DNA and RNA: NMR studies of conformations and dynamics in solution

Base-Displaced Intercalated Structure of the 3-(2-Deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-pyrimido[1,2-f]purine-6,10(3H,5H)-dione (6-oxo-M1dG) Lesion in DNA

The genotoxic 3-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2-α]purin-10(3H)-one (M1dG) DNA lesion arises from endogenous exposures to base propenals generated by oxidative damage and from exposures to malondialdehyde (MDA), produced by lipid peroxidation. Once formed, M1dG may oxidize, in vivo, to 3-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-pyrimido[1,2-f]purine-6,10(3H,5H)-dione (6-oxo-M1dG). The latter blocks DNA replication and is a substrate for error-prone mutagenic bypass by the Y-family DNA polymerase hpol η. To examine structural consequences of 6-oxo-M1dG damage in DNA, we conducted NMR studies of 6-oxo-M1dG incorporated site-specifically into 5' -d(C1A2T3X4A5T6G7A8C9G10C11T12)-3':5'-d(A13G14C15G16T17C18A19T20C21A22T23G24)-3' (X = 6-oxo-M1dG). NMR spectra afforded detailed resonance assignments. Chemical shift analyses revealed that nucleobase C21, complementary to 6-oxo-M1dG, was deshielded compared with the unmodified duplex. Sequential NOEs between 6-oxo-M1dG and A5 were disrupted, as well as NOEs between T20 and C21 in the complementary strand. The structure of the 6-oxo-M1dG modified DNA duplex was refined by using molecular dynamics (rMD) calculations restrained by NOE data. It revealed that 6-oxo-M1dG intercalated into the duplex and remained in the anti-conformation about the glycosyl bond. The complementary cytosine C21 extruded into the major groove, accommodating the intercalated 6-oxo-M1dG. The 6-oxo-M1dG H7 and H8 protons faced toward the major groove, while the 6-oxo-M1dG imidazole proton H2 faced into the major groove. Structural perturbations to dsDNA were limited to the 6-oxo-M1dG damaged base pair and the flanking T3:A22 and A5:T20 base pairs. Both neighboring base pairs remained within the Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding contact. The 6-oxo-M1dG did not stack well with the 5'-neighboring base pair T3:A22 but showed improved stacking with the 3'-neighboring base pair A5:T20. Overall, the base-displaced intercalated structure was consistent with thermal destabilization of the 6-oxo-M1dG damaged DNA duplex; thermal melting temperature data showed a 15 °C decrease in Tm compared to the unmodified duplex. The structural consequences of 6-oxo-M1dG formation in DNA are evaluated in the context of the chemical biology of this lesion.

Automated Fragmentation Quantum Mechanical Calculation of 15N and 13C Chemical Shifts in a Membrane Protein

In this work, we developed an accurate and cost-effective automated fragmentation quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (AF-QM/MM) method to calculate the chemical shifts of 15N and 13C of membrane proteins. The convergence of the AF-QM/MM method was tested using Krokinobacter eikastus rhodopsin 2 as a test case. When the distance threshold of the QM region is equal to or larger than 4.0 Å, the results of the AF-QM/MM calculations are close to convergence. In addition, the effects of selected density functionals, basis sets, and local chemical environment of target atoms on the chemical shift calculations were systematically investigated. Our results demonstrate that the predicted chemical shifts are more accurate when important environmental factors including cross-protomer interactions, lipid molecules, and solvent molecules are taken into consideration, especially for the 15N chemical shift prediction. Furthermore, with the presence of sodium ions in the environment, the chemical shift of residues, retinal, and retinal Schiff base are affected, which is consistent with the results of the solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment. Upon comparing the performance of various density functionals (namely, B3LYP, B3PW91, M06-2X, M06-L, mPW1PW91, OB95, and OPBE), the results show that mPW1PW91 is a suitable functional for the 15N and 13C chemical shift prediction of the membrane proteins. Meanwhile, we find that the improved accuracy of the 13Cβ chemical shift calculations can be achieved by the employment of the triple-ζ basis set. However, the employment of the triple-ζ basis set does not improve the accuracy of the 15N and 13Cα chemical shift calculations nor does the addition of a diffuse function improve the overall prediction accuracy of the chemical shifts. Our study also underscores that the AF-QM/MM method has significant advantages in predicting the chemical shifts of key ligands and nonstandard residues in membrane proteins than most widely used empirical models; therefore, it could be an accurate computational tool for chemical shift calculations on various types of biological systems.

Thioflavin T fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy suggesting a non-G-quadruplex structure for a sodium binding aptamer embedded in DNAzymes

Recently, a Na+-binding aptamer was reported to be embedded in a few RNA-cleaving DNAzymes, including NaA43, Ce13d, and NaH1. The Na+ aptamer consists of multiple GG stretches, which is a prerequisite for the formation of G-quadruplex (G4) structures. These DNAzymes require Na+ for activity but show no activity in the presence of K+ or other metal ions. Given that DNA can selectively bind K+ by forming a G4 structure, this work aims to answer whether this Na+ aptamer also uses a G4 to bind Na+. Through comparative ThT fluorescence spectrometry studies, while a control G4 DNA exhibited notable fluorescence enhancement up to 5 mM K+ with a Kd of 0.28 ± 0.06 mM, the Ce13d DNAzyme fluorescence was negligibly perturbed with similar concentrations of K+. Opposed to this, Ce13d displayed specific remarkable fluorescence decrease with low millimolar concentrations of Na+. NMR experiments at two different pH values suggest that Ce13d adopts a significantly different conformation or equilibrium of conformations in the presence of Na+ versus K+ and has a more stable structure in the presence of Na+. Additionally, absence of characteristic G4 peaks in one-dimensional 1H NMR suggest that G4 is not responsible for the Na+ binding. This hypothesis is confirmed by the absence of characteristic peaks in the CD spectra of this sequence. Therefore, we concluded that the aptamer must be selective for Na+ and that it binds Na+ using a structural element that does not contain G4.

Use of anion-exchange HPLC to study DNA conformational polymorphism

Anion-exchange chromatography carried out under non-denaturing conditions is a versatile tool to differentiate DNA conformations. In this work, the utility of this form of HPLC was demonstrated in four examples. The hairpin and duplex forms of d(CG)₉ were readily resolved, which allowed for the studies of the influence of salt on the equilibrium of these two forms of secondary structures. Similarly, the minimum size of Tn in the loop region required for the sequence 5'-d(CCCAA-(T)n-TTGGG)-3' to form hairpin was established to be two nucleotides using anion-exchange HPLC and fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Furthermore, the efficiency of hybridization of partially self-complementary sequences d[(CG)₆N_x] was readily monitored by non-denaturing anion-exchange HPLC. Finally, different structures adopted by quadruplex-forming sequences were resolved in the same manner.

DNA Sequence Modulates the Efficiency of NEIL1-Catalyzed Excision of the Aflatoxin B1-Induced Formamidopyrimidine Guanine Adduct

Dietary exposure to aflatoxins is a significant risk factor in the development of hepatocellular carcinomas. Following bioactivation by microsomal P450s, the reaction of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) with guanine (Gua) in DNA leads to the formation of stable, imidazole ring-opened 8,9-dihydro-8-(2,6-diamino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimid-5-yl-formamido)-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁-FapyGua) adducts. In contrast to most base modifications that result in destabilization of the DNA duplex, the AFB₁-FapyGua adduct increases the thermal stability of DNA via 5'-interface intercalation and base-stacking interactions. Although it was anticipated that this stabilization might make these lesions difficult to repair relative to helix distorting modifications, prior studies have shown that both the nucleotide and base excision repair pathways participate in the removal of the AFB₁-FapyGua adduct. Specifically for base excision repair, we previously showed that the DNA glycosylase NEIL1 excises AFB₁-FapyGua and catalyzes strand scission in both synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides and liver DNA of exposed mice. Since it is anticipated that error-prone replication bypass of unrepaired AFB₁-FapyGua adducts contributes to cellular transformation and carcinogenesis, the structural and thermodynamic parameters that modulate the efficiencies of these repair pathways are of considerable interest. We hypothesized that the DNA sequence context in which the AFB₁-FapyGua adduct is formed might modulate duplex stability and consequently alter the efficiencies of NEIL1-initiated repair. To address this hypothesis, site-specific AFB₁-FapyGua adducts were synthesized in three sequence contexts, with the 5' neighbor nucleotide being varied. DNA structural stability analyses were conducted using UV absorbance- and NMR-based melting experiments. These data revealed differentials in thermal stabilities associated with the 5'-neighbor base pair. Single turnover kinetic analyses using the NEIL1 glycosylase demonstrated corresponding sequence-dependent differences in the repair of this adduct, such that there was an inverse correlation between the stabilization of the duplex and the efficiency of NEIL1-mediated catalysis.

Structure of a Stable Interstrand DNA Cross-Link Involving a β-N-Glycosyl Linkage Between an N6-dA Amino Group and an Abasic Site

Abasic (AP) sites are one of the most common forms of DNA damage. The deoxyribose ring of AP sites undergoes anomerization between α and β configurations, via an electrophilic aldehyde intermediate. In sequences where an adenine residue is located on the opposing strand and offset 1 nt to the 3' side of the AP site, the nucleophilic N⁶-dA amino group can react with the AP aldehyde residue to form an interstrand cross-link (ICL). Here, we present an experimentally determined structure of the dA-AP ICL by NMR spectroscopy. The ICL was constructed in the oligodeoxynucleotide 5'-d(T¹A²T³G⁴T⁵C⁶T⁷A⁸A⁹G¹⁰T¹¹T¹²C¹³A¹⁴T¹⁵C¹⁶T¹⁷A¹⁸)-3':5'-d(T¹⁹A²⁰G²¹A²²T²³G²⁴A²⁵A²⁶C²⁷X²⁸T²⁹A³⁰G³¹A³²C³³A³⁴T³⁵A³⁶)-3' (X=AP site), with the dA-AP ICL forming between A⁸ and X²⁸. The NMR spectra indicated an ordered structure for the cross-linked DNA duplex and afforded detailed spectroscopic resonance assignments. Structural refinement, using molecular dynamics calculations restrained by NOE data (rMD), revealed the structure of the ICL. In the dA-AP ICL, the 2'-deoxyribosyl ring of the AP site was ring-closed and in the β configuration. Juxtapositioning the N⁶-dA amino group and the aldehydic C1 of the AP site within bonding distance while simultaneously maintaining two flanking unpaired A⁹ and T²⁹ bases stacked within the DNA is accomplished by the unwinding of the DNA at the ICL. The structural data is discussed in the context of recent studies describing the replication-dependent unhooking of the dA-AP ICL by the base excision repair glycosylase NEIL3.

RNA Structural Differentiation: Opportunities with Pattern Recognition

Our awareness and appreciation of the many regulatory roles of RNA have dramatically increased in the past decade. This understanding, in addition to the impact of RNA in many disease states, has renewed interest in developing selective RNA-targeted small molecule probes. However, the fundamental guiding principles in RNA molecular recognition that could accelerate these efforts remain elusive. While high-resolution structural characterization can provide invaluable insight, examples of well-characterized RNA structures, not to mention small molecule:RNA complexes, remain limited. This Perspective provides an overview of the current techniques used to understand RNA molecular recognition when high-resolution structural information is unavailable. We will place particular emphasis on a new method, pattern recognition of RNA with small molecules (PRRSM), that provides rapid insight into critical components of RNA recognition and differentiation by small molecules as well as into RNA structural features.

