Hydroxyl-radical footprinting to probe equilibrium changes in RNA tertiary structure

Mass Spectrometry of Nucleic Acid Noncovalent Complexes

Nucleic acids have been among the first targets for antitumor drugs and antibiotics. With the unveiling of new biological roles in regulation of gene expression, specific DNA and RNA structures have become very attractive targets, especially when the corresponding proteins are undruggable. Biophysical assays to assess target structure as well as ligand binding stoichiometry, affinity, specificity, and binding modes are part of the drug development process. Mass spectrometry offers unique advantages as a biophysical method owing to its ability to distinguish each stoichiometry present in a mixture. In addition, advanced mass spectrometry approaches (reactive probing, fragmentation techniques, ion mobility spectrometry, ion spectroscopy) provide more detailed information on the complexes. Here, we review the fundamentals of mass spectrometry and all its particularities when studying noncovalent nucleic acid structures, and then review what has been learned thanks to mass spectrometry on nucleic acid structures, self-assemblies (e.g., duplexes or G-quadruplexes), and their complexes with ligands.

The molecular structure of long non-coding RNAs: emerging patterns and functional implications

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recently-discovered transcripts that regulate vital cellular processes and are crucially connected to diseases. Despite their unprecedented molecular complexity, it is emerging that lncRNAs possess distinct structural motifs. Remarkably, the 3D shape and topology of full-length, native lncRNAs have been visualized for the first time in the last year. These studies reveal that lncRNA structures dictate lncRNA functions. Here, we review experimentally determined lncRNA structures and emphasize that lncRNA structural characterization requires synergistic integration of computational, biochemical and biophysical approaches. Based on these emerging paradigms, we discuss how to overcome the challenges posed by the complex molecular architecture of lncRNAs, with the goal of obtaining a detailed understanding of lncRNA functions and molecular mechanisms in the future.

Probing RNA-Protein Interactions and RNA Compaction by Sedimentation Velocity Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Recent advances in multi-wavelength analytical ultracentrifugation (MWL-AUC) combine the power of an exquisitely sensitive hydrodynamic-based separation technique with the added dimension of spectral separation. This added dimension has opened up new doors to much improved characterization of multiple, interacting species in solution. When applied to structural investigations of RNA, MWL-AUC can precisely report on the hydrodynamic radius and the overall shape of an RNA molecule by enabling precise measurements of its sedimentation and diffusion coefficients and identify the stoichiometry of interacting components based on spectral decomposition. Information provided in this chapter will allow an investigator to design experiments for probing ion and/or protein-induced global conformational changes of an RNA molecule and exploit spectral differences between proteins and RNA to characterize their interactions in a physiological solution environment.

A structural map of oncomiR-1 at single-nucleotide resolution

The miR-17-92a cluster, also known as 'oncomiR-1', is an RNA transcript that plays a pivotal regulatory role in cellular processes, including the cell cycle, proliferation and apoptosis. Its dysregulation underlies the development of several cancers. Oncomir-1 comprises six constituent miRNAs, each processed with different efficiencies as a function of both developmental time and tissue type. The structural mechanisms that regulate such differential processing are unknown, and this has impeded our understanding of the dysregulation of oncomiR-1 in pathophysiology. By probing the sensitivity of each nucleotide in oncomiR-1 to reactive small molecules, we present a secondary structural map of this RNA at single-nucleotide resolution. The secondary structure and solvent accessible regions of oncomiR-1 reveal that most of its primary microRNA domains are suboptimal substrates for Drosha-DGCR8, and therefore resistant to microprocessing. The structure indicates that the binding of trans-acting factors is required to remodel the tertiary organization and unmask cryptic primary microRNA domains to facilitate their processing into pre-microRNAs.

Dawn of the in vivo RNA structurome and interactome

RNA is one of the most fascinating biomolecules in living systems given its structural versatility to fold into elaborate architectures for important biological functions such as gene regulation, catalysis, and information storage. Knowledge of RNA structures and interactions can provide deep insights into their functional roles in vivo For decades, RNA structural studies have been conducted on a transcript-by-transcript basis. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled the development of transcriptome-wide structural probing methods to profile the global landscape of RNA structures and interactions, also known as the RNA structurome and interactome, which transformed our understanding of the RNA structure-function relationship on a transcriptomic scale. In this review, molecular tools and NGS methods used for RNA structure probing are presented, novel insights uncovered by RNA structurome and interactome studies are highlighted, and perspectives on current challenges and potential future directions are discussed. A more complete understanding of the RNA structures and interactions in vivo will help illuminate the novel roles of RNA in gene regulation, development, and diseases.

