1
|
Lacen AN, Symasek A, Gunter A, Lee HT. Slow G-Quadruplex Conformation Rearrangement and Accessibility Change Induced by Potassium in Human Telomeric Single-Stranded DNA. J Phys Chem B 2024. [PMID: 38875355 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
The guanine-rich telomeric repeats can form G-quadruplexes (G4s) that alter the accessibility of the single-stranded telomeric overhang. In this study, we investigated the effects of Na+ and K+ on G4 folding and accessibility through cation introduction and exchange. We combined differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), circular dichroism (CD), and single molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) to monitor the stability, conformational dynamics, and complementary strand binding accessibility of G4 formed by single-stranded telomeric DNA. Our data showed that G4 formed through heating and slow cooling in K+ solution exhibited fewer conformational dynamics than G4 formed in Na+ solution, which is consistent with the higher thermal stability of G4 in K+. Monitoring cation exchange with real time smFRET at room temperature shows that Na+ and K+ can replace each other in G4. When encountering high K+ at room or body temperature, G4 undergoes a slow conformational rearrangement process which is mostly complete by 2 h. The slow conformational rearrangement ends with a stable G4 that is unable to be unfolded by a complementary strand. This study provides new insights into the accessibility of G4 forming sequences at different time points after introduction to a high K+ environment in cells, which may affect how the nascent telomeric overhang interacts with proteins and telomerase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arianna N Lacen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 901 14th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
| | - Andrew Symasek
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 901 14th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
| | - Alan Gunter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 901 14th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
| | - Hui-Ting Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 901 14th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alanazi AFR, Parkinson GN, Haider S. Structural Motifs at the Telomeres and Their Role in Regulatory Pathways. Biochemistry 2024; 63:827-842. [PMID: 38481135 PMCID: PMC10993422 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00023] [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: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Telomeres are specialized structures, found at the ends of linear chromosomes in eukaryotic cells, that play a crucial role in maintaining the stability and integrity of genomes. They are composed of repetitive DNA sequences, ssDNA overhangs, and several associated proteins. The length of telomeres is linked to cellular aging in humans, and deficiencies in their maintenance are associated with various diseases. Key structural motifs at the telomeres serve to protect vulnerable chromosomal ends. Telomeric DNA also has the ability to form diverse complex DNA higher-order structures, including T-loops, D-loops, R-loops, G-loops, G-quadruplexes, and i-motifs, in the complementary C-rich strand. While many essential proteins at telomeres have been identified, the intricacies of their interactions and structural details are still not fully understood. This Perspective highlights recent advancements in comprehending the structures associated with human telomeres. It emphasizes the significance of telomeres, explores various telomeric structural motifs, and delves into the structural biology surrounding telomeres and telomerase. Furthermore, telomeric loops, their topologies, and the associated proteins that contribute to the safeguarding of telomeres are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abeer F R Alanazi
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
| | - Gary N Parkinson
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
| | - Shozeb Haider
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
- UCL Centre for Advanced Research Computing, University College London, London WC1H 9RN, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Johnson S, Paul T, Sanford S, Schnable BL, Detwiler A, Thosar S, Van Houten B, Myong S, Opresko P. BG4 antibody can recognize telomeric G-quadruplexes harboring destabilizing base modifications and lesions. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1763-1778. [PMID: 38153143 PMCID: PMC10939409 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BG4 is a single-chain variable fragment antibody shown to bind various G-quadruplex (GQ) topologies with high affinity and specificity, and to detect GQ in cells, including GQ structures formed within telomeric TTAGGG repeats. Here, we used ELISA and single-molecule pull-down (SiMPull) detection to test how various lengths and GQ destabilizing base modifications in telomeric DNA constructs alter BG4 binding. We observed high-affinity BG4 binding to telomeric GQ independent of telomere length, although three telomeric repeat constructs that cannot form stable intramolecular GQ showed reduced affinity. A single guanine substitution with 8-aza-7-deaza-G, T, A, or C reduced affinity to varying degrees depending on the location and base type, whereas two G substitutions in the telomeric construct dramatically reduced or abolished binding. Substitution with damaged bases 8-oxoguanine and O6-methylguanine failed to prevent BG4 binding although affinity was reduced depending on lesion location. SiMPull combined with FRET revealed that BG4 binding promotes folding of telomeric GQ harboring a G to T substitution or 8-oxoguanine. Atomic force microscopy revealed that BG4 binds telomeric GQ with a 1:1 stoichiometry. Collectively, our data suggest that BG4 can recognize partially folded telomeric GQ structures and promote telomeric GQ stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Johnson
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Graduate Program, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Tapas Paul
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Samantha L Sanford
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Brittani L Schnable
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Graduate Program, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Ariana C Detwiler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Sanjana A Thosar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Bennett Van Houten
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Graduate Program, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Patricia L Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Graduate Program, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang C, Xu G, Liu X, Jiang L, Zhou X, Liu M, Li C. 19F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting Technique for Identifying and Quantifying G-Quadruplex Topology in Human Telomeric Overhangs. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:4741-4751. [PMID: 38346932 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12247] [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: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical nucleic acid secondary structures with diverse topological features and biological roles. Human telomeric (Htelo) overhangs consisting of TTAGGG repeats can fold into G4s that adopt different topologies under physiological conditions. These G4s are potential targets for anticancer drugs. Despite intensive research, the existence and topology of G4s at Htelo overhangs in vivo are still unclear because there is no method to distinguish and quantify the topology of Htelo overhangs with native lengths that can form more than three tandem G4s in living cells. Herein, we present a novel 19F chemical shift fingerprinting technique to identify and quantify the topology of the Htelo overhangs up to five G-quadruplexes (G4s) and 120 nucleotides long both in vitro and in living cells. Our results show that longer overhang sequences tend to form stable G4s at the 5'- and 3'-ends, while the interior G4s are dynamic and "sliding" along the sequence, with TTA or 1-3 TTAGGG repeats as a linker. Each G4 in the longer overhang is conformationally heterogeneous, but the predominant ones are hybrid-2, two- or three-tetrad antiparallel, and hybrid-1 at the 5'-terminal, interior, and 3'-terminal, respectively. Additionally, we observed a distinct behavior of different lengths of telomeric sequences in living cells, suggesting that the overhang length and protein accessibility are related to its function. This technique provides a powerful tool for quickly identifying the folding topology and relative population of long Htelo overhangs, which may provide valuable insights into telomere functionality and be beneficial for structure-based anticancer drug development targeting G4s.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Guohua Xu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
| | - Ling Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
| | - Maili Liu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
| | - Conggang Li
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shiekh S, Kodikara SG, Balci H. Structure, Topology, and Stability of Multiple G-quadruplexes in Long Telomeric Overhangs. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168205. [PMID: 37481156 PMCID: PMC10799177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres and their single stranded overhangs gradually shorten with successive cell divisions, as part of the natural aging process, but can be elongated by telomerase, a nucleoprotein complex which is activated in the majority of cancers. This prominent implication in cancer and aging has made the repetitive telomeric sequences (TTAGGG repeats) and the G-quadruplex structures that form in their overhangs the focus of intense research in the past several decades. However, until recently most in vitro efforts to understand the structure, stability, dynamics, and interactions of telomeric overhangs had been focused on short sequences that are not representative of longer sequences encountered in a physiological setting. In this review, we will provide a broad perspective about telomeres and associated factors, and introduce the agents and structural characteristics involved in organizing, maintaining, and protecting telomeric DNA. We will also present a summary of recent research performed on long telomeric sequences, nominally defined as those that can form two or more tandem G-quadruplexes, i.e., which contain eight or more TTAGGG repeats. Results of experimental studies using a broad array of experimental tools, in addition to recent computational efforts will be discussed, particularly in terms of their implications for the stability, folding topology, and compactness of the tandem G-quadruplexes that form in long telomeric overhangs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sajad Shiekh
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | | | - Hamza Balci
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Xu Y, Komiyama M. G-Quadruplexes in Human Telomere: Structures, Properties, and Applications. Molecules 2023; 29:174. [PMID: 38202757 PMCID: PMC10780218 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010174] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes, intricate four-stranded structures composed of G-tetrads formed by four guanine bases, are prevalent in both DNA and RNA. Notably, these structures play pivotal roles in human telomeres, contributing to essential cellular functions. Additionally, the existence of DNA:RNA hybrid G-quadruplexes adds a layer of complexity to their structural diversity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in unraveling the intricacies of DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes within human telomeres. Detailed insights into their structural features are presented, encompassing the latest developments in chemical approaches designed to probe these G-quadruplex structures. Furthermore, this review explores the applications of G-quadruplex structures in targeting human telomeres. Finally, the manuscript outlines the imminent challenges in this evolving field, setting the stage for future investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xu
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Makoto Komiyama
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kodikara SG, Merkel KJ, Haas SJ, Shiekh S, Balci H. Detecting secondary structure formation with FRET-PAINT. Analyst 2023; 148:4655-4658. [PMID: 37671909 PMCID: PMC10561560 DOI: 10.1039/d3an01118f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