DNA Sequence Modulates Geometrical Isomerism of the trans-8,9- Dihydro-8-(2,6-diamino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimid-5-yl-formamido)- 9-hydroxy Aflatoxin B1 Adduct

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus, is oxidized by cytochrome P450 enzymes to aflatoxin B₁-8,9-epoxide, which alkylates DNA at N7-dG. Under basic conditions, this N7-dG adduct rearranges to yield the trans-8,9-dihydro-8-(2,6-diamino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimid-5-yl-formamido)-9-hydroxy aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁–FAPY) adduct. The AFB₁–FAPY adduct exhibits geometrical isomerism involving the formamide moiety. NMR analyses of duplex oligodeoxynucleotides containing the 5′-XA-3′, 5′-XC-3′, 5′-XT-3′, and 5′-XY-3′ sequences (X = AFB₁–FAPY; Y = 7-deaza-dG) demonstrate that the equilibrium between E and Z isomers is controlled by major groove hydrogen bonding interactions. Structural analysis of the adduct in the 5′-XA-3′ sequence indicates the preference of the E isomer of the formamide group, attributed to formation of a hydrogen bond between the formyl oxygen and the N⁶ exocyclic amino group of the 3′-neighbor adenine. While the 5′-XA-3′ sequence exhibits the E isomer, the 5′-XC-3′ sequence exhibits a 7:3 E:Z ratio at equilibrium at 283 K. The E isomer is favored by a hydrogen bond between the formyl oxygen and the N⁴-dC exocyclic amino group of the 3′-neighbor cytosine. The 5′-XT-3′ and 5′-XY-3′ sequences cannot form such a hydrogen bond between the formyl oxygen and the 3′-neighbor T or Y, respectively, and in these sequence contexts the Z isomer is favored. Additional equilibria between α and β anomers and the potential to exhibit atropisomers about the C5–N⁵ bond do not depend upon sequence. In each of the four DNA sequences, the AFB₁–FAPY adduct maintains the β deoxyribose configuration. Each of these four sequences feature the atropisomer of the AFB₁ moiety that is intercalated above the 5′-face of the damaged guanine. This enforces the R_a axial conformation for the C5–N⁵ bond.

A systematic study on RNA NMR chemical shift calculation based on the automated fragmentation QM/MM approach

¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR chemical shift calculations on RNAs were performed using the automated fragmentation quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (AF-QM/MM) approach.

Base-Displaced Intercalated Structure of the N-(2'-Deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-3-aminobenzanthrone DNA Adduct

3-Nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA), an environmental mutagen found in diesel exhaust and a suspected carcinogen, undergoes metabolic reduction followed by reaction with DNA to form aminobenzanthrone (ABA) adducts, with the major alkylation product being N-(2'-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-3-aminobenzanthrone (C8-dG-ABA). Site-specific synthesis of the C8-dG-ABA adduct in the oligodeoxynucleotide 5'-d(GTGCXTGTTTGT)-3':5'-d(ACAAACACGCAC)-3'; X = C8-dG-ABA adduct, including codons 272-275 of the p53 gene, has allowed for investigation into the structural and thermodynamic properties of this adduct. The conformation of the C8-dG-ABA adduct was determined using NMR spectroscopy and was refined using molecular dynamics (MD) calculations restrained by experimentally determined interproton distance restraints obtained from NOE experiments. The refined structure revealed that the C8-dG-ABA adduct formed a base-displaced intercalated conformation. The adducted guanine was shifted into the syn conformation about the glycosidic bond. The 5'- and 3'-neighboring base pairs remained intact. While this facilitated π-stacking interactions between the ABA moiety and neighboring bases, the thermal melting temperature (Tm) of the adduct-containing duplex showed a decrease of 11 °C as compared to the corresponding unmodified oligodeoxynucleotide duplex. Overall, in this sequence, the base-displaced intercalated conformation of the C8-dG-ABA lesion bears similarity to structures of other arylamine C8-dG adducts. However, in this sequence, the base-displaced intercalated conformation for the C8-dG-ABA adduct differs from the conformation of the N(2)-dG-ABA adduct reported by de los Santos and co-workers, in which it is oriented in the minor groove toward the 5' end of the duplex, with the modified guanine remaining in the anti conformation about the glyosidic torsion angle, and the complementary base remaining within the duplex. The results are discussed in relationship to differences between the C8-dG-ABA and N(2)-dG-ABA adducts with respect to susceptibility to nucleotide excision repair (NER).

Resistance to Nucleotide Excision Repair of Bulky Guanine Adducts Opposite Abasic Sites in DNA Duplexes and Relationships between Structure and Function

The nucleotide excision repair of certain bulky DNA lesions is abrogated in some specific non-canonical DNA base sequence contexts, while the removal of the same lesions by the nucleotide excision repair mechanism is efficient in duplexes in which all base pairs are complementary. Here we show that the nucleotide excision repair activity in human cell extracts is moderate-to-high in the case of two stereoisomeric DNA lesions derived from the pro-carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (cis- and trans-B[a]P-N2-dG adducts) in a normal DNA duplex. By contrast, the nucleotide excision repair activity is completely abrogated when the canonical cytosine base opposite the B[a]P-dG adducts is replaced by an abasic site in duplex DNA. However, base excision repair of the abasic site persists. In order to understand the structural origins of these striking phenomena, we used NMR and molecular spectroscopy techniques to evaluate the conformational features of 11mer DNA duplexes containing these B[a]P-dG lesions opposite abasic sites. Our results show that in these duplexes containing the clustered lesions, both B[a]P-dG adducts adopt base-displaced intercalated conformations, with the B[a]P aromatic rings intercalated into the DNA helix. To explain the persistence of base excision repair in the face of the opposed bulky B[a]P ring system, molecular modeling results suggest how the APE1 base excision repair endonuclease, that excises abasic lesions, can bind productively even with the trans-B[a]P-dG positioned opposite the abasic site. We hypothesize that the nucleotide excision repair resistance is fostered by local B[a]P residue-DNA base stacking interactions at the abasic sites, that are facilitated by the absence of the cytosine partner base in the complementary strand. More broadly, this study sets the stage for elucidating the interplay between base excision and nucleotide excision repair in processing different types of clustered DNA lesions that are substrates of nucleotide excision repair or base excision repair mechanisms.

Base-Displaced Intercalated Conformation of the 2-Amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline N(2)-dG DNA Adduct Positioned at the Nonreiterated G(1) in the NarI Restriction Site

The conformation of an N²-dG adduct arising from the heterocyclic amine 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), a potent food mutagen, was determined in 5′-d(C¹T²C³X⁴G⁵C⁶G⁷C⁸C⁹A¹⁰T¹¹C¹²)-3′:5′-d(G¹³A¹⁴T¹⁵G¹⁶G¹⁷C¹⁸G¹⁹C²⁰C²¹G²²A²³G²⁴)-3′; X = N²-dG-IQ, in which the modified nucleotide X⁴ corresponds to G¹ in the 5′-d(G¹G²CG³CC)-3′ NarI restriction endonuclease site. Circular dichroism (CD) revealed blue shifts relative to the unmodified duplex, consistent with adduct-induced twisting, and a hypochromic effect for the IQ absorbance in the near UV region. NMR revealed that the N²-dG-IQ adduct adopted a base-displaced intercalated conformation in which the modified guanine remained in the anti conformation about the glycosidic bond, the IQ moiety intercalated into the duplex, and the complementary base C²¹ was displaced into the major groove. The processing of the N²-dG-IQ lesion by hpol η is sequence-dependent; when placed at the reiterated G³ position, but not at the G¹ position, this lesion exhibits a propensity for frameshift replication [Choi, J. Y., et al. (2006) J. Biol. Chem., 281, 25297–25306]. The structure of the N²-dG-IQ adduct at the nonreiterated G¹ position was compared to that of the same adduct placed at the G³ position [Stavros, K. M., et al. (2014) Nucleic Acids Res., 42, 3450–3463]. CD indicted minimal spectral differences between the G¹ vs G³N²-dG-IQ adducts. NMR indicated that the N²-dG-IQ adduct exhibited similar base-displaced intercalated conformations at both the G¹ and G³ positions. This result differed as compared to the corresponding C8-dG-IQ adducts placed at the same positions. The C8-dG-IQ adduct adopted a minor groove conformation when placed at position G¹ but a base-displaced intercalated conformation when placed at position G³ in the NarI sequence. The present studies suggest that differences in lesion bypass by hpol η may be mediated by differences in the 3′-flanking sequences, perhaps modulating the ability to accommodate transient strand slippage intermediates.

Differential stabilities and sequence-dependent base pair opening dynamics of Watson-Crick base pairs with 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine, or 5-carboxylcytosine

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) form during active demethylation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and are implicated in epigenetic regulation of the genome. They are differentially processed by thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), an enzyme involved in active demethylation of 5mC. Three modified Dickerson-Drew dodecamer (DDD) sequences, amenable to crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses and containing the 5'-CG-3' sequence associated with genomic cytosine methylation, containing 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC placed site-specifically into the 5'-T(8)X(9)G(10)-3' sequence of the DDD, were compared. The presence of 5caC at the X(9) base increased the stability of the DDD, whereas 5hmC or 5fC did not. Both 5hmC and 5fC increased imino proton exchange rates and calculated rate constants for base pair opening at the neighboring base pair A(5):T(8), whereas 5caC did not. At the oxidized base pair G(4):X(9), 5fC exhibited an increase in the imino proton exchange rate and the calculated kop. In all cases, minimal effects to imino proton exchange rates occurred at the neighboring base pair C(3):G(10). No evidence was observed for imino tautomerization, accompanied by wobble base pairing, for 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC when positioned at base pair G(4):X(9); each favored Watson-Crick base pairing. However, both 5fC and 5caC exhibited intranucleobase hydrogen bonding between their formyl or carboxyl oxygens, respectively, and the adjacent cytosine N(4) exocyclic amines. The lesion-specific differences observed in the DDD may be implicated in recognition of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC in DNA by TDG. However, they do not correlate with differential excision of 5hmC, 5fC, or 5caC by TDG, which may be mediated by differences in transition states of the enzyme-bound complexes.