Correlation of Thermal Stability and Structural Distortion of DNA Interstrand Cross-Links Produced from Oxidized Abasic Sites with Their Selective Formation and Repair

C4'-oxidized (C4-AP) and C5'-oxidized abasic sites (DOB) that are produced following abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the DNA backbone reversibly form cross-links selectively with dA opposite a 3'-adjacent nucleotide, despite the comparable proximity of an opposing dA. A previous report on UvrABC incision of DNA substrates containing stabilized analogues of the ICLs derived from C4-AP and DOB also indicated that the latter is repaired more readily by nucleotide excision repair [Ghosh, S., and Greenberg, M. M. (2014) Biochemistry 53, 5958-5965]. The source for selective cross-link formation was probed by comparing the reactivity of ICL analogues of C4-AP and DOB that mimic the preferred and disfavored cross-links with that of reagents that indirectly detect distortion by reacting with the nucleobases. The disfavored C4-AP and DOB analogues were each more reactive than the corresponding preferred cross-link substrates, suggesting that the latter are more stable, which is consistent with selective ICL formation. In addition, the preferred DOB analogue is more reactive than the respective C4-AP ICL, which is consistent with its more efficient incision by UvrABC. The conclusions drawn from the chemical probing experiments are corroborated by UV melting studies. The preferred ICLs exhibit melting temperatures higher than those of the corresponding disfavored isomers. These studies suggest that oxidized abasic sites form reversible interstrand cross-links with dA opposite the 3'-adjacent thymidine because these products are more stable and the thermodynamic preference is reflected in the transition states for their formation.

Detecting RNA tertiary folding by sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation

Analytical Ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a highly sensitive technique for detecting global conformational features of biological molecules and molecular interactions in solution. When operated in a sedimentation velocity (SV) recording mode, it reports precisely on the hydrodynamic properties of a molecule, including its sedimentation and diffusion coefficients, which can be used to calculate its hydrated radius, as well as, to estimate its global shape. This chapter describes the application of SV-AUC to the detection of global conformational changes accompanying equilibrium counterion induced tertiary folding of structured RNA molecules. A brief theoretical background is provided at the beginning, aimed at familiarizing the readers with the operational principle of the technique; then, a detailed set of instructions is provided on how to design, conduct, and analyze the data from an equilibrium RNA folding experiment, using SV-AUC.

An RNA aptamer possessing a novel monovalent cation-mediated fold inhibits lysozyme catalysis by inhibiting the binding of long natural substrates

RNA aptamers are being developed as inhibitors of macromolecular and cellular function, diagnostic tools, and potential therapeutics. Our understanding of the physical nature of this emerging class of nucleic acid-protein complexes is limited; few atomic resolution structures have been reported for aptamers bound to their protein target. Guided by chemical mapping, we systematically minimized an RNA aptamer (Lys1) selected against hen egg white lysozyme. The resultant 59-nucleotide compact aptamer (Lys1.2minE) retains nanomolar binding affinity and the ability to inhibit lysozyme's catalytic activity. Our 2.0-Å crystal structure of the aptamer-protein complex reveals a helical stem stabilizing two loops to form a protein binding platform that binds lysozyme distal to the catalytic cleft. This structure along with complementary solution analyses illuminate a novel protein-nucleic acid interface; (1) only 410 Å(2) of solvent accessible surface are buried by aptamer binding; (2) an unusually small fraction (∼18%) of the RNA-protein interaction is electrostatic, consistent with the limited protein phosphate backbone contacts observed in the structure; (3) a single Na(+) stabilizes the loops that constitute the protein-binding platform, and consistent with this observation, Lys1.2minE-lysozyme complex formation takes up rather than displaces cations at low ionic strength; (4) Lys1.2minE inhibits catalysis of large cell wall substrates but not catalysis of small model substrates; and (5) the helical stem of Lys1.2minE can be shortened to four base pairs (Lys1.2minF) without compromising binding affinity, yielding a 45-nucleotide aptamer whose structure may be an adaptable protein binding platform.

Massive parallel-sequencing-based hydroxyl radical probing of RNA accessibility

Hydroxyl Radical Footprinting (HRF) is a tried-and-tested method for analysis of the tertiary structure of RNA and for identification of protein footprints on RNA. The hydroxyl radical reaction breaks accessible parts of the RNA backbone, thereby allowing ribose accessibility to be determined by detection of reverse transcriptase termination sites. Current methods for HRF rely on reverse transcription of a single primer and detection by fluorescent fragments by capillary electrophoresis. Here, we describe an accurate and efficient massive parallel-sequencing-based method for probing RNA accessibility with hydroxyl radicals, called HRF-Seq. Using random priming and a novel barcoding scheme, we show that HRF-Seq dramatically increases the throughput of HRF experiments and facilitates the parallel analysis of multiple RNAs or experimental conditions. Moreover, we demonstrate that HRF-Seq data for the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA correlates well with the ribose accessible surface area as determined by X-ray crystallography and have a resolution that readily allows the difference in accessibility caused by exposure of one side of RNA helices to be observed.