We present single molecule studies demonstrating the capabilities of the FRET-PAINT method to detect secondary structures that would be challenging to detect with alternative methods, particularly single molecule FRET (smFRET). Instead of relying on the change in end-to-end separation as in smFRET, we use the change in accessibility to a small probe as the criterion for secondary structure formation and relative stability. As a model system, we study G-triplex formation by human telomeric repeat sequences in different structural contexts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kylie J Merkel
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Simon J Haas
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Sajad Shiekh
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Hamza Balci
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kristoffersen E, Coletta A, Lund L, Schiøtt B, Birkedal V. Inhibited complete folding of consecutive human telomeric G-quadruplexes. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:1571-1582. [PMID: 36715345 PMCID: PMC9976873 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Noncanonical DNA structures, termed G-quadruplexes, are present in human genomic DNA and are important elements in many DNA metabolic processes. Multiple sites in the human genome have G-rich DNA stretches able to support formation of several consecutive G-quadruplexes. One of those sites is the telomeric overhang region that has multiple repeats of TTAGGG and is tightly associated with both cancer and aging. We investigated the folding of consecutive G-quadruplexes in both potassium- and sodium-containing solutions using single-molecule FRET spectroscopy, circular dichroism, thermal melting and molecular dynamics simulations. Our observations show coexistence of partially and fully folded DNA, the latter consisting of consecutive G-quadruplexes. Following the folding process over hours in sodium-containing buffers revealed fast G-quadruplex folding but slow establishment of thermodynamic equilibrium. We find that full consecutive G-quadruplex formation is inhibited by the many DNA structures randomly nucleating on the DNA, some of which are off-path conformations that need to unfold to allow full folding. Our study allows describing consecutive G-quadruplex formation in both nonequilibrium and equilibrium conditions by a unified picture, where, due to the many possible DNA conformations, full folding with consecutive G-quadruplexes as beads on a string is not necessarily achieved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emil Laust Kristoffersen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andrea Coletta
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Line Mørkholt Lund
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Birgit Schiøtt
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark,Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Shiekh S, Jack A, Saurabh A, Mustafa G, Kodikara S, Gyawali P, Hoque M, Pressé S, Yildiz A, Balci H. Shelterin reduces the accessibility of telomeric overhangs. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:12885-12895. [PMID: 36511858 PMCID: PMC9825182 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres terminate with a 50-300 bases long single-stranded G-rich overhang, which can be misrecognized as a DNA damage repair site. Shelterin plays critical roles in maintaining and protecting telomere ends by regulating access of various physiological agents to telomeric DNA, but the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Here, we measure how shelterin affects the accessibility of long telomeric overhangs by monitoring transient binding events of a short complementary peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe using FRET-PAINT in vitro. We observed that the POT1 subunit of shelterin reduces the accessibility of the PNA probe by ∼2.5-fold, indicating that POT1 effectively binds to and protects otherwise exposed telomeric sequences. In comparison, a four-component shelterin stabilizes POT1 binding to the overhang by tethering POT1 to the double-stranded telomeric DNA and reduces the accessibility of telomeric overhangs by ∼5-fold. This enhanced protection suggests shelterin restructures the junction between single and double-stranded telomere, which is otherwise the most accessible part of the telomeric overhang.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sajad Shiekh
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Amanda Jack
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ayush Saurabh
- Center for Biological Physics, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Golam Mustafa
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | | | - Prabesh Gyawali
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Mohammed Enamul Hoque
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Steve Pressé
- Center for Biological Physics, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- School of Molecular Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Ahmet Yildiz
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Physics Department, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Hamza Balci
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Moazamian A, Gharagozloo P, Aitken RJ, Drevet JR. OXIDATIVE STRESS AND REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION: Sperm telomeres, oxidative stress, and infertility. Reproduction 2022; 164:F125-F133. [PMID: 35938805 DOI: 10.1530/rep-22-0189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In brief Oxidative stress is recognized as an underlying driving factor of both telomere dysfunction and human subfertility/infertility. This review briefly reassesses telomere integrity as a fertility biomarker before proposing a novel, mechanistic rationale for the role of oxidative stress in the seemingly paradoxical lengthening of sperm telomeres with aging. Abstract The maintenance of redox balance in the male reproductive tract is critical to sperm health and function. Physiological levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote sperm capacitation, while excess ROS exposure, or depleted antioxidant defenses, yields a state of oxidative stress which disrupts their fertilizing capacity and DNA structural integrity. The guanine moiety is the most readily oxidized of the four DNA bases and gets converted to the mutagenic lesion 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Numerous studies have also confirmed oxidative stress as a driving factor behind accelerated telomere shortening and dysfunction. Although a clear consensus has not been reached, clinical studies also appear to associate telomere integrity with fertility outcomes in the assisted reproductive technology setting. Intriguingly, while sperm cellular and molecular characteristics make them more susceptible to oxidative insult than any other cell type, they are also the only cell type in which telomere lengthening accompanies aging. This article focuses on the oxidative stress response pathways to propose a mechanism for the explanation of this apparent paradox.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aron Moazamian
- CellOxess LLC, Ewing, New Jersey, USA.,Université Clermont Auvergne, GReD Institute, CNRS-INSERM, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Robert J Aitken
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joël R Drevet
- Université Clermont Auvergne, GReD Institute, CNRS-INSERM, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhao L, Ahmed F, Zeng Y, Xu W, Xiong H. Recent Developments in G-Quadruplex Binding Ligands and Specific Beacons on Smart Fluorescent Sensor for Targeting Metal Ions and Biological Analytes. ACS Sens 2022; 7:2833-2856. [PMID: 36112358 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c00992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The G-quadruplex structure is crucial in several biological processes, including DNA replication, transcription, and genomic maintenance. G-quadruplex-based fluorescent probes have recently gained popularity because of their ease of use, low cost, excellent selectivity, and sensitivity. This review summarizes the latest applications of G-quadruplex structures as detectors of genome-wide, enantioselective catalysts, disease therapeutics, promising drug targets, and smart fluorescence probes. In every section, sensing of G-quadruplex and employing G4 for the detection of other analytes were introduced, respectively. Since the discovery of the G-quadruplex structure, several studies have been conducted to investigate its conformations, biological potential, stability, reactivity, selectivity for chemical modification, and optical properties. The formation mechanism and advancements for detecting different metal ions (Na+, K+, Ag+, Tl+, Cu+/Cu2+, Hg2+, and Pb2+) and biomolecules (AMP, ATP, DNA/RNA, microRNA, thrombin, T4 PNK, RNase H, ALP, CEA, lipocalin 1, and UDG) using fluorescent sensors based on G-quadruplex modification, such as dye labels, artificial nucleobase moieties, dye complexes, intercalating dyes, and bioconjugated nanomaterials (AgNCs, GO, QDs, CDs, and MOF) is described herein. To investigate these extremely efficient responsive agents for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in medicine, fluorescence sensors based on G-quadruplexes have also been employed as a quantitative visualization technique.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Long Zhao
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China.,College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Farid Ahmed
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Yating Zeng
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Weiqing Xu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Hai Xiong
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gao J, Pickett HA. Targeting telomeres: advances in telomere maintenance mechanism-specific cancer therapies. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:515-532. [PMID: 35790854 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00490-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells establish replicative immortality by activating a telomere-maintenance mechanism (TMM), be it telomerase or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. Targeting telomere maintenance represents an intriguing opportunity to treat the vast majority of all cancer types. Whilst telomerase inhibitors have historically been heralded as promising anticancer agents, the reality has been more challenging, and there are currently no therapeutic options for cancer types that use ALT despite their aggressive nature and poor prognosis. In this Review, we discuss the mechanistic differences between telomere maintenance by telomerase and ALT, the current methods used to detect each mechanism, the utility of these tests for clinical diagnosis, and recent developments in the therapeutic strategies being employed to target both telomerase and ALT. We present notable developments in repurposing established therapeutic agents and new avenues that are emerging to target cancer types according to which TMM they employ. These opportunities extend beyond inhibition of telomere maintenance, by finding and exploiting inherent weaknesses in the telomeres themselves to trigger rapid cellular effects that lead to cell death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jixuan Gao
- Telomere Length Regulation Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Hilda A Pickett
- Telomere Length Regulation Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
We present single-molecule experimental and computational modeling studies investigating the accessibility of human telomeric overhangs of physiologically relevant lengths. We studied 25 different overhangs that contain 4-28 repeats of GGGTTA (G-Tract) sequence and accommodate one to seven tandem G-quadruplex (GQ) structures. Using the FRET-PAINT method, we probed the distribution of accessible sites via a short imager strand, which is complementary to a G-Tract and transiently binds to available sites. We report accessibility patterns that periodically change with overhang length and interpret these patterns in terms of the underlying folding landscape and folding frustration. Overhangs that have [4n]G-Tracts, (12, 16, 20…) demonstrate the broadest accessibility patterns where the peptide nucleic acid probe accesses G-Tracts throughout the overhang. On the other hand, constructs with [4n+2]G-Tracts, (14, 18, 22…) have narrower patterns where the neighborhood of the junction between single- and double-stranded telomeres is most accessible. We interpret these results as the folding frustration being higher in [4n]G-Tract constructs compared to [4n+2]G-Tract constructs. We also developed a computational model that tests the consistency of different folding stabilities and cooperativities between neighboring GQs with the observed accessibility patterns. Our experimental and computational studies suggest the neighborhood of the junction between single- and double-stranded telomeres is least stable and most accessible, which is significant as this is a potential site where the connection between POT1/TPP1 (bound to single-stranded telomere) and other shelterin proteins (localized on double-stranded telomere) is established.