Major groove orientation of the (2S)-N(6)-(2-hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)-2'-deoxyadenosine DNA adduct induced by 1,2-epoxy-3-butene

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an environmental and occupational toxicant classified as a human carcinogen. It is oxidized by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases to 1,2-epoxy-3-butene (EB), which alkylates DNA. BD exposures lead to large numbers of mutations at A:T base pairs even though alkylation of guanines is more prevalent, suggesting that one or more adenine adducts of BD play a role in BD-mediated genotoxicity. However, the etiology of BD-mediated genotoxicity at adenine remains poorly understood. EB alkylates the N(6) exocyclic nitrogen of adenine to form N(6)-(hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)-2'-dA ((2S)-N(6)-HB-dA) adducts ( Tretyakova , N. , Lin , Y. , Sangaiah , R. , Upton , P. B. , and Swenberg , J. A. ( 1997 ) Carcinogenesis 18 , 137 - 147 ). The structure of the (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA adduct has been determined in the 5'-d(C(1)G(2)G(3)A(4)C(5)Y(6)A(7)G(8)A(9)A(10)G(11))-3':5'-d(C(12)T(13)T(14)C(15)T(16)T(17)G(18)T(19) C(20)C(21)G(22))-3' duplex [Y = (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA] containing codon 61 (underlined) of the human N-ras protooncogene, from NMR spectroscopy. The (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA adduct was positioned in the major groove, such that the butadiene moiety was oriented in the 3' direction. At the Cα carbon, the methylene protons of the modified nucleobase Y(6) faced the 5' direction, which placed the Cβ carbon in the 3' direction. The Cβ hydroxyl group faced toward the solvent, as did carbons Cγ and Cδ. The Cβ hydroxyl group did not form hydrogen bonds with either T(16) O(4) or T(17) O(4). The (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA nucleoside maintained the anti conformation about the glycosyl bond, and the modified base retained Watson-Crick base pairing with the complementary base (T(17)). The adduct perturbed stacking interactions at base pairs C(5):G(18), Y(6):T(17), and A(7):T(16) such that the Y(6) base did not stack with its 5' neighbor C(5), but it did with its 3' neighbor A(7). The complementary thymine T(17) stacked well with both 5' and 3' neighbors T(16) and G(18). The presence of the (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA resulted in a 5 °C reduction in the Tm of the duplex, which is attributed to less favorable stacking interactions and adduct accommodation in the major groove.

Structures of exocyclic R,R- and S,S-N(6),N(6)-(2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine adducts induced by 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an industrial and environmental chemical present in urban air and cigarette smoke, and is classified as a human carcinogen. It is oxidized by cytochrome P450 to form 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB); DEB bis-alkylates the N(6) position of adenine in DNA. Two enantiomers of bis-N(6)-dA adducts of DEB have been identified: R,R-N(6),N(6)-(2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine (R,R-DHB-dA), and S,S-N(6),N(6)-(2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine (S,S-DHB-dA) [ Seneviratne , U. , Antsypovich , S. , Dorr , D. Q. , Dissanayake , T. , Kotapati , S. , and Tretyakova , N. ( 2010 ) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 23 , 1556 -1567 ]. Herein, the R,R-DHB-dA and S,S-DHB-dA adducts have been incorporated into the 5'-d(C(1)G(2)G(3)A(4)C(5)X(6)A(7)G(8)A(9)A(10)G(11))-3':5'-d(C(12)T(13)T(14)C(15)T(16)T(17)G(18)T(19)C(20)C(21)G(22))-3' duplex [X(6) = R,R-DHB-dA (R(6)) or S,S-DHB-dA (S(6))]. The structures of the duplexes were determined by molecular dynamics calculations, which were restrained by experimental distances obtained from NMR data. Both the R,R- and S,S-DHB-dA adducts are positioned in the major groove of DNA. In both instances, the bulky 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine rings are accommodated by an out-of-plane rotation about the C6-N(6) bond of the bis-alkylated adenine. In both instances, the directionality of the dihydroxypyrrolidine ring is evidenced by the pattern of NOEs between the 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine protons and DNA. Also in both instances, the anti conformation of the glycosyl bond is maintained, which combined with the out-of-plane rotation about the C6-N(6) bond, allows the complementary thymine, T(17), to remain stacked within the duplex, and form one hydrogen bond with the modified base, between the imine nitrogen of the modified base and the T(17) N3H imino proton. The loss of the second Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding interaction at the lesion sites correlates with the lower thermal stabilities of the R,R- and S,S-DHB-dA duplexes, as compared to the corresponding unmodified duplex. The reduced base stacking at the adduct sites may also contribute to the thermal instability.

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of an N2-guanine adduct derived from the tumorigen dibenzo[a,l]pyrene in DNA: impact of adduct stereochemistry, size, and local DNA sequence on solution conformations

The dimensions and arrangements of aromatic rings (topology) in adducts derived from the reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) diol epoxide metabolites with DNA influence the distortions and stabilities of double-stranded DNA, and hence their recognition and processing by the human nucleotide excision repair (NER) system. Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) is a highly tumorigenic six-ring PAH, which contains a nonplanar and aromatic fjord region that is absent in the structurally related bay region five-ring PAH benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). The PAH diol epoxide–DNA adducts formed include the stereoisomeric 14S and 14Rtrans-anti-DB[a,l]P-N²-dG and the stereochemically analogous 10S- and 10R-B[a]P-N²-dG (B[a]P-dG) guanine adducts. However, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) solution studies of the 14S-DB[a,l]P-N²-dG adduct in DNA have not yet been presented. Here we have investigated the 14S-DB[a,l]P-N²-dG adduct in two different sequence contexts using NMR methods with distance-restrained molecular dynamics simulations. In duplexes with dC opposite the adduct deleted, a well-resolved base-displaced intercalative adduct conformation can be observed. In full duplexes, in contrast to the intercalated 14R stereoisomeric adduct, the bulky DB[a,l]P residue in the 14S adduct is positioned in a greatly widened and distorted minor groove, with significant disruptions and distortions of base pairing at the lesion site and two 5′-side adjacent base pairs. These unique structural features are significantly different from those of the stereochemically analogous but smaller B[a]P-dG adduct. The greater size and different topology of the DB[a,l]P aromatic ring system lead to greater structurally destabilizing DNA distortions that are partially compensated by stabilizing DB[a,l]P-DNA van der Waals interactions, whose combined effects impact the NER response to the adduct. These structural results broaden our understanding of the structure–function relationship in NER.

Base-displaced intercalation of the 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinolone N2-dG adduct in the NarI DNA recognition sequence

2-Amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinolone (IQ), a heterocyclic amine found in cooked meats, undergoes bioactivation to a nitrenium ion, which alkylates guanines at both the C8-dG and N2-dG positions. The conformation of a site-specific N2-dG-IQ adduct in an oligodeoxynucleotide duplex containing the iterated CG repeat restriction site of the NarI endonuclease has been determined. The IQ moiety intercalates, with the IQ H4a and CH3 protons facing the minor groove, and the IQ H7a, H8a and H9a protons facing the major groove. The adducted dG maintains the anti-conformation about the glycosyl bond. The complementary dC is extruded into the major groove. The duplex maintains its thermal stability, which is attributed to stacking between the IQ moiety and the 5'- and 3'-neighboring base pairs. This conformation is compared to that of the C8-dG-IQ adduct in the same sequence, which also formed a 'base-displaced intercalated' conformation. However, the C8-dG-IQ adopted the syn conformation placing the Watson-Crick edge of the modified dG into the major groove. In addition, the C8-dG-IQ adduct was oriented with the IQ CH3 group and H4a and H5a facing the major groove. These differences may lead to differential processing during DNA repair and replication.

Site-specific stabilization of DNA by a tethered major groove amine, 7-aminomethyl-7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine

A cationic 7-aminomethyl-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine (7amG) was incorporated site-specifically into the self-complementary duplex d(G¹A²G³A⁴X⁵C⁶G⁷C⁸T⁹C¹⁰T¹¹C¹²)₂ (X = 7amG). This construct placed two positively charged amines adjacent to the major groove edges of two symmetry-related guanines, providing a model for probing how cation binding in the major groove modulates the structure and stability of DNA. Molecular dynamics calculations restrained by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data revealed that the tethered cationic amines were in plane with the modified base pairs. The tethered amines did not form salt bridges to the phosphodiester backbone. There was also no indication of the amines being capable of hydrogen bonding to flanking DNA bases. NMR spectroscopy as a function of temperature revealed that the X⁵ imino resonance remained sharp at 55 °C. Additionally, two 5′-neighboring base pairs, A⁴:T⁹ and G³:C¹⁰, were stabilized with respect to the exchange of their imino protons with solvent. The equilibrium constant for base pair opening at the A⁴:T⁹ base pair determined by magnetization transfer from water in the absence and presence of added ammonia base catalyst decreased for the modified duplex compared to that of the A⁴:T⁹ base pair in the unmodified duplex, which confirmed that the overall fraction of the A⁴:T⁹ base pair in the open state of the modified duplex decreased. This was also observed for the G³:C¹⁰ base pair, where αK_op for the G³:C¹⁰ base pair in the modified duplex was 3.0 × 10⁶ versus 4.1 × 10⁶ for the same base pair in the unmodified duplex. In contrast, equilibrium constants for base pair opening at the X⁵:C⁸ and C⁶:G⁷ base pairs did not change at 15 °C. These results argue against the notion that electrostatic interactions with DNA are entirely entropic and suggest that major groove cations can stabilize DNA via enthalpic contributions to the free energy of duplex formation.

Recognition of O6-benzyl-2'-deoxyguanosine by a perimidinone-derived synthetic nucleoside: a DNA interstrand stacking interaction

The 2'-deoxynucleoside containing the synthetic base 1-[(2R,4S,5R)-4-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-1H-perimidin-2(3H)-one] (dPer) recognizes in DNA the O(6)-benzyl-2'-deoxyguanosine nucleoside (O(6)-Bn-dG), formed by exposure to N-benzylmethylnitrosamine. Herein, we show how dPer distinguishes between O(6)-Bn-dG and dG in DNA. The structure of the modified Dickerson-Drew dodecamer (DDD) in which guanine at position G(4) has been replaced by O(6)-Bn-dG and cytosine C(9) has been replaced with dPer to form the modified O(6)-Bn-dG:dPer (DDD-XY) duplex [5'-d(C(1)G(2)C(3)X(4)A(5)A(6)T(7)T(8)Y(9)G(10)C(11)G(12))-3']2 (X = O(6)-Bn-dG, Y = dPer) reveals that dPer intercalates into the duplex and adopts the syn conformation about the glycosyl bond. This provides a binding pocket that allows the benzyl group of O(6)-Bn-dG to intercalate between Per and thymine of the 3'-neighbor A:T base pair. Nuclear magnetic resonance data suggest that a similar intercalative recognition mechanism applies in this sequence in solution. However, in solution, the benzyl ring of O(6)-Bn-dG undergoes rotation on the nuclear magnetic resonance time scale. In contrast, the structure of the modified DDD in which cytosine at position C(9) is replaced with dPer to form the dG:dPer (DDD-GY) [5'-d(C(1)G(2)C(3)G(4)A(5)A(6)T(7)T(8)Y(9)G(10)C(11)G(12))-3']2 duplex (Y = dPer) reveals that dPer adopts the anti conformation about the glycosyl bond and forms a less stable wobble pairing interaction with guanine.

