrument can be built at a reasonable cost with off-the-shelf components and operated reliably using well-established protocols and freely available software.

Noise and bandwidth of current recordings from submicrometer pores and nanopores

Nanopores and submicrometer pores have recently been explored for applications ranging from detection of single molecules, assemblies of nanoparticles, nucleic acids, occurrence of chemical reactions, and unfolding of proteins. Most of these applications rely on monitoring electrical current through these pores, hence the noise and signal bandwidth of these current recordings are critical for achieving accurate and sensitive measurements. In this report, we present a detailed theoretical and experimental study on the noise and signal bandwidth of current recordings from glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membranes that contain a single submicrometer pore or nanopore. We examined the theoretical signal bandwidth of two different pore geometries, and we measured the signal bandwidth of the electronics used to record the ionic current. We also investigated the theoretical noise generated by the substrate material, the pore, and the electronics used to record the current. Employing a combination of theory and experimental results, we were able to predict the noise in current traces recorded from glass and PET pores with no applied voltage with an error of less than 12% in a range of signal bandwidths from 1 to 40 kHz. In approximately half of all experiments, application of a voltage did not significantly increase the noise. In the other half of experiments, however, application of a voltage resulted in an additional source of noise. For these pores, predictions of the noise were usually still accurate within 35% error at signal bandwidths of at least 10 kHz. The power spectra of this extra noise suggested a 1/f(alpha) origin with best fits to the power spectrum for alpha = 0.4-0.8. This work provides the theoretical background and experimental data for understanding the bandwidth requirements and the main sources of noise in current recordings; it will be useful for minimizing noise and achieving accurate recordings.

Motor step size and ATP coupling efficiency of the dsDNA translocase EcoR124I

The Type I restriction-modification enzyme EcoR124I is an archetypical helicase-based dsDNA translocase that moves unidirectionally along the 3′–5′ strand of intact duplex DNA. Using a combination of ensemble and single-molecule measurements, we provide estimates of two physicochemical constants that are fundamental to a full description of motor protein activity—the ATP coupling efficiency (the number of ATP consumed per base pair) and the step size (the number of base pairs transported per motor step). Our data indicate that EcoR124I makes small steps along the DNA of 1 bp in length with 1 ATP consumed per step, but with some uncoupling of the ATPase and translocase cycles occurring so that the average number of ATP consumed per base pair slightly exceeds unity. Our observations form a framework for understanding energy coupling in a great many other motors that translocate along dsDNA rather than ssDNA.