Collapse
|
14
|
Chang TR, Long X, Shastry S, Parks JW, Stone MD. Single-Molecule Mechanical Analysis of Strand Invasion in Human Telomere DNA. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1554-1560. [PMID: 35852986 PMCID: PMC9352315 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Telomeres are essential
chromosome end capping structures that
safeguard the genome from dangerous DNA processing events. DNA strand
invasion occurs during vital transactions at telomeres, including
telomere length maintenance by the alternative lengthening of telomeres
(ALT) pathway. During telomeric strand invasion, a single-stranded
guanine-rich (G-rich) DNA invades at a complementary duplex telomere
repeat sequence, forming a displacement loop (D-loop) in which the
displaced DNA consists of the same G-rich sequence as the invading
single-stranded DNA. Single-stranded G-rich telomeric DNA readily
folds into stable, compact, structures called G-quadruplexes (GQs)
in vitro and is anticipated to form within the context of a D-loop;
however, evidence supporting this hypothesis is lacking. Here, we
report a magnetic tweezers assay that permits the controlled formation
of telomeric D-loops (TDLs) within uninterrupted duplex human telomere
DNA molecules of physiologically relevant lengths. Our results are
consistent with a model wherein the displaced single-stranded DNA
of a TDL fold into a GQ. This study provides new insight into telomere
structure and establishes a framework for the development of novel
therapeutics designed to target GQs at telomeres in cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terren R. Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Xi Long
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Shankar Shastry
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
- 10X Genomics, 6230 Stoneridge Mall Rd, Pleasanton, California 94588, United States
| | - Joseph W. Parks
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
- Invitae, 1400 16th St, San Francisco, California 94103, United States
| | - Michael D. Stone
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Choi BE, Lee HT. DNA-RNA hybrid G-quadruplex tends to form near the 3' end of telomere overhang. Biophys J 2022; 121:2962-2980. [PMID: 35769005 PMCID: PMC9388385 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) has been suggested to participate in telomere maintenance. TERRA consisting of UUAGGG repeats is capable of forming an intermolecular G-quadruplex (GQ) with single-stranded TTAGGG-repeat DNA in the telomere 3' overhang. To explore the structural features and potential functions of this DNA-RNA hybrid GQ (HGQ), we used single-molecule FRET to study the folding patterns of DNA with four to seven telomeric tandem repeats annealed with a short RNA consisting of two or five telomeric repeats. Our data highlight that RNA prefers to form DNA-RNA HGQ near the 3' end of telomeric DNA. Furthermore, the unfolding of secondary structures by a complementary C-rich sequence was observed for DNA GQ but not for DNA-RNA HGQ, which demonstrated the enhanced stability of the telomere 3' end via hybridization with RNA. These conformational and physical properties of telomeric DNA-RNA HGQ suggest that TERRA might limit access to the 3' end of the telomeric DNA overhang, which is known to be critical for the interaction with telomerase and other telomere-associated proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bok-Eum Choi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Hui-Ting Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lee J, Sung K, Joo SY, Jeong JH, Kim SK, Lee H. Dynamic interaction of BRCA2 with telomeric G-quadruplexes underlies telomere replication homeostasis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3396. [PMID: 35697743 PMCID: PMC9192595 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31156-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BRCA2-deficient cells precipitate telomere shortening upon collapse of stalled replication forks. Here, we report that the dynamic interaction between BRCA2 and telomeric G-quadruplex (G4), the non-canonical four-stranded secondary structure, underlies telomere replication homeostasis. We find that the OB-folds of BRCA2 binds to telomeric G4, which can be an obstacle during replication. We further demonstrate that BRCA2 associates with G-triplex (G3)-derived intermediates, which are likely to form during direct interconversion between parallel and non-parallel G4. Intriguingly, BRCA2 binding to G3 intermediates promoted RAD51 recruitment to the telomere G4. Furthermore, MRE11 resected G4-telomere, which was inhibited by BRCA2. Pathogenic mutations at the OB-folds abrogated the binding with telomere G4, indicating that the way BRCA2 associates with telomere is innate to its tumor suppressor activity. Collectively, we propose that BRCA2 binding to telomeric G4 remodels it and allows RAD51-mediated restart of the G4-driven replication fork stalling, simultaneously preventing MRE11-mediated breakdown of telomere. G-quadruplex (G4) can be formed in telomeric DNA. Here the authors show that BRCA2 interacts with telomere G4 structure generated during telomere replication, protecting telomere from nuclease attack.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junyeop Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences & IMBG, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Keewon Sung
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - So Young Joo
- Department of Biological Sciences & IMBG, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Jun-Hyeon Jeong
- Department of Biological Sciences & IMBG, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Seong Keun Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
| | - Hyunsook Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences & IMBG, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Paul T, Opresko PL, Ha T, Myong S. Vectorial folding of telomere overhang promotes higher accessibility. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:6271-6283. [PMID: 35687089 PMCID: PMC9226509 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human telomere overhang composed of tandem repeats of TTAGGG folds into G-quadruplex (G4). Unlike in an experimental setting in the test tube in which the entire length is allowed to fold at once, inside the cell, the overhang is expected to fold as it is synthesized directionally (5' to 3') and released segmentally by a specialized enzyme, the telomerase. To mimic such vectorial G4 folding process, we employed a superhelicase, Rep-X which can unwind DNA to release the TTAGGG repeats in 5' to 3' direction. We demonstrate that the folded conformation achieved by the refolding of full sequence is significantly different from that of the vectorial folding for two to eight TTAGGG repeats. Strikingly, the vectorially folded state leads to a remarkably higher accessibility to complementary C-rich strand and the telomere binding protein POT1, reflecting a less stably folded state resulting from the vectorial folding. Importantly, our study points to an inherent difference between the co-polymerizing and post-polymerized folding of telomere overhang that can impact telomere architecture and downstream processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tapas Paul
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218, USA
| | - Patricia L Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA15213, USA
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218, USA.,Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, 1110 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218, USA.,Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, 1110 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
De Rosa M, Johnson SA, Opresko PL. Roles for the 8-Oxoguanine DNA Repair System in Protecting Telomeres From Oxidative Stress. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:758402. [PMID: 34869348 PMCID: PMC8640134 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.758402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are protective nucleoprotein structures that cap linear chromosome ends and safeguard genome stability. Progressive telomere shortening at each somatic cell division eventually leads to critically short and dysfunctional telomeres, which can contribute to either cellular senescence and aging, or tumorigenesis. Human reproductive cells, some stem cells, and most cancer cells, express the enzyme telomerase to restore telomeric DNA. Numerous studies have shown that oxidative stress caused by excess reactive oxygen species is associated with accelerated telomere shortening and dysfunction. Telomeric repeat sequences are remarkably susceptible to oxidative damage and are preferred sites for the production of the mutagenic base lesion 8-oxoguanine, which can alter telomere length homeostasis and integrity. Therefore, knowledge of the repair pathways involved in the processing of 8-oxoguanine at telomeres is important for advancing understanding of the pathogenesis of degenerative diseases and cancer associated with telomere instability. The highly conserved guanine oxidation (GO) system involves three specialized enzymes that initiate distinct pathways to specifically mitigate the adverse effects of 8-oxoguanine. Here we introduce the GO system and review the studies focused on investigating how telomeric 8-oxoguanine processing affects telomere integrity and overall genome stability. We also discuss newly developed technologies that target oxidative damage selectively to telomeres to investigate roles for the GO system in telomere stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariarosaria De Rosa
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Samuel A Johnson
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Patricia L Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Paul T, Liou W, Cai X, Opresko PL, Myong S. TRF2 promotes dynamic and stepwise looping of POT1 bound telomeric overhang. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:12377-12393. [PMID: 34850123 PMCID: PMC8643667 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human telomeres are protected by shelterin proteins, but how telomeres maintain a dynamic structure remains elusive. Here, we report an unexpected activity of POT1 in imparting conformational dynamics of the telomere overhang, even at a monomer level. Strikingly, such POT1-induced overhang dynamics is greatly enhanced when TRF2 engages with the telomere duplex. Interestingly, TRF2, but not TRF2ΔB, recruits POT1-bound overhangs to the telomere ds/ss junction and induces a discrete stepwise movement up and down the axis of telomere duplex. The same steps are observed regardless of the length of the POT1-bound overhang, suggesting a tightly regulated conformational dynamic coordinated by TRF2 and POT1. TPP1 and TIN2 which physically connect POT1 and TRF2 act to generate a smooth movement along the axis of the telomere duplex. Our results suggest a plausible mechanism wherein telomeres maintain a dynamic structure orchestrated by shelterin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tapas Paul
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Wilson Liou
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Xinyi Cai