Thermodynamic profiles and nuclear magnetic resonance studies of oligonucleotide duplexes containing single diastereomeric spiroiminodihydantoin lesions

The spiroiminodihydantoins (Sp) are highly mutagenic oxidation products of guanine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine in DNA. The Sp lesions have recently been detected in the liver and colon of mice infected with Helicobacter hepaticus that induces inflammation and the development of liver and colon cancers in murine model systems [Mangerich, A., et al. (2012) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 109, E1820-E1829]. The impact of Sp lesions on the thermodynamic characteristics and the effects of the diastereomeric Sp-R and Sp-S lesions on the conformational features of double-stranded 11-mer oligonucleotide duplexes have been studied by a combination of microcalorimetric methods, analysis of DNA melting curves, and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The nonplanar, propeller-like shapes of the Sp residues strongly diminish the extent of local base stacking interactions that destabilize the DNA duplexes characterized by unfavorable enthalpy contributions. Relative to that of an unmodified duplex, the thermally induced unfolding of the duplexes with centrally positioned Sp-R and Sp-S lesions into single strands is accompanied by a smaller release of cationic counterions (Δn(Na⁺) = 0.6 mol of Na⁺/mol of duplex) and water molecules (Δn(w) = 17 mol of H₂O/mol of duplex). The unfolding parameters are similar for the Sp-R and Sp-S lesions, although their orientations in the duplexes are different. The structural disturbances radiate one base pair beyond the flanking C:G pair, although Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding is maintained at all flanking base pairs. The observed relatively strong destabilization of B-form DNA by the physically small Sp lesions is expected to have a significant impact on the processing of these lesions in biological environments.

Nuclear magnetic resonance solution structure of an N(2)-guanine DNA adduct derived from the potent tumorigen dibenzo[a,l]pyrene: intercalation from the minor groove with ruptured Watson-Crick base pairing

The most potent tumorigen identified among the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is the nonplanar fjord region dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P). It is metabolically activated in vivo through the widely studied diol epoxide (DE) pathway to form covalent adducts with DNA bases, predominantly guanine and adenine. The (+)-11S,12R,13R,14S DE enantiomer forms adducts via its C14 position with the exocyclic amino group of guanine. Here, we present the first nuclear magnetic resonance solution structure of a DB[a,l]P-derived adduct, the 14R-(+)-trans-anti-DB[a,l]P-N(2)-dG (DB[a,l]P-dG) lesion in double-stranded DNA. In contrast to the stereochemically identical benzo[a]pyrene-derived N(2)-dG adduct (B[a]P-dG) in which the B[a]P rings reside in the B-DNA minor groove on the 3'-side of the modifed deoxyguanosine, in the DB[a,l]P-derived adduct the DB[a,l]P rings intercalate into the duplex on the 3'-side of the modified base from the sterically crowded minor groove. Watson-Crick base pairing of the modified guanine with the partner cytosine is broken, but these bases retain some stacking with the bulky DB[a,l]P ring system. This new theme in PAH DE-DNA adduct conformation differs from (1) the classical intercalation motif in which Watson-Crick base pairing is intact at the lesion site and (2) the base-displaced intercalation motif in which the damaged base and its partner are extruded from the helix. The structural considerations that lead to the intercalated conformation of the DB[a,l]P-dG lesion in contrast to the minor groove alignment of the B[a]P-dG adduct, and the implications of the DB[a,l]P-dG conformational motif for the recognition of such DNA lesions by the human nucleotide excision repair apparatus, are discussed.

Structures of (5'S)-8,5'-Cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine Mismatched with dA or dT

Diastereomeric 8,5'-cyclopurine 2'-deoxynucleosides, containing a covalent bond between the deoxyribose and the purine base, are induced in DNA by ionizing radiation. They are suspected to play a role in the etiology of neurodegeneration in xeroderma pigmentosum patients. If not repaired, the S-8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine lesion (S-cdG) induces Pol V-dependent mutations at a frequency of 34% in Escherichia coli. Most are S-cdG → A transitions, suggesting mis-incorporation of dTTP opposite the lesion during replication bypass, although low levels of S-cdG → T transversions, arising from mis-incorporation of dATP, are also observed. We report the structures of 5'-d(GTGCXTGTTTGT)-3'·5'-d(ACAAACAYGCAC)-3', where X denotes S-cdG and Y denotes either dA or dT, corresponding to the situation following mis-insertion of either dTTP or dATP opposite the S-cdG lesion. The S-cdG·dT mismatch pair adopts a wobble base pairing. This provides a plausible rationale for the S-cdG → A transitions. The S-cdG·dA mismatch pair differs in conformation from the dG·dA mismatch pair. For the S-cdG·dA mismatch pair, both S-cdG and dA intercalate, but no hydrogen bonding is observed between S-cdG and dA. This is consistent with the lower levels of S-cdG → T transitions in E. coli.

Structure of (5'S)-8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA

Diastereomeric 8,5'-cyclopurine 2'-deoxynucleosides, containing a covalent bond between the deoxyribose and the purine base, represent an important class of DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation. The 8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine lesion (cdG) has been recently reported to be a strong block of replication and highly mutagenic in Escherichia coli. The 8,5'-cyclopurine-2'-deoxyriboses are suspected to play a role in the etiology of neurodegeneration in xeroderma pigmentosum patients. These lesions cannot be repaired by base excision repair, but they are substrates for nucleotide excision repair. The structure of an oligodeoxynucleotide duplex containing a site-specific S-cdG lesion placed opposite dC in the complementary strand was obtained by molecular dynamics calculations restrained by distance and dihedral angle restraints obtained from NMR spectroscopy. The S-cdG deoxyribose exhibited the O4'-exo (west) pseudorotation. Significant perturbations were observed for the β, γ, and χ torsion angles of the S-cdG nucleoside. Watson-Crick base pairing was conserved at the S-cdG·dC pair. However, the O4'-exo pseudorotation of the S-cdG deoxyribose perturbed the helical twist and base pair stacking at the lesion site and the 5'-neighbor dC·dG base pair. Thermodynamic destabilization of the duplex measured by UV melting experiments correlated with base stacking and structural perturbations involving the modified S-cdG·dC and 3'- neighbor dT·dA base pairs. These perturbations may be responsible for both the genotoxicity of this lesion and its ability to be recognized by nucleotide excision repair.

Altering the electrostatic potential in the major groove: thermodynamic and structural characterization of 7-deaza-2'-deoxyadenosine:dT base pairing in DNA

As part of an ongoing effort to explore the effect of major groove electrostatics on the thermodynamic stability and structure of DNA, a 7-deaza-2′-deoxyadenosine:dT (7-deaza-dA:dT) base pair in the Dickerson–Drew dodecamer (DDD) was studied. The removal of the electronegative N7 atom on dA and the replacement with an electropositive C–H in the major groove was expected to have a significant effect on major groove electrostatics. The structure of the 7-deaza-dA:dT base pair was determined at 1.1 Å resolution in the presence of Mg²⁺. The 7-deaza-dA, which is isosteric for dA, had minimal effect on the base pairing geometry and the conformation of the DDD in the crystalline state. There was no major groove cation association with the 7-deaza-dA heterocycle. In solution, circular dichroism showed a positive Cotton effect centered at 280 nm and a negative Cotton effect centered at 250 nm that were characteristic of a right-handed helix in the B-conformation. However, temperature-dependent NMR studies showed increased exchange between the thymine N3 imino proton of the 7-deaza-dA:dT base pair and water, suggesting reduced stacking interactions and an increased rate of base pair opening. This correlated with the observed thermodynamic destabilization of the 7-deaza-dA modified duplex relative to the DDD. A combination of UV melting and differential scanning calorimetry experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative contributions of enthalpy and entropy in the thermodynamic destabilization of the DDD. The most significant contribution arose from an unfavorable enthalpy term, which probably results from less favorable stacking interactions in the modified duplex, which was accompanied by a significant reduction in the release of water and cations from the 7-deaza-dA modified DNA.

Formation of a N2-dG:N2-dG carbinolamine DNA cross-link by the trans-4-hydroxynonenal-derived (6S,8R,11S) 1,N2-dG adduct

Michael addition of trans-4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) to deoxyguanosine yields diastereomeric 1,N²-dG adducts in DNA. When placed opposite dC in the 5′-CpG-3′ sequence, the (6S,8R,11S) diastereomer forms a N²-dG:N²-dG interstrand cross-link [Wang, H.; Kozekov, I. D.; Harris, T. M.; Rizzo, C. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2003, 125, 5687–5700]. We refined its structure in 5′-d(G¹C²T³A⁴G⁵C⁶X⁷A⁸G⁹T¹⁰C¹¹C¹²)-3′·5′-d(G¹³G¹⁴A¹⁵C¹⁶T¹⁷C¹⁸Y¹⁹C²⁰T²¹A²²G²³C²⁴)-3′ [X⁷ is the dG adjacent to the C6 carbon of the cross-link or the α-carbon of the (6S,8R,11S) 1,N²-dG adduct, and Y¹⁹ is the dG adjacent to the C8 carbon of the cross-link or the γ-carbon of the HNE-derived (6S,8R,11S) 1,N²-dG adduct; the cross-link is in the 5′-CpG-3′ sequence]. Introduction of ¹³C at the C8 carbon of the cross-link revealed one ¹³C8→H8 correlation, indicating that the cross-link existed predominantly as a carbinolamine linkage. The H8 proton exhibited NOEs to Y¹⁹ H1′, C²⁰ H1′, and C²⁰ H4′, orienting it toward the complementary strand, consistent with the (6S,8R,11S) configuration. An NOE was also observed between the HNE H11 proton and Y¹⁹ H1′, orienting the former toward the complementary strand. Imine and pyrimidopurinone linkages were excluded by observation of the Y¹⁹N²H and X⁷ N1H protons, respectively. A strong H8→H11 NOE and no ³J(¹³C→H) coupling for the ¹³C8–O–C11–H11 eliminated the tetrahydrofuran species derived from the (6S,8R,11S) 1,N²-dG adduct. The (6S,8R,11S) carbinolamine linkage and the HNE side chain were located in the minor groove. The X⁷N² and Y¹⁹N² atoms were in the gauche conformation with respect to the linkage, maintaining Watson–Crick hydrogen bonds at the cross-linked base pairs. A solvated molecular dynamics simulation indicated that the anti conformation of the hydroxyl group with respect to C6 of the tether minimized steric interaction and predicted hydrogen bonds involving O8H with C²⁰O² of the 5′-neighbor base pair G⁵·C²⁰ and O11H with C¹⁸O² of X⁷·C¹⁸. These may, in part, explain the stability of this cross-link and the stereochemical preference for the (6S,8R,11S) configuration.

1,N2-Etheno-2'-deoxyguanosine adopts the syn conformation about the glycosyl bond when mismatched with deoxyadenosine

The oligodeoxynucleotide 5′-CGCATXGAATCC-3′·5′-GGATTCAATGCG-3′ containing 1,N²-etheno-2′-deoxyguanosine (1,N²-εdG) opposite deoxyadenosine (named the 1,N²-εdG·dA duplex) models the mismatched adenine product associated with error-prone bypass of 1,N²-εdG by the Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4) and by Escherichia coli polymerases pol I exo^– and pol II exo^–. At pH 5.2, the T_m of this duplex was increased by 3 °C as compared to the duplex in which the 1,N²-εdG lesion is opposite dC, and it was increased by 2 °C compared to the duplex in which guanine is opposite dA (the dG·dA duplex). A strong NOE between the 1,N²-εdG imidazole proton and the anomeric proton of the attached deoxyribose, accompanied by strong NOEs to the minor groove A²⁰ H2 proton and the mismatched A¹⁹ H2 proton from the complementary strand, establish that 1,N²-εdG rotated about the glycosyl bond from the anti to the syn conformation. The etheno moiety was placed into the major groove. This resulted in NOEs between the etheno protons and T⁵ CH₃. A strong NOE between A²⁰ H2 and A¹⁹ H2 protons established that A¹⁹, opposite to 1,N²-εdG, adopted the anti conformation and was directed toward the helix. The downfield shifts of the A¹⁹ amino protons suggested protonation of dA. Thus, the protonated 1,N²-εdG·dA base pair was stabilized by hydrogen bonds between 1,N²-εdG N1 and A¹⁹ N1H⁺ and between 1,N²-εdG O⁹ and A¹⁹N⁶H. The broad imino proton resonances for the 5′- and 3′-flanking bases suggested that both neighboring base pairs were perturbed. The increased stability of the 1,N²-εdG·dA base pair, compared to that of the 1,N²-εdG·dC base pair, correlated with the mismatch adenine product observed during the bypass of 1,N²-εdG by the Dpo4 polymerase, suggesting that stabilization of this mismatch may be significant with regard to the biological processing of 1,N²-εdG.