High-resolution MS for structural characterization of protein therapeutics: advances and future directions

High-resolution MS (HRMS) is a central analytical technique for the study of biomolecules and is widely used in the biopharmaceutical industry. This paper reviews recent advances in commonly used HRMS instrumentation and experimental strategies for HRMS-based structural characterization of protein therapeutics. An overview of protein higher order structural characterization using HRMS-based technologies is presented, including the use of hydrogen/deuterium exchange and hydroxyl radical footprinting methods for probing protein conformational dynamics and interactions in solution. Future directions in application of HRMS for characterizing protein therapeutics are also described.

Pyrite footprinting of RNA

In RNA, function follows form. Mapping the surface of RNA molecules with chemical and enzymatic probes has revealed invaluable information about structure and folding. Hydroxyl radicals ((·)OH) map the surface of nucleic acids by cutting the backbone where it is accessible to solvent. Recent studies showed that a microfluidic chip containing pyrite (FeS(2)) can produce sufficient (·)OH to footprint DNA. The 49-nt Diels-Alder RNA enzyme catalyzes the C-C bond formation between a diene and a dienophile. A crystal structure, molecular dynamics simulation and atomic mutagenesis studies suggest that nucleotides of an asymmetric bulge participate in the dynamic architecture of the ribozyme's active center. Of note is that residue U42 directly interacts with the product in the crystallized RNA/product complex. Here, we use powdered pyrite held in a commercially available cartridge to footprint the Diels-Alderase ribozyme with single nucleotide resolution. Residues C39 to U42 are more reactive to (·)OH than predicted by the solvent accessibility calculated from the crystal structure suggesting that this loop is dynamic in solution. The loop's flexibility may contribute to substrate recruitment and product release. Our implementation of pyrite-mediated (·)OH footprinting is a readily accessible approach to gleaning information about the architecture of small RNA molecules.

A microfluidic device that generates hydroxyl radicals to probe the solvent accessible surface of nucleic acids

We describe a microfluidic device containing a mineral matrix capable of rapidly generating hydroxyl radicals that enables high-resolution structural studies of nucleic acids. Hydroxyl radicals cleave the solvent accessible backbone of DNA and RNA; the cleavage products can be detected with as fine as single nucleotide resolution. Protection from hydroxyl radical cleavage (footprinting) can identify sites of protein binding or the presence of tertiary structure. Here we report preparation of micron sized particles of iron sulfide (pyrite) and fabrication of a microfluidic prototype that together generate enough hydroxyl radicals within 20 ms to cleave DNA sufficiently for a footprinting analysis to be conducted. This prototype enables the development of high-throughput and/or rapid reaction devices with which to probe nucleic acid folding dynamics and ligand binding.

Monitoring equilibrium changes in RNA structure by 'peroxidative' and 'oxidative' hydroxyl radical footprinting

RNA molecules play an essential role in biology. In addition to transmitting genetic information, RNA can fold into unique tertiary structures fulfilling a specific biologic role as regulator, binder or catalyst. Information about tertiary contact formation is essential to understand the function of RNA molecules. Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are unique probes of the structure of nucleic acids due to their high reactivity and small size. When used as a footprinting probe, hydroxyl radicals map the solvent accessible surface of the phosphodiester backbone of DNA and RNA with as fine as single nucleotide resolution. Hydroxyl radical footprinting can be used to identify the nucleotides within an intermolecular contact surface, e.g. in DNA-protein and RNA-protein complexes. Equilibrium and kinetic transitions can be determined by conducting hydroxyl radical footprinting as a function of a solution variable or time, respectively. A key feature of footprinting is that limited exposure to the probe (e.g., 'single-hit kinetics') results in the uniform sampling of each nucleotide of the polymer. In this video article, we use the P4-P6 domain of the Tetrahymena ribozyme to illustrate RNA sample preparation and the determination of a Mg(II)-mediated folding isotherms. We describe the use of the well known hydroxyl radical footprinting protocol that requires H(2)O(2) (we call this the 'peroxidative' protocol) and a valuable, but not widely known, alternative that uses naturally dissolved O(2)(we call this the 'oxidative' protocol). An overview of the data reduction, transformation and analysis procedures is presented.

Understanding the transcriptome through RNA structure

RNA structure is crucial for gene regulation and function. In the past, transcriptomes have largely been parsed by primary sequences and expression levels, but it is now becoming feasible to annotate and compare transcriptomes based on RNA structure. In addition to computational prediction methods, the recent advent of experimental techniques to probe RNA structure by high-throughput sequencing has enabled genome-wide measurements of RNA structure and has provided the first picture of the structural organization of a eukaryotic transcriptome - the 'RNA structurome'. With additional advances in method refinement and interpretation, structural views of the transcriptome should help to identify and validate regulatory RNA motifs that are involved in diverse cellular processes and thereby increase understanding of RNA function.