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Patricia L Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Hillman Cancer Center, 5117 Centre Avenue, Suite 2.6a, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, 1110 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Chatain J, Hatem G, Delagoutte E, Riou JF, Alberti P, Saintomé C. Multiple hPOT1-TPP1 cooperatively unfold contiguous telomeric G-quadruplexes proceeding from 3' toward 5', a feature due to a 3'-end binding preference and to structuring of telomeric DNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10735-10746. [PMID: 34534331 PMCID: PMC8501996 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are DNA repeated sequences that associate with shelterin proteins and protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Human telomeres are composed of 5'TTAGGG repeats and ends with a 3' single-stranded tail, called G-overhang, that can be specifically bound by the shelterin protein hPOT1 (human Protection of Telomeres 1). In vitro studies have shown that the telomeric G-strand can fold into stable contiguous G-quadruplexes (G4). In the present study we investigated how hPOT1, in complex with its shelterin partner TPP1, binds to telomeric sequences structured into contiguous G4 in potassium solutions. We observed that binding of multiple hPOT1-TPP1 preferentially proceeds from 3' toward 5'. We explain this directionality in terms of two factors: (i) the preference of hPOT1-TPP1 for the binding site situated at the 3' end of a telomeric sequence and (ii) the cooperative binding displayed by hPOT1-TPP1 in potassium. By comparing binding in K+ and in Li+, we demonstrate that this cooperative behaviour does not stem from protein-protein interactions, but from structuring of the telomeric DNA substrate into contiguous G4 in potassium. Our study suggests that POT1-TPP1, in physiological conditions, might preferentially cover the telomeric G-overhang starting from the 3'-end and proceeding toward 5'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean Chatain
- Structure et Instabilité des Génomes, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, 43 rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Georges Hatem
- Structure et Instabilité des Génomes, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, 43 rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Delagoutte
- Structure et Instabilité des Génomes, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, 43 rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-François Riou
- Structure et Instabilité des Génomes, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, 43 rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Patrizia Alberti
- Structure et Instabilité des Génomes, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, 43 rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Carole Saintomé
- Structure et Instabilité des Génomes, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, 43 rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, UFR927, F-75005 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Bandyopadhyay D, Mishra PP. Decoding the Structural Dynamics and Conformational Alternations of DNA Secondary Structures by Single-Molecule FRET Microspectroscopy. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:725541. [PMID: 34540899 PMCID: PMC8446445 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.725541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to the canonical double helix form, DNA is known to be extrapolated into several other secondary structural patterns involving themselves in inter- and intramolecular type hydrogen bonding. The secondary structures of nucleic acids go through several stages of multiple, complex, and interconvertible heterogeneous conformations. The journey of DNA through these conformers has significant importance and has been monitored thoroughly to establish qualitative and quantitative information about the transition between the unfolded, folded, misfolded, and partially folded states. During this structural interconversion, there always exist specific populations of intermediates, which are short-lived or sometimes even do not accumulate within a heterogeneous population and are challenging to characterize using conventional ensemble techniques. The single-molecule FRET(sm-FRET) microspectroscopic method has the advantages to overcome these limitations and monitors biological phenomena transpiring at a measurable high rate and balanced stochastically over time. Thus, tracing the time trajectory of a particular molecule enables direct measurement of the rate constant of each transition step, including the intermediates that are hidden in the ensemble level due to their low concentrations. This review is focused on the advantages of the employment of single-molecule Forster's resonance energy transfer (sm-FRET), which is worthwhile to access the dynamic architecture and structural transition of various secondary structures that DNA adopts, without letting the donor of one molecule to cross-talk with the acceptor of any other. We have emphasized the studies performed to explore the states of folding and unfolding of several nucleic acid secondary structures, for example, the DNA hairpin, Holliday junction, G-quadruplex, and i-motif.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debolina Bandyopadhyay
- Single-Molecule Biophysics Lab, Chemical Sciences Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India
- HBNI, Mumbai, India
| | - Padmaja P. Mishra
- Single-Molecule Biophysics Lab, Chemical Sciences Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India
- HBNI, Mumbai, India
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Mustafa G, Shiekh S, Gc K, Abeysirigunawardena S, Balci H. Interrogating accessibility of telomeric sequences with FRET-PAINT: evidence for length-dependent telomere compaction. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:3371-3380. [PMID: 33693934 PMCID: PMC8034622 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-stranded telomeric overhangs are ∼200 nucleotides long and can form tandem G-quadruplex (GQ) structures, which reduce their accessibility to nucleases and proteins that activate DNA damage response. Whether these tandem GQs further stack to form compact superstructures, which may provide better protection for longer telomeres, is not known. We report single-molecule measurements where the accessibility of 24-144 nucleotide long human telomeric DNA molecules is interrogated by a short PNA molecule that is complementary to a single GGGTTA repeat, as implemented in the FRET-PAINT method. Binding of the PNA strand to available GGGTTA sequences results in discrete FRET bursts which were analyzed in terms of their dwell times, binding frequencies, and topographic distributions. The binding frequencies were greater for binding to intermediate regions of telomeric DNA compared to 3'- or 5'-ends, suggesting these regions are more accessible. Significantly, the binding frequency per telomeric repeat monotonically decreased with increasing telomere length. These results are consistent with telomeres forming more compact structures at longer lengths, reducing accessibility of these critical genomic sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Golam Mustafa
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Sajad Shiekh
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Keshav Gc
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | | | - Hamza Balci
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Paul T, Ha T, Myong S. Regeneration of PEG slide for multiple rounds of single-molecule measurements. Biophys J 2021; 120:1788-1799. [PMID: 33675764 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-molecule fluorescence detection of protein and other biomolecules requires a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-passivated surface. Individual channels on a PEG-passivated slide are typically used only a few times, limiting the number of experiments per slide. Here, we report several strategies for regenerating PEG surfaces for multiple rounds of experiments. First, we show regeneration of DNA- or RNA-tethered surfaces by washing out the bound protein by 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate, which is significantly more effective than 6 M urea, 6 M GdmCl, or 100 μM proteinase K. Strikingly, 10 consecutive experiments in five different systems produced indistinguishable results both in molecule count and protein activity. Second, duplexed DNA unwound by helicase or denatured by 50 mM NaOH was reannealed with a complementary strand to regenerate the duplexed substrate with an exceptionally high recovery rate. Third, the biotin-PEG layer was regenerated by using 7 M NaOH to strip off NeutrAvidin, which can be reapplied for additional experiments. We demonstrate five cycles of regenerating antibody immobilized surface by which three different protein activity was measured. Altogether, our methods represent reliable and reproducible yet simple and rapid strategies that will enhance the efficiency of single-molecule experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tapas Paul
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Bryan TM. G-Quadruplexes at Telomeres: Friend or Foe? Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25163686. [PMID: 32823549 PMCID: PMC7464828 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25163686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that cap and protect the ends of linear chromosomes. In almost all species, telomeric DNA has a G/C strand bias, and the short tandem repeats of the G-rich strand have the capacity to form into secondary structures in vitro, such as four-stranded G-quadruplexes. This has long prompted speculation that G-quadruplexes play a positive role in telomere biology, resulting in selection for G-rich tandem telomere repeats during evolution. There is some evidence that G-quadruplexes at telomeres may play a protective capping role, at least in yeast, and that they may positively affect telomere maintenance by either the enzyme telomerase or by recombination-based mechanisms. On the other hand, G-quadruplex formation in telomeric DNA, as elsewhere in the genome, can form an impediment to DNA replication and a source of genome instability. This review summarizes recent evidence for the in vivo existence of G-quadruplexes at telomeres, with a focus on human telomeres, and highlights some of the many unanswered questions regarding the location, form, and functions of these structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tracy M Bryan
- Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Paudel BP, Moye AL, Abou Assi H, El-Khoury R, Cohen SB, Holien JK, Birrento ML, Samosorn S, Intharapichai K, Tomlinson CG, Teulade-Fichou MP, González C, Beck JL, Damha MJ, van Oijen AM, Bryan TM. A mechanism for the extension and unfolding of parallel telomeric G-quadruplexes by human telomerase at single-molecule resolution. eLife 2020; 9:56428. [PMID: 32723475 PMCID: PMC7426096 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeric G-quadruplexes (G4) were long believed to form a protective structure at telomeres, preventing their extension by the ribonucleoprotein telomerase. Contrary to this belief, we have previously demonstrated that parallel-stranded conformations of telomeric G4 can be extended by human and ciliate telomerase. However, a mechanistic understanding of the interaction of telomerase with structured DNA remained elusive. Here, we use single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) microscopy and bulk-phase enzymology to propose a mechanism for the resolution and extension of parallel G4 by telomerase. Binding is initiated by the RNA template of telomerase interacting with the G-quadruplex; nucleotide addition then proceeds to the end of the RNA template. It is only through the large conformational change of translocation following synthesis that the G-quadruplex structure is completely unfolded to a linear product. Surprisingly, parallel G4 stabilization with either small molecule ligands or by chemical modification does not always inhibit G4 unfolding and extension by telomerase. These data reveal that telomerase is a parallel G-quadruplex resolvase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bishnu P Paudel
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawara Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Aaron Lavel Moye
- Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Hala Abou Assi
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Scott B Cohen
- Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Jessica K Holien
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Monica L Birrento
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawara Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Siritron Samosorn