γ-Hydroxy-1,N2-propano-2'-deoxyguanosine DNA adduct conjugates the N-terminal amine of the KWKK peptide via a carbinolamine linkage

The γ-hydroxy-1,N(2)-propano-2'-deoxyguanosine adduct (γ-OH-PdG) was introduced into 5'-d(GCTAGCXAGTCC)-3'·5'-d(GGACTCGCTAGC)-3' (X = γ-OH-PdG). In the presence of excess peptide KWKK, (13)C isotope-edited NMR revealed the formation of two spectroscopically distinct DNA-KWKK conjugates. These involved the reaction of the KWKK N-terminal amino group with the N(2)-dG propylaldehyde tautomer of the γ-OH-PdG lesion. The guanine N1 base imino resonance at the site of conjugation was observed in isotope-edited (15)N NMR experiments, suggesting that the conjugated guanine was inserted into the duplex and that the guanine imino proton was protected from exchange with water. The conjugates could be reduced in the presence of NaCNBH(3), suggesting that they existed, in part, as imine (Schiff base) linkages. However, (13)C isotope-edited NMR failed to detect the imine linkages, suggesting that these KWKK conjugates existed predominantly as diastereomeric carbinolamines, in equilibrium with trace amounts of the imines. The structures of the diastereomeric DNA-KWKK conjugates were predicted from potential energy minimization of model structures derived from the refined structure of the fully reduced cross-link [ Huang, H., Kozekov, I. D., Kozekova, A., Rizzo, C. J., McCullough, A., Lloyd, R. S., and Stone, M. P. ( 2010 ) Biochemistry , 49 , 6155 -6164 ]. Molecular dynamics calculations carried out in explicit solvent suggested that the conjugate bearing the S-carbinolamine linkage was the major species due to its potential for intramolecular hydrogen bonding. These carbinolamine DNA-KWKK conjugates thermally stabilized duplex DNA. However, the DNA-KWKK conjugates were chemically reversible and dissociated when the DNA was denatured. In this 5'-CpX-3' sequence, the DNA-KWKK conjugates slowly converted to interstrand N(2)-dG:N(2)-dG DNA cross-links and ring-opened γ-OH-PdG derivatives over a period of weeks.

Comparison of the in vitro replication of the 7-(2-oxoheptyl)-1,N2-etheno-2'-deoxyguanosine and 1,N2-etheno-2'-deoxyguanosine lesions by Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4)

Oligonucleotides were synthesized containing the 7-(2-oxoheptyl)-etheno-dGuo adduct, which is derived from the reaction of dGuo and the lipid peroxidation product 4-oxo-2-nonenal. The in vitro replication of 7-(2-oxoheptyl)-etheno-dGuo by the model Y-family polymerase Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 DNA Polymerase IV (Dpo4) was examined in two sequences. The extension products were sequenced using an improved LC-ESI-MS/MS protocol developed in our laboratories, and the results were compared to that of the 1,N(2)-etheno-dGuo adduct in the same sequence contexts. Both etheno adducts were highly miscoding when situated in 5'-TXG-3' local sequence contexts with <4% of the extension products being derived from error-free bypass. The major extension products resulted from the misinsertion of Ade opposite the adduct and a one-base deletion. The major extension products from replication of the etheno lesions in a 5'-CXG-3' local sequence context were the result of misinsertion of Ade, a one-base deletion, and error-free bypass. Other minor extension products were also identified. The 7-(2-oxoheptyl)-etheno-dGuo lesion resulted in a larger frequency of misinsertion of Ade, whereas the 1,N(2)-etheno-dGuo gave more of the one-base deletion product. Conformational studies of duplex DNA containing the 7-(2-oxoheptyl)-etheno-dGuo in a 5'-TXG-3' sequence context by NMR indicated the presence of a pH-dependent conformational transition, likely involving the glycosyl bond at the adducted guanosine; the pK(a) for this transition was lower than that observed for the 1,N(2)-epsilon-dGuo lesion. However, the 7-(2-oxoheptyl)-etheno-dGuo lesion, the complementary Cyt, and both flanking base pairs remained disordered at all pH values, which is attributed to the presence of the hydrophobic heptyl group of the 7-(2-oxoheptyl)-etheno-dGuo lesion. The altered pK(a) value and the structural disorder at the 7-(2-oxoheptyl)-etheno-dGuo lesion site, as compared to the same sequence containing the 1,N(2)-etheno-dGuo, may contribute to higher frequency of misinsertion of Ade.

Minor groove orientation of the KWKK peptide tethered via the N-terminal amine to the acrolein-derived 1,N2-gamma-hydroxypropanodeoxyguanosine lesion with a trimethylene linkage

DNA−protein conjugates are potentially repaired via proteolytic digestion to DNA−peptide conjugates. The latter have been modeled with the amino-terminal lysine of the peptide KWKK conjugated via a trimethylene linkage to the N²-dG amine positioned in 5′-d(GCTAGCXAGTCC)-3′·5′-d(GGACTCGCTAGC)-3′ (X = N²-dG−trimethylene link−KWKK). This linkage is a surrogate for the reversible linkage formed by the γ-OH-1,N²-propanodeoxyguanosine (γ-OH-PdG) adduct. This conjugated KWKK stabilizes the DNA. Amino acids K²⁶, W²⁷, K²⁸, and K²⁹ are in the minor groove. The W²⁷ indolyl group does not intercalate into the DNA. The G⁷N² amine and the K²⁶ N-terminal amine nitrogens are in the trans configuration with respect to the C_α or C_γ of the trimethylene tether, respectively. The structure of this DNA−KWKK conjugate is discussed in the context of its biological processing.

Structure of the 1,N(2)-etheno-2'-deoxyguanosine lesion in the 3'-G(epsilon dG)T-5' sequence opposite a one-base deletion

The structure of the 1,N(2)-ethenodeoxyguanosine lesion (1,N(2)-epsilondG) has been characterized in 5'-d(CGCATXGAATCC)-3'.5'-d(GGATTCATGCG)-3' (X = 1,N(2)-epsilondG), in which there is no dC opposite the lesion. This duplex (named the 1-BD duplex) models the product of translesion bypass of 1,N(2)-epsilondG by Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4) [Zang, H., Goodenough, A. K., Choi, J. Y., Irimia, A., Loukachevitch, L. V., Kozekov, I. D., Angel, K. C., Rizzo, C. J., Egli, M., and Guengerich, F. P. (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 29750-29764], leading to a one-base deletion. The T(m) of this duplex is 6 degrees C higher than that of the duplex in which dC is present opposite the 1,N(2)-epsilondG lesion and 8 degrees C higher than that of the unmodified 1-BD duplex. Analysis of NOEs between the 1,N(2)-epsilondG imidazole and deoxyribose H1' protons and between the 1,N(2)-epsilondG etheno H6 and H7 protons and DNA protons establishes that 1,N(2)-epsilondG adopts the anti conformation about the glycosyl bond and that the etheno moiety is accommodated within the helix. The resonances of the 1,N(2)-epsilondG H6 and H7 etheno protons shift upfield relative to the monomer 1,N(2)-epsilondG, attributed to ring current shielding, consistent with their intrahelical location. NMR data reveal that Watson-Crick base pairing is maintained at both the 5' and 3' neighbor base pairs. The structure of the 1-BD duplex has been refined using molecular dynamics calculations restrained by NMR-derived distance and dihedral angle restraints. The increased stability of the 1,N(2)-epsilondG lesion in the absence of the complementary dC correlates with the one-base deletion extension product observed during the bypass of the 1,N(2)-epsilondG lesion by the Dpo4 polymerase, suggesting that stabilization of this bulged intermediate may be significant with regard to the biological processing of the lesion.

Structural perturbations induced by the alpha-anomer of the aflatoxin B(1) formamidopyrimidine adduct in duplex and single-strand DNA

The guanine N7 adduct of aflatoxin B₁exo-8,9-epoxide hydrolyzes to form the formamidopyrimidine (AFB-FAPY) adduct, which interconverts between α and β anomers. The β anomer is highly mutagenic in Escherichia coli, producing G → T transversions; it thermally stabilizes the DNA duplex. The AFB-α-FAPY adduct blocks replication; it destabilizes the DNA duplex. Herein, the structure of the AFB-α-FAPY adduct has been elucidated in 5′-d(C¹T²A³T⁴X⁵A⁶T⁷T⁸C⁹A¹⁰)-3′·5′-d(T¹¹G¹²A¹³A¹⁴T¹⁵C¹⁶A¹⁷T¹⁸A¹⁹G²⁰)-3′ (X = AFB-α-FAPY) using molecular dynamics calculations restrained by NMR-derived distances and torsion angles. The AFB moiety intercalates on the 5′ face of the pyrimidine moiety at the damaged nucleotide between base pairs T⁴·A¹⁷ and X⁵·C¹⁶, placing the FAPY C5−N⁵ bond in the R_a axial conformation. Large perturbations of the ε and ζ backbone torsion angles are observed, and the base stacking register of the duplex is perturbed. The deoxyribose orientation shifts to become parallel to the FAPY base and displaced toward the minor groove. Intrastrand stacking between the AFB moiety and the 5′ neighbor thymine remains, but strong interstrand stacking is not observed. A hydrogen bond between the formyl group and the exocyclic amine of the 3′-neighbor adenine stabilizes the E conformation of the formamide moiety. NMR studies reveal a similar 5′-intercalation of the AFB moiety for the AFB-α-FAPY adduct in the tetramer 5′-d(C¹T²X³A⁴)-3′, involving the R_a axial conformation of the FAPY C5−N⁵ bond and the E conformation of the formamide moiety. Since in duplex DNA the AFB moiety of the AFB-β-FAPY adduct also intercalates on the 5′ side of the pyrimidine moiety at the damaged nucleotide, we conclude that favorable 5′-stacking leads to the R_a conformational preference about the C5−N⁵ bond; the same conformational preference about this bond is also observed at the nucleoside and base levels. The structural distortions and the less favorable stacking interactions induced by the AFB-α-FAPY adduct explain its lower stability as compared to the AFB-β-FAPY adduct in duplex DNA. In this DNA sequence, hydrogen bonding between the formyl oxygen and the exocyclic amine of the 3′-neighboring adenine stabilizing the E configuration of the formamide moiety is also observed for the AFB-β-FAPY adduct, and suggests that the identity of the 3′-neighbor nucleotide modulates the stability and biological processing of AFB adducts.

Conformational analysis of DNA repair intermediates by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

DNA repair enzymes are essential for maintaining the integrity of the DNA sequence. Unfortunately, very little is known about how these enzymes recognize damaged regions along the helix. Structural analysis of cellular repair enzymes bound to DNA reveals that these enzymes are able to recognize DNA in a variety of conformations. However, the prevalence of these deformations in the absence of enzymes remains unclear, as small populations of DNA conformations are often difficult to detect by NMR and X-ray crystallography. Here, we used time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to examine the conformational dynamics of linear, nicked, gapped, and bulged DNA in the absence of protein enzymes. This analysis reveals that damaged DNA is polymorphic in nature and able to adopt multiple individual conformations. We show that DNA repair intermediates that contain a one-nucleotide gap and bulge have a significant propensity to adopt conformations in which the orphan base resides outside the DNA helix, while DNA structures damaged by a nick or two-nucleotide gap favor intrahelical conformations. Because changes in DNA conformation appear to guide the recognition of DNA repair enzymes, we suggest that the current approach could be used to study the mechanism of DNA repair.

Binding of the human nucleotide excision repair proteins XPA and XPC/HR23B to the 5R-thymine glycol lesion and structure of the cis-(5R,6S) thymine glycol epimer in the 5'-GTgG-3' sequence: destabilization of two base pairs at the lesion site

The 5R thymine glycol (5R-Tg) DNA lesion exists as a mixture of cis-(5R,6S) and trans-(5R,6R) epimers; these modulate base excision repair. We examine the 7:3 cis-(5R,6S):trans-(5R,6R) mixture of epimers paired opposite adenine in the 5′-GTgG-3′ sequence with regard to nucleotide excision repair. Human XPA recognizes the lesion comparably to the C8-dG acetylaminoflourene (AAF) adduct, whereas XPC/HR23B recognition of Tg is superior. 5R-Tg is processed by the Escherichia coli UvrA and UvrABC proteins less efficiently than the C8-dG AAF adduct. For the cis-(5R, 6S) epimer Tg and A are inserted into the helix, remaining in the Watson–Crick alignment. The Tg N3H imine and A N⁶ amine protons undergo increased solvent exchange. Stacking between Tg and the 3′-neighbor G•C base pair is disrupted. The solvent accessible surface and T₂ relaxation of Tg increases. Molecular dynamics calculations predict that the axial conformation of the Tg CH₃ group is favored; propeller twisting of the Tg•A pair and hydrogen bonding between Tg OH6 and the N7 atom of the 3′-neighbor guanine alleviate steric clash with the 5′-neighbor base pair. Tg also destabilizes the 5′-neighbor G•C base pair. This may facilitate flipping both base pairs from the helix, enabling XPC/HR23B recognition prior to recruitment of XPA.

The cis-(5R,6S)-thymine glycol lesion occupies the wobble position when mismatched with deoxyguanosine in DNA

Oxidative damage to 5-methylcytosine in DNA, followed by deamination, yields thymine glycol (Tg), 5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine, mispaired with deoxyguanosine. The structure of the 5R Tg·G mismatch pair has been refined using a combination of simulated annealing and isothermal molecular dynamics calculations restrained by NMR-derived distance restraints and torsion angle restraints in 5′-d(G¹T²G³C⁴G⁵Tg⁶G⁷T⁸T⁹T¹⁰G¹¹T¹²)-3′·5′-d(A¹³C¹⁴A¹⁵A¹⁶A¹⁷C¹⁸G¹⁹C²⁰G²¹C²²A²³C²⁴)-3′; Tg = 5R Tg. In this duplex the cis-5R,6S:trans-5R,6R equilibrium favors the cis-5R,6S epimer [Brown, K. L., Adams, T., Jasti, V. P., Basu, A. K., and Stone, M. P. (2008) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 11701−11710]. The cis-5R,6S Tg lesion is in the wobble orientation such that Tg⁶O² is proximate to G¹⁹ N1H and Tg⁶ N3H is proximate to G¹⁹O⁶. Both Tg⁶ and the mismatched nucleotide G¹⁹ remain stacked in the helix. The Tg⁶ nucleotide shifts toward the major groove and stacks below the 5′-neighbor base G⁵, while its complement G¹⁹ stacks below the 5′-neighbor C²⁰. In the 3′-direction, stacking between Tg⁶ and the G⁷·C¹⁸ base pair is disrupted. The solvent-accessible surface area of the Tg nucleotide increases as compared to the native Watson−Crick hydrogen-bonded T·A base pair. An increase in T₂ relaxation rates for the Tg⁶ base protons is attributed to puckering of the Tg base, accompanied by increased disorder at the Tg·G mismatch pair. The axial vs equatorial conformation of the Tg⁶ CH₃ group cannot be determined with certainty from the NMR data. The rMD trajectories suggest that in either the axial or equatorial conformations the cis-5R,6S Tg lesion does not form strong intrastrand hydrogen bonds with the imidazole N7 atom of the 3′-neighbor purine G⁷. The wobble pairing and disorder of the Tg·G mismatch correlate with the reduced thermodynamic stability of the mismatch and likely modulate its recognition by DNA base excision repair systems.

NMR and computational studies of stereoisomeric equine estrogen-derived DNA cytidine adducts in oligonucleotide duplexes: opposite orientations of diastereomeric forms

The equine estrogens equilin (EQ) and equilenin (EN) are the active components in the widely prescribed hormone replacement therapy formulation Premarin. Metabolic activation of EQ and EN generates the catechol 4-hydroxyequilenin (4-OHEN) that autoxidizes to the reactive o-quinone form in aerated aqueous solutions. The o-quinones react predominantly with C, and to a lesser extent with A and G, to form premutagenic cyclic covalent DNA adducts in vitro and in vivo. To obtain insights into the structural properties of these biologically important DNA lesions, we have synthesized site-specifically modified oligonucleotides containing the stereoisomeric 1'S,2'R,3'R-4-OHEN-C3 and 1'R,2'S,3'S-4-OHEN-C4 adducts derived from the reaction of 4-OHEN with the C in the oligonucleotide 5'-GGTAGCGATGG in aqueous solution. A combined NMR and computational approach was utilized to determine the conformational characteristics of the two major 4-OHEN-C3 and 4-OHEN-C4 stereoisomeric adducts formed in this oligonucleotide hybridized with its complementary strand. In both cases, the modified C adopts an anti glycosidic bond conformation; the equilenin distal ring protrudes into the minor groove while its two proximal hydroxyl groups are exposed on the major groove side of the DNA duplex. The bulky 4-OHEN-C adduct distorts the duplex within the central GC*G portion, but Watson-Crick pairing is maintained adjacent to C* in both stereoisomeric adducts. For the 4-OHEN-C3 adduct, the equilenin rings are oriented toward the 5'-end of the modified strand, while in 4-OHEN-C4 the equilenin is 3'-directed. Correspondingly, the distortions of the double-helical structures are more pronounced on the 5'- or the 3'-side of the lesion, respectively. These differences in stereoisomeric adduct conformations may play a role in the processing of these lesions in cellular environments.

Stereospecific formation of the (R)-gamma-hydroxytrimethylene interstrand N2-dG:N2-dG cross-link arising from the gamma-OH-1,N2-propano-2'-deoxyguanosine adduct in the 5'-CpG-3' DNA sequence

Acrolein reacts with dG to form hydroxylated 1,N(2)-propanodeoxyguanosine (OH-PdG) adducts. Most abundant are the epimeric 3-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-hydroxypyrimido[1,2a] purin-10(3H)-ones, commonly referred to as the gamma-OH-PdG adducts. When placed complementary to deoxycytosine in duplex DNA, these undergo rearrangement to the N(2)-(3-oxopropyl)-dG aldehyde. The latter forms diastereomeric interstrand N(2)-dG:N(2)-dG cross-links in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence. Here we report the structure of the stereochemically favored (R)-gamma-hydroxytrimethylene N(2)-dG:N(2)-dG interstrand DNA cross-link in 5'-d(G(1)C(2)T(3)A(4)G(5)C(6)X(7)A(8)G(9)T(10)C(11)C(12))-3' x 5'-d(G(13)G(14)A(15)C(16)T(17)C(18)Y(19)C(20)T(21)A(22)G(23)C(24))-3' (X(7) is the dG linked to the alpha-carbon of the carbinolamine linkage, and Y(19) is the dG linked to the gamma-carbon of the carbinolamine linkage; the cross-link is in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence). The structure was characterized using isotope-edited (15)N nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy heteronuclear single quantum correlation (NOESY-HSQC) NMR, in which the exocyclic amines at X(7) or Y(19) were (15)N-labeled. Analyses of NOE intensities involving Y(19) N(2)H indicated that the (R)-gamma-hydroxytrimethylene linkage was the major cross-link species, constituting 80-90% of the cross-link. The X(7) and Y(19) imino resonances were observed at 65 degrees C. Additionally, for the 5'-neighbor base pair G(5) x C(20), the G(5) imino resonance remained sharp at 55 degrees C but broadened at 65 degrees C. In contrast, for the 3'-neighbor A(8) x T(17) base pair, the T(17) imino resonance was severely broadened at 55 degrees C. Structural refinement using NOE distance restraints obtained from isotope-edited (15)N NOESY-HSQC data indicated that the (R)-gamma-hydroxytrimethylene linkage maintained the C(6) x Y(19) and X(7) x C(18) base pairs with minimal structural perturbations. The (R)-gamma-hydroxytrimethylene linkage was located in the minor groove. The X(7) N(2) and Y(19) N(2) atoms were in the gauche conformation with respect to the linkage, which maintained Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding of the cross-linked base pairs. The anti conformation of the hydroxyl group with respect to C(alpha) of the tether minimized steric interaction and, more importantly, allowed the formation of a hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl group and C(20) O(2) located in the 5'-neighboring base pair G(5) x C(20). The formation of this hydrogen bond may, in part, explain the thermal stability of this carbinolamine interstrand cross-link and the stereochemical preference for the (R) configuration of the cross-link.

Conformational interconversion of the trans-4-hydroxynonenal-derived (6S,8R,11S) 1,N(2)-deoxyguanosine adduct when mismatched with deoxyadenosine in DNA

The (6S,8R,11S) 1,N(2)-HNE-dGuo adduct of trans-4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) was incorporated into the duplex 5'-d(GCTAGCXAGTCC)-3'.5'-d(GGACTAGCTAGC)-3' [X = (6S,8R,11S) HNE-dG], in which the lesion was mismatched opposite dAdo. The (6S,8R,11S) adduct maintained the ring-closed 1,N(2)-HNE-dG structure. This was in contrast to when this adduct was correctly paired with dCyd, conditions under which it underwent ring opening and rearrangement to diastereomeric minor groove cyclic hemiacetals [ Huang , H. , Wang , H. , Qi , N. , Lloyd , R. S. , Harris , T. M. , Rizzo , C. J. , and Stone , M. P. ( 2008 ) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130 , 10898 - 10906 ]. The (6S,8R,11S) adduct exhibited a syn/anti conformational equilibrium about the glycosyl bond. The syn conformation was predominant in acidic solution. Structural analysis of the syn conformation revealed that X(7) formed a distorted base pair with the complementary protonated A(18). The HNE moiety was located in the major groove. Structural perturbations were observed at the neighbor C(6).G(19) and A(8).T(17) base pairs. At basic pH, the anti conformation of X(7) was the major species. The 1,N(2)-HNE-dG intercalated and displaced the complementary A(18) in the 5'-direction, resulting in a bulge at the X(7).A(18) base pair. The HNE aliphatic chain was oriented toward the minor groove. The Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding of the neighboring A(8).T(17) base pair was also disrupted.