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kamthorn Intharapichai
- Department of Biobased Materials Science, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Marie-Paule Teulade-Fichou
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Orsay, France.,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Carlos González
- Instituto de Química Física 'Rocasolano', CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jennifer L Beck
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawara Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Masad J Damha
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Antoine M van Oijen
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.,Illawara Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Tracy M Bryan
- Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Lee HT, Sanford S, Paul T, Choe J, Bose A, Opresko PL, Myong S. Position-Dependent Effect of Guanine Base Damage and Mutations on Telomeric G-Quadruplex and Telomerase Extension. Biochemistry 2020; 59:2627-2639. [PMID: 32578995 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are hot spots for mutagenic oxidative and methylation base damage due to their high guanine content. We used single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer detection and biochemical assays to determine how different positions and types of guanine damage and mutations alter telomeric G-quadruplex structure and telomerase activity. We compared 15 modifications, including 8-oxoguanine (8oxoG), O-6-methylguanine (O6mG), and all three possible point mutations (G to A, T, and C) at the 3' three terminal guanine positions of a telomeric G-quadruplex, which is the critical access point for telomerase. We found that G-quadruplex structural instability was induced in the order C < T < A ≤ 8oxoG < O6mG, with the perturbation caused by O6mG far exceeding the perturbation caused by other base alterations. For all base modifications, the central G position was the most destabilizing among the three terminal guanines. While the structural disruption by 8oxoG and O6mG led to concomitant increases in telomerase binding and extension activity, the structural perturbation by point mutations (A, T, and C) did not, due to disrupted annealing between the telomeric overhang and the telomerase RNA template. Repositioning the same mutations away from the terminal guanines caused both G-quadruplex structural instability and elevated telomerase activity. Our findings demonstrate how a single-base modification drives structural alterations and telomere lengthening in a position-dependent manner. Furthermore, our results suggest a long-term and inheritable effect of telomeric DNA damage that can lead to telomere lengthening, which potentially contributes to oncogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ting Lee
- Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Samantha Sanford
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Tapas Paul
- Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Joshua Choe
- Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Arindam Bose
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Patricia L Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Sua Myong
- Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.,Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, 1110 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Mitra J, Ha T. Streamlining effects of extra telomeric repeat on telomeric DNA folding revealed by fluorescence-force spectroscopy. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:11044-11056. [PMID: 31617570 PMCID: PMC6868435 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A human telomere ends in a single-stranded 3′ tail, composed of repeats of T2AG3. G-quadruplexes (GQs) formed from four consecutive repeats have been shown to possess high-structural and mechanical diversity. In principle, a GQ can form from any four repeats that are not necessarily consecutive. To understand the dynamics of GQs with positional multiplicity, we studied five and six repeats human telomeric sequence using a combination of single molecule FRET and optical tweezers. Our results suggest preferential formation of GQs at the 3′ end both in K+ and Na+ solutions, with minor populations of 5′-GQ or long-loop GQs. A vectorial folding assay which mimics the directional nature of telomere extension showed that the 3′ preference holds even when folding is allowed to begin from the 5′ side. In 100 mM K+, the unassociated T2AG3 segment has a streamlining effect in that one or two mechanically distinct species was observed at a single position instead of six or more observed without an unassociated repeat. We did not observe such streamlining effect in 100 mM Na+. Location of GQ and reduction in conformational diversity in the presence of extra repeats have implications in telomerase inhibition, T-loop formation and telomere end protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaba Mitra
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL 61801, USA.,Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
Repair of damaged DNA plays a crucial role in maintaining genomic integrity and normal cell function. The base excision repair (BER) pathway is primarily responsible for removing modified nucleobases that would otherwise cause deleterious and mutagenic consequences and lead to disease. The BER process is initiated by a DNA glycosylase, which recognizes and excises the target nucleobase lesion, and is completed via downstream enzymes acting in a well-coordinated manner. A majority of our current understanding about how BER enzymes function comes from in vitro studies using free duplex DNA as a simplified model. In eukaryotes, however, BER is challenged by the packaging of genomic DNA into chromatin. The fundamental structural repeating unit of chromatin is the nucleosome, which presents a more complex substrate context than free duplex DNA for repair. In this chapter, we discuss how BER enzymes, particularly glycosylases, engage in the context of packaged DNA with insights obtained from both in vivo and in vitro studies. Furthermore, we review factors and mechanisms that can modify chromatin architecture and/or influence DNA accessibility to BER machinery, such as the geometric location of the damage site, nucleosomal DNA unwrapping, histone post-translational modifications, histone variant incorporation, and chromatin remodeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuxuan Li
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Sarah Delaney
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Telomere DNA G-quadruplex folding within actively extending human telomerase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:9350-9359. [PMID: 31019071 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1814777116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcribes short guanine (G)-rich DNA repeat sequences from its internal RNA template to maintain telomere length. G-rich telomere DNA repeats readily fold into G-quadruplex (GQ) structures in vitro, and the presence of GQ-prone sequences throughout the genome introduces challenges to replication in vivo. Using a combination of ensemble and single-molecule telomerase assays, we discovered that GQ folding of the nascent DNA product during processive addition of multiple telomere repeats modulates the kinetics of telomerase catalysis and dissociation. Telomerase reactions performed with telomere DNA primers of varying sequence or using GQ-stabilizing K+ versus GQ-destabilizing Li+ salts yielded changes in DNA product profiles consistent with formation of GQ structures within the telomerase-DNA complex. Addition of the telomerase processivity factor POT1-TPP1 altered the DNA product profile, but was not sufficient to recover full activity in the presence of Li+ cations. This result suggests GQ folding synergizes with POT1-TPP1 to support telomerase function. Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer experiments reveal complex DNA structural dynamics during real-time catalysis in the presence of K+ but not Li+, supporting the notion of nascent product folding within the active telomerase complex. To explain the observed distributions of telomere products, we globally fit telomerase time-series data to a kinetic model that converges to a set of rate constants describing each successive telomere repeat addition cycle. Our results highlight the potential influence of the intrinsic folding properties of telomere DNA during telomerase catalysis, and provide a detailed characterization of GQ modulation of polymerase function.
Collapse
|
30
|
Tippana R, Chen MC, Demeshkina NA, Ferré-D'Amaré AR, Myong S. RNA G-quadruplex is resolved by repetitive and ATP-dependent mechanism of DHX36. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1855. [PMID: 31015431 PMCID: PMC6478676 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09802-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
DHX36 is a DEAH-box helicase that resolves parallel G-quadruplex structures formed in DNA and RNA. The recent co-crystal structure of DHX36 bound G4-DNA revealed an intimate contact, but did not address the role of ATP hydrolysis in G4 resolving activity. Here, we demonstrate that unlike on G4-DNA, DHX36 displays ATP-independent unfolding of G4-RNA followed by ATP-dependent refolding, generating a highly asymmetric pattern of activity. Interestingly, DHX36 refolds G4-RNA in several steps, reflecting the discrete steps in forming the G4 structure. We show that the ATP-dependent activity of DHX36 arises from the RNA tail rather than the G4. Mutations that perturb G4 contact result in quick dissociation of the protein from RNA upon ATP hydrolysis, while mutations that interfere with binding the RNA tail induce dysregulated activity. We propose that the ATP-dependent activity of DHX36 may be useful for dynamically resolving various G4-RNA structures in cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramreddy Tippana
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Michael C Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1TN, UK.,Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Natalia A Demeshkina
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Adrian R Ferré-D'Amaré
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA. .,Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Extreme mechanical diversity of human telomeric DNA revealed by fluorescence-force spectroscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:8350-8359. [PMID: 30944218 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1815162116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (GQs) can adopt diverse structures and are functionally implicated in transcription, replication, translation, and maintenance of telomere. Their conformational diversity under physiological levels of mechanical stress, however, is poorly understood. We used single-molecule fluorescence-force spectroscopy that combines fluorescence resonance energy transfer with optical tweezers to measure human telomeric sequences under tension. Abrupt GQ unfolding with K+ in solution occurred at as many as four discrete levels of force. Added to an ultrastable state and a gradually unfolding state, there were six mechanically distinct structures. Extreme mechanical diversity was also observed with Na+, although GQs were mechanically weaker. Our ability to detect small conformational changes at low forces enabled the determination of refolding forces of about 2 pN. Refolding was rapid and stochastically redistributed molecules to mechanically distinct states. A single guanine-to-thymine substitution mutant required much higher ion concentrations to display GQ-like unfolding and refolded via intermediates, contrary to the wild type. Contradicting an earlier proposal, truncation to three hexanucleotide repeats resulted in a single-stranded DNA-like mechanical behavior under all conditions, indicating that at least four repeats are required to form mechanically stable structures.