The stereochemistry of trans-4-hydroxynonenal-derived exocyclic 1,N2-2'-deoxyguanosine adducts modulates formation of interstrand cross-links in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence

The trans-4-hydroxynonenal (HNE)-derived exocyclic 1, N(2)-dG adduct with (6S,8R,11S) stereochemistry forms interstrand N(2)-dG-N(2)-dG cross-links in the 5'-CpG-3' DNA sequence context, but the corresponding adduct possessing (6R,8S,11R) stereochemistry does not. Both exist primarily as diastereomeric cyclic hemiacetals when placed into duplex DNA [Huang, H., Wang, H., Qi, N., Kozekova, A., Rizzo, C. J., and Stone, M. P. (2008) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 10898-10906]. To explore the structural basis for this difference, the HNE-derived diastereomeric (6S,8R,11S) and (6R,8S,11R) cyclic hemiacetals were examined with respect to conformation when incorporated into 5'-d(GCTAGC XAGTCC)-3' x 5'-d(GGACTCGCTAGC)-3', containing the 5'-CpX-3' sequence [X = (6S,8R,11S)- or (6R,8S,11R)-HNE-dG]. At neutral pH, both adducts exhibited minimal structural perturbations to the DNA duplex that were localized to the site of the adduction at X(7) x C(18) and its neighboring base pair, A(8) x T(17). Both the (6S,8R,11S) and (6R,8S,11R) cyclic hemiacetals were located within the minor groove of the duplex. However, the respective orientations of the two cyclic hemiacetals within the minor groove were dependent upon (6S) versus (6R) stereochemistry. The (6S,8R,11S) cyclic hemiacetal was oriented in the 5'-direction, while the (6R,8S,11R) cyclic hemiacetal was oriented in the 3'-direction. These cyclic hemiacetals effectively mask the reactive aldehydes necessary for initiation of interstrand cross-link formation. From the refined structures of the two cyclic hemiacetals, the conformations of the corresponding diastereomeric aldehydes were predicted, using molecular mechanics calculations. Potential energy minimizations of the duplexes containing the two diastereomeric aldehydes predicted that the (6S,8R,11S) aldehyde was oriented in the 5'-direction while the (6R,8S,11R) aldehyde was oriented in the 3'-direction. These stereochemical differences in orientation suggest a kinetic basis that explains, in part, why the (6S,8R,11S) stereoisomer forms interchain cross-links in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence whereas the (6R,8S,11R) stereoisomer does not.

Rearrangement of the (6S,8R,11S) and (6R,8S,11R) exocyclic 1,N2-deoxyguanosine adducts of trans-4-hydroxynonenal to N2-deoxyguanosine cyclic hemiacetal adducts when placed complementary to cytosine in duplex DNA

trans-4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) is a peroxidation product of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The Michael addition of deoxyguanosine to HNE yields four diastereomeric exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adducts. The corresponding acrolein- and crotonaldehyde-derived exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adducts undergo ring-opening to N(2)-dG aldehydes, placing the aldehyde functionalities into the minor groove of DNA. The acrolein- and the 6R-crotonaldehyde-derived exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adducts form interstrand N(2)-dG:N(2)-dG cross-links in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence context. Only the HNE-derived exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adduct of (6S,8R,11S) stereochemistry forms interstrand N(2)-dG:N(2)-dG cross-links in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence context. Moreover, as compared to the exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adducts of acrolein and crotonaldehyde, the cross-linking reaction is slow (Wang, H.; Kozekov, I. D.; Harris, T. M.; Rizzo, C. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 5687-5700). Accordingly, the chemistry of the HNE-derived exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adduct of (6S,8R,11S) stereochemistry has been compared with that of the (6R,8S,11R) adduct, when incorporated into 5'-d(GCTAGCXAGTCC)-3'.5'-d(GGACTCGCTAGC)-3', containing the 5'-CpG-3' sequence (X = HNE-dG). When placed complementary to dC in this duplex, both adducts open to the corresponding N(2)-dG aldehydic rearrangement products, suggesting that the formation of the interstrand cross-link by the exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adduct of (6S,8R,11S) stereochemistry, and the lack of cross-link formation by the exocyclic 1,N(2)-dG adduct of (6R,8S,11R) stereochemistry, is not attributable to inability to undergo ring-opening to the aldehydes in duplex DNA. Instead, these aldehydic rearrangement products exist in equilibrium with stereoisomeric cyclic hemiacetals. The latter are the predominant species present at equilibrium. The trans configuration of the HNE H6 and H8 protons is preferred. The presence of these cyclic hemiacetals in duplex DNA is significant as they mask the aldehyde species necessary for interstrand cross-link formation.

Interconversion of the cis-5R,6S- and trans-5R,6R-thymine glycol lesions in duplex DNA

Thymine glycol (Tg), 5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine, is formed in DNA by the reaction of thymine with reactive oxygen species. The 5R Tg lesion was incorporated site-specifically into 5'-d(G(1)T(2)G(3)C(4)G(5)Tg(6)G(7)T(8)T(9)T(10)G(11)T(12))-3'; Tg = 5R Tg. The Tg-modified oligodeoxynucleotide was annealed with either 5'-d(A(13)C(14)A(15)A(16)A(17)C(18)A(19)C(20)G(21)C(22)A(23)C(24))-3', forming the Tg(6) x A(19) base pair, corresponding to the oxidative damage of thymine in DNA, or 5'-d(A(13)C(14)A(15)A(16)A(17)C(18)G(19)C(20)G(21)C(22)A(23)C(24))-3', forming the mismatched Tg(6) x G(19) base pair, corresponding to the formation of Tg following oxidative damage and deamination of 5-methylcytosine in DNA. At 30 degrees C, the equilibrium ratio of cis-5R,6S:trans-5R,6R epimers was 7:3 for the duplex containing the Tg(6) x A (19) base pair. In contrast, for the duplex containing the Tg(6) x G(19) base pair, the cis-5R,6S:trans-5R,6R equilibrium favored the cis-5R,6S epimer; the level of the trans-5R,6R epimer remained below the level of detection by NMR. The data suggested that Tg disrupted hydrogen bonding interactions, either when placed opposite to A(19) or G(19). Thermodynamic measurements indicated a 13 degrees C reduction of T(m) regardless of whether Tg was placed opposite dG or dA in the complementary strand. Although both pairings increased the free energy of melting by 3 kcal/mol, the melting of the Tg x G pair was more enthalpically favored than was the melting of the Tg x A pair. The observation that the position of the equilibrium between the cis-5R,6S and trans-5R,6R thymine glycol epimers in duplex DNA was affected by the identity of the complementary base extends upon observations that this equilibrium modulates the base excision repair of Tg [Ocampo-Hafalla, M. T.; Altamirano, A.; Basu, A. K.; Chan, M. K.; Ocampo, J. E.; Cummings, A., Jr.; Boorstein, R. J.; Cunningham, R. P.; Teebor, G. W. DNA Repair (Amst) 2006, 5, 444-454].

Structure of the 1,N2-etheno-2'-deoxyguanosine adduct in duplex DNA at pH 8.6

The structure of the 1,N(2)-etheno-2'-deoxyguanosine (1,N(2)-epsilondG) adduct, arising from the reaction of vinyl chloride with dG, was determined in the oligonucleotide duplex 5'-d(CGCATXGAATCC)-3'.5'-d(GGATTCCATGCG)-3' (X=1,N(2)-epsilondG) at pH 8.6 using high resolution NMR spectroscopy. The exocyclic lesion prevented Watson-Crick base-pairing capability at the adduct site and resulted in an approximately 17 degrees C decrease in Tm of the oligodeoxynucleotide duplex. At neutral pH, conformational exchange resulted in spectral line broadening near the adducted site, and it was not possible to determine the structure. However, at pH 8.6, it was possible to obtain well-resolved (1)H NMR spectra. This enabled a total of 385 NOE-based distance restraints to be obtained, consisting of 245 intra- and 140 inter-nucleotide distances. The (31)P NMR spectra exhibited two downfield-shifted resonances, suggesting a localized perturbation of the DNA backbone. The two downfield (31)P resonances were assigned to G(7) and C(19). The solution structure was refined by molecular dynamics calculations restrained by NMR-derived distance and dihedral angle restraints, using a simulated annealing protocol. The generalized Born approximation was used to simulate solvent. The emergent structures indicated that the 1,N(2)-epsilondG-induced structural perturbation was localized at the X(6).C(19) base pair, and its 5'-neighbor T(5).A(20). Both 1,N(2)-epsilondG and the complementary dC adopted the anti conformation about the glycosyl bonds. The 1,N (2)-epsilondG adduct was inserted into the duplex but was shifted towards the minor groove as compared to dG in a normal Watson-Crick C.G base pair. The complementary cytosine was displaced toward the major groove. The 5'-neighbor T(5).A(20) base pair was destabilized with respect to Watson-Crick base pairing. The refined structure predicted a bend in the helical axis associated with the adduct site.

Bulge migration of the malondialdehyde OPdG DNA adduct when placed opposite a two-base deletion in the (CpG)3 frameshift hotspot of the Salmonella typhimurium hisD3052 gene

The OPdG adduct N (2)-(3-oxo-1-propenyl)dG, formed in DNA exposed to malondialdehyde, was introduced into 5'-d(ATCGC XCGGCATG)-3'.5'-d(CATGCCGCGAT)-3' at pH 7 (X = OPdG). The OPdG adduct is the base-catalyzed rearrangement product of the M 1dG adduct, 3-(beta- d-ribofuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2- a]purin-10(3 H)-one. This duplex, named the OPdG-2BD oligodeoxynucleotide, was derived from a frameshift hotspot of the Salmonella typhimuium hisD3052 gene and contained a two-base deletion in the complementary strand. NMR spectroscopy revealed that the OPdG-2BD oligodeoxynucleotide underwent rapid bulge migration. This hindered its conversion to the M 1dG-2BD duplex, in which the bulge was localized and consisted of the M 1dG adduct and the 3'-neighbor dC [ Schnetz-Boutaud, N. C. , Saleh, S. , Marnett, L. J. , and Stone, M. P. ( 2001) Biochemistry 40, 15638- 15649 ]. The spectroscopic data suggested that bulge migration transiently positioned OPdG opposite dC in the complementary strand, hindering formation of the M 1dG-2BD duplex, or alternatively, reverting rapidly formed intermediates in the OPdG to M 1dG reaction pathway when dC was placed opposite from OPdG. The approach of initially formed M 1dG-2BD or OPdG-2BD duplexes to an equilibrium mixture of the M 1dG-2BD and OPdG-2BD duplexes was monitored as a function of time, using NMR spectroscopy. Both samples attained equilibrium in approximately 140 days at pH 7 and 25 degrees C.