Collapse
|
32
|
Lee CY, McNerney C, Myong S. G-Quadruplex and Protein Binding by Single-Molecule FRET Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2035:309-322. [PMID: 31444758 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9666-7_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplex (G4) is a non-canonical nucleic acid structure that arises from the stacking of planar G-tetrads, stabilized by monovalent cations. G4 forming sequences exist throughout the genome and G4 structures are shown to be involved in many processes including DNA replication and gene expression. The single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy has been employed to study G4 structure formation and protein binding interactions. Here, we describe methods by which we tested the folding and unfolding of G-quadruplexes structure and studied the dynamics of its interaction with POT1 protein. The methods presented here can be applied to study other putative G4 sequences and potential binding partners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Ying Lee
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Punnoose JA, Ma Y, Hoque ME, Cui Y, Sasaki S, Guo AH, Nagasawa K, Mao H. Random Formation of G-Quadruplexes in the Full-Length Human Telomere Overhangs Leads to a Kinetic Folding Pattern with Targetable Vacant G-Tracts. Biochemistry 2018; 57:6946-6955. [PMID: 30480434 PMCID: PMC6684037 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
G-Quadruplexes formed in the 3' telomere overhang (∼200 nucleotides) have been shown to regulate biological functions of human telomeres. The mechanism governing the population pattern of multiple telomeric G-quadruplexes is yet to be elucidated inside the telomeric overhang in a time window shorter than thermodynamic equilibrium. Using a single-molecule force ramping assay, we quantified G-quadruplex populations in telomere overhangs over a full physiological range of 99-291 nucleotides. We found that G-quadruplexes randomly form in these overhangs within seconds, which leads to a population governed by a kinetic, rather than a thermodynamic, folding pattern. The kinetic folding gives rise to vacant G-tracts between G-quadruplexes. By targeting these vacant G-tracts using complementary DNA fragments, we demonstrated that binding to the telomeric G-quadruplexes becomes more efficient and specific for telomestatin derivatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yue Ma
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science Faculty of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), 2-14-16 Naka-cho, Koganeishi, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Mohammed Enamul Hoque
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, USA
| | - Yunxi Cui
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, USA
| | - Shogo Sasaki
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science Faculty of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), 2-14-16 Naka-cho, Koganeishi, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Athena Huixin Guo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, USA
| | - Kazuo Nagasawa
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science Faculty of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), 2-14-16 Naka-cho, Koganeishi, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Hanbin Mao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Lee HT, Bose A, Lee CY, Opresko PL, Myong S. Molecular mechanisms by which oxidative DNA damage promotes telomerase activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:11752-11765. [PMID: 28981887 PMCID: PMC5714237 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are highly susceptible to oxidative DNA damage, which if left unrepaired can lead to dysregulation of telomere length homeostasis. Here we employed single molecule FRET, single molecule pull-down and biochemical analysis to investigate how the most common oxidative DNA lesions, 8-oxoguanine (8oxoG) and thymine glycol (Tg), regulate the structural properties of telomeric DNA and telomerase extension activity. In contrast to 8oxoG which disrupts the telomeric DNA structure, Tg exhibits substantially reduced perturbation of G-quadruplex folding. As a result, 8oxoG induces high accessibility, whereas Tg retains limited accessibility, of telomeric G-quadruplex DNA to complementary single stranded DNA and to telomere binding protein POT1. Surprisingly, the Tg lesion stimulates telomerase loading and activity to a similar degree as an 8oxoG lesion. We demonstrate that this unexpected stimulation arises from Tg-induced conformational alterations and dynamics in telomeric DNA. Despite impacting structure by different mechanisms, both 8oxoG and Tg enhance telomerase binding and extension activity to the same degree, potentially contributing to oncogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ting Lee
- Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Arindam Bose
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Chun-Ying Lee
- Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Patricia L Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.,Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, 1110 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Telomerase activity is required for the telomere G-overhang structure in Trypanosoma brucei. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15983. [PMID: 29167542 PMCID: PMC5700094 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16182-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei causes fatal human African trypanosomiasis and evades the host immune response by regularly switching its major surface antigen, VSG, which is expressed exclusively from subtelomeric loci. Telomere length and telomere proteins play important roles in regulating VSG silencing and switching. T. brucei telomerase plays a key role in maintaining telomere length, and T. brucei telomeres terminate in a single-stranded 3′ G-rich overhang. Understanding the detailed structure of the telomere G-overhang and its maintenance will contribute greatly to better understanding telomere maintenance mechanisms. Using an optimized adaptor ligation assay, we found that most T. brucei telomere G-overhangs end in 5′ TTAGGG 3′, while a small portion of G-overhangs end in 5′ TAGGGT 3′. Additionally, the protein and the RNA components of the telomerase (TbTERT and TbTR) and TbKu are required for telomere G-overhangs that end in 5′ TTAGGG 3′ but do not significantly affect the 5′ TAGGGT 3′-ending overhangs, indicating that telomerase-mediated telomere synthesis is important for the telomere G-overhang structure. Furthermore, using telomere oligo ligation-mediated PCR, we showed for the first time that the T. brucei telomere 5′ end sequence – an important feature of the telomere terminal structure – is not random but preferentially 5′ CCTAAC 3′.
Collapse
|
36
|
Qiu Y, Levendosky RF, Chakravarthy S, Patel A, Bowman GD, Myong S. The Chd1 Chromatin Remodeler Shifts Nucleosomal DNA Bidirectionally as a Monomer. Mol Cell 2017; 68:76-88.e6. [PMID: 28943314 PMCID: PMC5745159 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Chromatin remodelers catalyze dynamic packaging of the genome by carrying out nucleosome assembly/disassembly, histone exchange, and nucleosome repositioning. Remodeling results in evenly spaced nucleosomes, which requires probing both sides of the nucleosome, yet the way remodelers organize sliding activity to achieve this task is not understood. Here, we show that the monomeric Chd1 remodeler shifts DNA back and forth by dynamically alternating between different segments of the nucleosome. During sliding, Chd1 generates unstable remodeling intermediates that spontaneously relax to a pre-remodeled position. We demonstrate that nucleosome sliding is tightly controlled by two regulatory domains: the DNA-binding domain, which interferes with sliding when its range is limited by a truncated linking segment, and the chromodomains, which play a key role in substrate discrimination. We propose that active interplay of the ATPase motor with the regulatory domains may promote dynamic nucleosome structures uniquely suited for histone exchange and chromatin reorganization during transcription.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yupeng Qiu
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Robert F Levendosky
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Srinivas Chakravarthy
- Biophysics Collaborative Access Team, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Ashok Patel
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Gregory D Bowman
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Noureini SK, Esmaeili H, Abachi F, Khiali S, Islam B, Kuta M, Saboury AA, Hoffmann M, Sponer J, Parkinson G, Haider S. Selectivity of major isoquinoline alkaloids from Chelidonium majus towards telomeric G-quadruplex: A study using a transition-FRET (t-FRET) assay. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017; 1861:2020-2030. [PMID: 28479277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural bioproducts are invaluable resources in drug discovery. Isoquinoline alkaloids of Chelidonium majus constitute a structurally diverse family of natural products that are of great interest, one of them being their selectivity for human telomeric G-quadruplex structure and telomerase inhibition. METHODS The study focuses on the mechanism of telomerase inhibition by stabilization of telomeric G-quadruplex structures by berberine, chelerythrine, chelidonine, sanguinarine and papaverine. Telomerase activity and mRNA levels of hTERT were estimated using quantitative telomere repeat amplification protocol (q-TRAP) and qPCR, in MCF-7 cells treated with different groups of alkaloids. The selectivity of the main isoquinoline alkaloids of Chelidonium majus towards telomeric G-quadruplex forming sequences were explored using a sensitive modified thermal FRET-melting measurement in the presence of the complementary oligonucleotide CT22. We assessed and monitored G-quadruplex topologies using circular dichroism (CD) methods, and compared spectra to previously well-characterized motifs, either alone or in the presence of the alkaloids. Molecular modeling was performed to rationalize ligand binding to the G-quadruplex structure. RESULTS The results highlight strong inhibitory effects of chelerythrine, sanguinarine and berberine on telomerase activity, most likely through substrate sequestration. These isoquinoline alkaloids interacted strongly with telomeric sequence G-quadruplex. In comparison, chelidonine and papaverine had no significant interaction with the telomeric quadruplex, while they strongly inhibited telomerase at transcription level of hTERT. Altogether, all of the studied alkaloids showed various levels and mechanisms of telomerase inhibition. CONCLUSIONS We report on a comparative study of anti-telomerase activity of the isoquinoline alkaloids of Chelidonium majus. Chelerythrine was most effective in inhibiting telomerase activity by substrate sequesteration through G-quadruplex stabilization. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Understanding structural and molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer agents can help in developing new and more potent drugs with fewer side effects. Isoquinolines are the most biologically active agents from Chelidonium majus, which have shown to be telomeric G-quadruplex stabilizers and potent telomerase inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sakineh Kazemi Noureini
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, P.O.Box: 397, Sabzevar, Iran.
| | - Hosein Esmaeili
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, P.O.Box: 397, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Farzane Abachi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, P.O.Box: 397, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Soraia Khiali
- UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square, London, UK
| | - Barira Islam
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Ali A Saboury
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Shozeb Haider
- UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
Telomeres are specialized chromatin structures that protect chromosome ends from dangerous processing events. In most tissues, telomeres shorten with each round of cell division, placing a finite limit on cell growth. In rapidly dividing cells, including the majority of human cancers, cells bypass this growth limit through telomerase-catalyzed maintenance of telomere length. The dynamic properties of telomeres and telomerase render them difficult to study using ensemble biochemical and structural techniques. This review describes single-molecule approaches to studying how individual components of telomeres and telomerase contribute to function. Single-molecule methods provide a window into the complex nature of telomeres and telomerase by permitting researchers to directly visualize and manipulate the individual protein, DNA, and RNA molecules required for telomere function. The work reviewed in this article highlights how single-molecule techniques have been utilized to investigate the function of telomeres and telomerase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W Parks
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064; .,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303
| | - Michael D Stone
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064; .,Center for Molecular Biology of RNA, Santa Cruz, California 95064
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Dolinnaya NG, Ogloblina AM, Yakubovskaya MG. Structure, Properties, and Biological Relevance of the DNA and RNA G-Quadruplexes: Overview 50 Years after Their Discovery. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2017; 81:1602-1649. [PMID: 28260487 PMCID: PMC7087716 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297916130034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s), which are known to have important roles in regulation of key biological processes in both normal and pathological cells, are the most actively studied non-canonical structures of nucleic acids. In this review, we summarize the results of studies published in recent years that change significantly scientific views on various aspects of our understanding of quadruplexes. Modern notions on the polymorphism of DNA quadruplexes, on factors affecting thermodynamics and kinetics of G4 folding–unfolding, on structural organization of multiquadruplex systems, and on conformational features of RNA G4s and hybrid DNA–RNA G4s are discussed. Here we report the data on location of G4 sequence motifs in the genomes of eukaryotes, bacteria, and viruses, characterize G4-specific small-molecule ligands and proteins, as well as the mechanisms of their interactions with quadruplexes. New information on the structure and stability of G4s in telomeric DNA and oncogene promoters is discussed as well as proof being provided on the occurrence of G-quadruplexes in cells. Prominence is given to novel experimental techniques (single molecule manipulations, optical and magnetic tweezers, original chemical approaches, G4 detection in situ, in-cell NMR spectroscopy) that facilitate breakthroughs in the investigation of the structure and functions of G-quadruplexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N G Dolinnaya
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Department of Chemistry, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Maleki P, Budhathoki JB, Roy WA, Balci H. A practical guide to studying G-quadruplex structures using single-molecule FRET. Mol Genet Genomics 2017; 292:483-498. [PMID: 28150040 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-017-1288-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this article, we summarize the knowledge and best practices learned from bulk and single-molecule measurements to address some of the frequently experienced difficulties in single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) measurements on G-quadruplex (GQ) structures. The number of studies that use smFRET to investigate the structure, function, dynamics, and interactions of GQ structures has grown significantly in the last few years, with new applications already in sight. However, a number of challenges need to be overcome before reliable and reproducible smFRET data can be obtained in measurements that include GQ. The annealing and storage conditions, the location of fluorophores on the DNA construct, and the ionic conditions of the experiment are some of the factors that are of critical importance for the outcome of measurements, and many of these manifest themselves in unique ways in smFRET assays. By reviewing these aspects and providing a summary of best practices, we aim to provide a practical guide that will help in successfully designing and performing smFRET studies on GQ structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Parastoo Maleki
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | | | - William A Roy
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Hamza Balci
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Fouquerel E, Lormand J, Bose A, Lee HT, Kim GS, Li J, Sobol RW, Freudenthal BD, Myong S, Opresko PL. Oxidative guanine base damage regulates human telomerase activity. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2016; 23:1092-1100. [PMID: 27820808 PMCID: PMC5140714 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.3319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Changes in telomere length are associated with degenerative diseases and cancer. Oxidative stress and DNA damage have been linked to both positive and negative alterations in telomere length and integrity. Here we examined how the common oxidative lesion 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanine (8-oxoG) regulates telomere elongation by telomerase. When present in the deoxynucleoside triphosphate pool as 8-oxodGTP, telomerase utilization of the oxidized nucleotide during telomere extension is mutagenic and terminates further elongation. Depletion of the enzyme that removes oxidized dNTPs, MTH1, increases telomere dysfunction and cell death in telomerase positive cancer cells harboring shortened telomeres. In contrast, a pre-existing 8-oxoG within the telomeric DNA sequence promotes telomerase activity by destabilizing G-quadruplex structure in the DNA. We show that the mechanism by which 8-oxoG arises in the telomere, either by insertion of oxidized nucleotides or by direct reaction with free radicals, dictates whether telomerase is inhibited or stimulated and thereby, mediates the biological outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elise Fouquerel
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Justin Lormand
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Arindam Bose
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hui-Ting Lee
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Grace S Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jianfeng Li
- University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Robert W Sobol
- University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Bret D Freudenthal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Patricia L Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Aznauryan M, Søndergaard S, Noer SL, Schiøtt B, Birkedal V. A direct view of the complex multi-pathway folding of telomeric G-quadruplexes. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:11024-11032. [PMID: 27799468 PMCID: PMC5159523 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) are DNA secondary structures that are capable of forming and function in vivo. The propensity of G4s to exhibit extreme polymorphism and complex dynamics is likely to influence their cellular function, yet a clear microscopic picture of their folding process is lacking. Here we employed single-molecule FRET microscopy to obtain a direct view of the folding and underlying conformational dynamics of G4s formed by the human telomeric sequence in potassium containing solutions. Our experiments allowed detecting several folded states that are populated in the course of G4 folding and determining their folding energetics and timescales. Combining the single-molecule data with molecular dynamics simulations enabled obtaining a structural description of the experimentally observed folded states. Our work thus provides a comprehensive thermodynamic and kinetic description of the folding of G4s that proceeds through a complex multi-route pathway, involving several marginally stable conformational states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikayel Aznauryan
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Siri Søndergaard
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sofie L Noer
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Birgit Schiøtt
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Victoria Birkedal
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark .,Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy of native macromolecular complexes. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2016; 41:225-232. [PMID: 27662375 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2016.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Macromolecular complexes consisting of proteins, lipids, and/or nucleic acids are ubiquitous in biological processes. Their composition, stoichiometry, order of assembly, and conformations can be heterogeneous or can change dynamically, making single-molecule studies best suited to measure these properties accurately. Recent single-molecule pull-down and other related approaches have combined the principles of conventional co-immunoprecipitation assay with single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to probe native macromolecular complexes. In this review, we present the advances in single-molecule pull-down methods and biological systems that have been investigated in such semi vivo manner.
Collapse
|
44
|
Kim Y, Myong S. RNA Remodeling Activity of DEAD Box Proteins Tuned by Protein Concentration, RNA Length, and ATP. Mol Cell 2016; 63:865-76. [PMID: 27546789 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
DEAD box RNA helicases play central roles in RNP biogenesis. We reported earlier that LAF-1, a DEAD box RNA helicase in C. elegans, dynamically interacts with RNA and that the interaction likely contributes to the fluidity of RNP droplets. Here we investigate the molecular basis of the interaction of RNA with LAF-1 and its human homolog, DDX3X. We show that both LAF-1 and DDX3X, at low concentrations, are monomers that induce tight compaction of single-stranded RNA. At high concentrations, the proteins are multimeric and dynamically interact with RNA in an RNA length-dependent manner. The dynamic LAF-1-RNA interaction stimulates RNA annealing activity. ATP adversely affects the RNA remodeling ability of LAF-1 by suppressing the affinity, dynamics, and annealing activity of LAF-1, suggesting that ATP may promote disassembly of the RNP complex. Based on our results, we postulate a plausible molecular mechanism underlying the dynamic equilibrium of the LAF-1 RNP complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Younghoon Kim
- Bioengineering Department, University of Illinois, 1304 West Springfield Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Biophysics Department, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Physics Frontier Center (Center for Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois, 1110 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
Telomeres at chromosome ends are nucleoprotein structures consisting of tandem TTAGGG repeats and a complex of proteins termed shelterin. DNA damage and repair at telomeres is uniquely influenced by the ability of telomeric DNA to form alternate structures including loops and G-quadruplexes, coupled with the ability of shelterin proteins to interact with and regulate enzymes in every known DNA repair pathway. The role of shelterin proteins in preventing telomeric ends from being falsely recognized and processed as DNA double strand breaks is well established. Here we focus instead on recent developments in understanding the roles of shelterin proteins and telomeric DNA sequence and structure in processing genuine damage at telomeres induced by endogenous and exogenous DNA damage agents. We will highlight advances in double strand break repair, base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair at telomeres, and will discuss important questions remaining in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elise Fouquerel
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Avenue, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Dhvani Parikh
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Avenue, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Patricia Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Avenue, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Husbands AY, Aggarwal V, Ha T, Timmermans MCP. In Planta Single-Molecule Pull-Down Reveals Tetrameric Stoichiometry of HD-ZIPIII:LITTLE ZIPPER Complexes. THE PLANT CELL 2016; 28:1783-94. [PMID: 27385814 PMCID: PMC5006705 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.16.00289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Deciphering complex biological processes markedly benefits from approaches that directly assess the underlying biomolecular interactions. Most commonly used approaches to monitor protein-protein interactions typically provide nonquantitative readouts that lack statistical power and do not yield information on the heterogeneity or stoichiometry of protein complexes. Single-molecule pull-down (SiMPull) uses single-molecule fluorescence detection to mitigate these disadvantages and can quantitatively interrogate interactions between proteins and other compounds, such as nucleic acids, small molecule ligands, and lipids. Here, we establish SiMPull in plants using the HOMEODOMAIN LEUCINE ZIPPER III (HD-ZIPIII) and LITTLE ZIPPER (ZPR) interaction as proof-of-principle. Colocalization analysis of fluorophore-tagged HD-ZIPIII and ZPR proteins provides strong statistical evidence of complex formation. In addition, we use SiMPull to directly quantify YFP and mCherry maturation probabilities, showing these differ substantially from values obtained in mammalian systems. Leveraging these probabilities, in conjunction with fluorophore photobleaching assays on over 2000 individual complexes, we determined HD-ZIPIII:ZPR stoichiometry. Intriguingly, these complexes appear as heterotetramers, comprising two HD-ZIPIII and two ZPR molecules, rather than heterodimers as described in the current model. This surprising result raises new questions about the regulation of these key developmental factors and is illustrative of the unique contribution SiMPull is poised to make to in planta protein interaction studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aman Y Husbands
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | - Vasudha Aggarwal
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Marja C P Timmermans
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724 Center for Plant Molecular Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Single-molecule imaging reveals a common mechanism shared by G-quadruplex-resolving helicases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:8448-53. [PMID: 27407146 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1603724113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex (GQ) is a four stranded DNA secondary structure that arises from a guanine rich sequence. Stable formation of GQ in genomic DNA can be counteracted by the resolving activity of specialized helicases including RNA helicase AU (associated with AU rich elements) (RHAU) (G4 resolvase 1), Bloom helicase (BLM), and Werner helicase (WRN). However, their substrate specificity and the mechanism involved in GQ unfolding remain uncertain. Here, we report that RHAU, BLM, and WRN exhibit distinct GQ conformation specificity, but use a common mechanism of repetitive unfolding that leads to disrupting GQ structure multiple times in succession. Such unfolding activity of RHAU leads to efficient annealing exclusively within the same DNA molecule. The same resolving activity is sufficient to dislodge a stably bound GQ ligand, including BRACO-19, NMM, and Phen-DC3. Our study demonstrates a plausible biological scheme where different helicases are delegated to resolve specific GQ structures by using a common repetitive unfolding mechanism that provides a robust resolving power.
Collapse
|
48
|
Abstract
Fluorescence microscopy can be used to assess the dynamic localization and intensity of single entities
in vitro or in living cells. It has been applied with aplomb to many different cellular processes and has significantly enlightened our understanding of the heterogeneity and complexity of biological systems. Recently, high-resolution fluorescence microscopy has been brought to bear on telomeres, leading to new insights into telomere spatial organization and accessibility, and into the mechanistic nuances of telomere elongation. We provide a snapshot of some of these recent advances with a focus on mammalian systems, and show how three-dimensional, time-lapse microscopy and single-molecule fluorescence shine a new light on the end of the chromosome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yahya Benslimane
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Montreal, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lea Harrington
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Montreal, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Noer SL, Preus S, Gudnason D, Aznauryan M, Mergny JL, Birkedal V. Folding dynamics and conformational heterogeneity of human telomeric G-quadruplex structures in Na+ solutions by single molecule FRET microscopy. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 44:464-71. [PMID: 26615192 PMCID: PMC4705662 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex structures can occur throughout the genome, including at telomeres. They are involved in cellular regulation and are potential drug targets. Human telomeric G-quadruplex structures can fold into a number of different conformations and show large conformational diversity. To elucidate the different G-quadruplex conformations and their dynamics, we investigated telomeric G-quadruplex folding using single molecule FRET microscopy in conditions where it was previously believed to yield low structural heterogeneity. We observed four FRET states in Na+ buffers: an unfolded state and three G-quadruplex related states that can interconvert between each other. Several of these states were almost equally populated at low to medium salt concentrations. These observations appear surprising as previous studies reported primarily one G-quadruplex conformation in Na+ buffers. Our results permit, through the analysis of the dynamics of the different observed states, the identification of a more stable G-quadruplex conformation and two transient G-quadruplex states. Importantly these results offer a unique view into G-quadruplex topological heterogeneity and conformational dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofie L Noer
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren Preus
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Daniel Gudnason
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mikayel Aznauryan
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- University of Bordeaux, ARNA Lab, IECB, 33076 Bordeaux, France INSERM, U1212, IECB, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Victoria Birkedal
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Kreig A, Calvert J, Sanoica J, Cullum E, Tipanna R, Myong S. G-quadruplex formation in double strand DNA probed by NMM and CV fluorescence. Nucleic Acids Res 2015. [PMID: 26202971 PMCID: PMC4652765 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (GQs) are alternative DNA secondary structures that can form throughout the human genome and control the replication and transcription of important regulatory genes. Here, we established an ensemble fluorescence assay by employing two GQ-interacting compounds, N-methyl mesoporphyrin IX (NMM) and Crystal Violet (CV). This enables quantitative measurement of the GQ folding propensity and conformation specificity in both single strand (ss) and double strand (ds) DNA. Our GQ mapping indicates that the likelihood of GQ formation is substantially diminished in dsDNA, likely due to the competition from the Watson-Crick base pairing. Unlike GQ folding sequence in ssDNA which forms both parallel and antiparallel GQs, dsDNA displays only parallel folding. Additionally, we employed single molecule FRET to obtain a direct quantitation of stably formed-, weakly folded and unfolded GQ conformations. The findings of this study and the method developed here will enable identifying and classifying potential GQ-forming sequences in human genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Kreig
- Bioengineering Department, University of Illinois; 1304 W. Springfield Ave. Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jacob Calvert
- Bioengineering Department, University of Illinois; 1304 W. Springfield Ave. Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Janet Sanoica
- Bioengineering Department, University of Illinois; 1304 W. Springfield Ave. Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Emily Cullum
- Bioengineering Department, University of Illinois; 1304 W. Springfield Ave. Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Ramreddy Tipanna
- Bioengineering Department, University of Illinois; 1304 W. Springfield Ave. Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Bioengineering Department, University of Illinois; 1304 W. Springfield Ave. Urbana, IL 61801, USA Biophysics and Computational Biology; 1110 W. Green St. Urbana, IL 61801, USA Institute for Genomic Biology; 1206 Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA Physics Frontier Center (Center of Physics for Living Cells), University of Illinois; 1110 W. Green St. Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| |
Collapse
|