DNA sequence modulates the conformation of the food mutagen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in the recognition sequence of the NarI restriction enzyme

The conformations of C8-dG adducts of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) positioned in the C-X1-G, G-X2-C, and C-X3-C contexts in the C-G1-G2-C-G3-C-C recognition sequence of the NarI restriction enzyme were compared, using the oligodeoxynucleotides 5'-d(CTCXGCGCCATC)-3'.5'-d(GATGGCGCCGAG)-3', 5'-d(CTCGXCGCCATC)-3'.5'-d(GATGGCGCCGAG)-3', and 5'-d(CTCGGCXCCATC)-3'.5'-d(GATGGCGCCGAG)-3' (X is the C8-dG adduct of IQ). These were the NarIIQ1, NarIIQ2, and NarIIQ3 duplexes, respectively. In each instance, the glycosyl torsion angle chi for the IQ-modified dG was in the syn conformation. The orientations of the IQ moieties were dependent upon the conformations of torsion angles alpha' [N9-C8-N(IQ)-C2(IQ)] and beta' [C8-N(IQ)-C2(IQ)-N3(IQ)], which were monitored by the patterns of 1H NOEs between the IQ moieties and the DNA in the three sequence contexts. The conformational states of IQ torsion angles alpha' and beta' were predicted from the refined structures of the three adducts obtained from restrained molecular dynamics calculations, utilizing simulated annealing protocols. For the NarIIQ1 and NarIIQ2 duplexes, the alpha' torsion angles were predicted to be -176 +/- 8 degrees and -160 +/- 8 degrees , respectively, whereas for the NarIIQ3 duplex, torsion angle alpha' was predicted to be 159 +/- 7 degrees . Likewise, for the NarIIQ1 and NarIIQ2 duplexes, the beta' torsion angles were predicted to be -152 +/- 8 degrees and -164 +/- 7 degrees , respectively, whereas for the NarIIQ3 duplex, torsion angle beta' was predicted to be -23 +/- 8 degrees . Consequently, the conformations of the IQ adduct in the NarIIQ1 and NarIIQ2 duplexes were similar, with the IQ methyl protons and IQ H4 and H5 protons facing outward in the minor groove, whereas in the NarIIQ3 duplex, the IQ methyl protons and the IQ H4 and H5 protons faced into the DNA duplex, facilitating the base-displaced intercalated orientation of the IQ moiety [Wang, F., Elmquist, C. E., Stover, J. S., Rizzo, C. J., and Stone, M. P. (2006) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128, 10085-10095]. In contrast, for the NarIIQ1 and NarIIQ2 duplexes, the IQ moiety remained in the minor groove. These sequence-dependent differences suggest that base-displaced intercalation of the IQ adduct is favored when both the 5'- and 3'-flanking nucleotides in the complementary strand are guanines. These conformational differences may correlate with sequence-dependent differences in translesion replication.

Stereochemistry modulates the stability of reduced interstrand cross-links arising from R- and S-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-1,N2-propano-2'-deoxyguanosine in the 5'-CpG-3' DNA sequence

The solution structures of 5'-Cp-N2-dG-3'-R-(alpha)-CH3-propyl-5'-Cp-N2-dG-3' and 5'-Cp-N2-dG-3'-S-(alpha)-CH3-propyl-5'-Cp-N2-dG-3' interstrand DNA cross-links in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence were determined by NMR spectroscopy. These were utilized as chemically stable surrogates for the corresponding carbinolamine interstrand cross-links arising from the crotonaldehyde- and acetaldehyde-derived R- and S-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine adducts. The results provide an explanation for the observation that interstrand cross-link formation in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence by the R- and S-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine adducts is dependent upon stereochemistry, favoring the R-alpha-CH3-gamma-OH-1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine adduct [Kozekov, I. D., Nechev, L. V., Moseley, M. S., Harris, C. M., Rizzo, C. J., Stone, M. P., and Harris, T. M. (2003) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 50-61]. Molecular dynamics calculations, restrained by NOE-based distances and empirical restraints, revealed that both the 5'-Cp-N2-dG-3'-R-(alpha)-CH3-propyl-5'-Cp-N2-dG-3' and 5'-Cp-N2-dG-3'-S-(alpha)-CH3-propyl-5'-Cp-N2-dG-3' cross-links were located in the minor groove and retained Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds at the tandem cross-linked C.G base pairs. However, for the 5'-Cp-N2-dG-3'-R-(alpha)-CH3-propyl-5'-Cp-N2-dG-3' cross-link, the (alpha)-CH3 group was positioned in the center of the minor groove, whereas for the 5'-Cp-N2-dG-3'-S-(alpha)-CH3-propyl-5'-Cp-N2-dG-3' cross-link, the (alpha)-CH3 group was positioned in the 3' direction, showing steric interference with the DNA helix. The 5'-Cp-N2-dG-3'-S-(alpha)-CH3-propyl-5'-Cp-N2-dG-3' cross-link exhibited a lower thermal stability as evidenced by NMR spectroscopy as a function of temperature. The two cross-links also exhibited apparent differences in the conformation of the interstrand three-carbon cross-link, which may also contribute to the lower apparent thermodynamic stability of the 5'-Cp-N2-dG-3'-S-(alpha)-CH3-propyl-5'-Cp-N2-dG-3' cross-link.

Structure of the 1,4-Bis(2'-deoxyadenosin-N(6)-yl)-2S,3S-butanediol intrastrand DNA cross-link arising from butadiene diepoxide in the human N-ras codon 61 sequence

The 1,4-bis(2'-deoxyadenosin-N(6)-yl)-2S,3S-butanediol intrastrand DNA cross-link arises from the bis-alkylation of tandem N(6)-dA sites in DNA by R,R-butadiene diepoxide (BDO(2)). The oligodeoxynucleotide 5'-d(C(1)G(2)G(3)A(4)C(5)X(6)Y(7)G(8)A(9)A(10)G(11))-3'.5'-d(C(12)T(13)T(14)C(15)T(16)T(17)G(18)T(19)C(20)C(21)G(22))-3' contains the BDO(2) cross-link between the second and third adenines of the codon 61 sequence (underlined) of the human N-ras protooncogene and is named the (S,S)-BD-(61-2,3) cross-link (X,Y = cross-linked adenines). NMR analysis reveals that the cross-link is oriented in the major groove of duplex DNA. Watson-Crick base pairing is perturbed at base pair X(6).T(17), whereas base pairing is intact at base pair Y(7).T(16). The cross-link appears to exist in two conformations, in rapid exchange on the NMR time scale. In the first conformation, the beta-OH is predicted to form a hydrogen bond with T(16) O(4), whereas in the second, the beta-OH is predicted to form a hydrogen bond with T(17) O(4). In contrast to the (R,R)-BD-(61-2,3) cross-link in the same sequence (Merritt, W. K., Nechev, L. V., Scholdberg, T. A., Dean, S. M., Kiehna, S. E., Chang, J. C., Harris, T. M., Harris, C. M., Lloyd, R. S., and Stone, M. P. (2005) Biochemistry 44, 10081-10092), the anti-conformation of the two hydroxyl groups at C(beta) and C(gamma) with respect to the C(beta)-C(gamma) bond results in a decreased twist between base pairs X(6).T(17) and Y(7).T(16), and an approximate 10 degrees bending of the duplex. These conformational differences may account for the differential mutagenicity of the (S,S)- and (R,R)-BD-(61-2,3) cross-links and suggest that stereochemistry plays a role in modulating biological responses to these cross-links (Kanuri, M., Nechev, L. V., Tamura, P. J., Harris, C. M., Harris, T. M., and Lloyd, R. S. (2002) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 15, 1572-1580).

Orientation of the crotonaldehyde-derived N2-[3-Oxo-1(S)-methyl-propyl]-dG DNA adduct hinders interstrand cross-link formation in the 5'-CpG-3' sequence

The conformation of the crotonaldehyde-derived N(2)-[3-oxo-1(S)-methyl-propyl]-dG adduct in the oligodeoxynucleotide 5'-d(G(1)C(2)T(3)A(4)G(5)C(6)X(7)A(8)G(9)T(10)C(11)C(12))-3'.5'-d(G(13)G(14)A(15)C(16)T(17)C(18)G(19)C(20)T(21)A(22)G(23)C(2)(4))-3', where X = N(2)-[3-oxo-1(S)-methyl-propyl]-dG, is reported. This adduct arises from opening of the cyclic N(2)-(S-alpha-CH(3)-gamma-OH-1,N(2)-propano-2')-dG adduct when placed opposite dC in duplex DNA. This oligodeoxynucleotide contains the 5'-CpG-3' sequence in which the N(2)-(R-alpha-CH(3)-gamma-OH-1,N(2)-propano-2')-dG but not the N(2)-(S-alpha-CH(3)-gamma-OH-1,N(2)-propano-2')-dG adduct preferentially formed an interstrand carbinolamine cross-link [Kozekov, I. D., Nechev, L. V., Moseley, M. S., Harris, C. M., Rizzo, C. J., Stone, M. P., and Harris, T. M. (2003) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 50-61; Cho, Y.-J., Wang, H., Kozekov, I. D., Kurtz, A. J., Jacob, J., Voehler, M., Smith, J., Harris, T. M., Lloyd, R. S., Rizzo, C. J., and Stone, M. P. (2006) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 19, 195-208]. Analysis of (1)H NOE data, chemical shift perturbations, and deoxyribose pseudorotations and backbone torsion angles suggested the presence of a stable and ordered DNA conformation at pH 9.3 and 30 degrees C, with minimal conformational perturbation. The spectral line widths of the adduct protons were comparable to those of the oligodeoxynucleotide, suggesting that the correlation times of these protons were similar to those of the overall duplex. The crotonaldehydic-derived methyl protons showed NOEs in the 5'-direction to C(18) H1', G(19) H1', and G(19) H4' in the complementary strand of the duplex. The aldehyde proton of the adduct exhibited NOEs in the 3'-direction to A(8) H1' and A(8) H4' in the modified strand. All of these NOEs involved DNA protons facing the minor groove. Molecular dynamics calculations, restrained by distances and torsion angles derived from the NMR data, revealed that within the minor groove, the aldehyde of the N(2)-[3-oxo-1(S)-methyl-propyl]-dG adduct oriented in the 3'-direction, while the 1(S) methyl group oriented in the 5'-direction. This positioned the aldehyde distal to the G(19) exocyclic amine and provided a rationale as to why the N(2)-(S-alpha-CH(3)-gamma-OH-1,N(2)-propano-2')-dG adduct generated interstrand cross-links less efficiently than did the N(2)-(R-alpha-CH(3)-gamma-OH-1,N(2)-propano-2')-dG adduct.

Base-displaced intercalated structure of the food mutagen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in the recognition sequence of the NarI restriction enzyme, a hotspot for -2 bp deletions

The solution structure of the oligodeoxynucleotide 5'-d(CTCGGCXCCATC)-3'.5'-d(GATGGCGCCGAG)-3' containing the heterocyclic amine 8-[(3-methyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinolin-2-yl)amino]-2'-deoxyguanosine adduct (IQ) at the third guanine in the NarI restriction sequence, a hot spot for -2 bp frameshifts, is reported. Molecular dynamics calculations restrained by distances derived from 24 (1)H NOEs between IQ and DNA, and torsion angles derived from (3)J couplings, yielded ensembles of structures in which the adducted guanine was displaced into the major groove with its glycosyl torsion angle in the syn conformation. One proton of its exocyclic amine was approximately 2.8 A from an oxygen of the 5' phosphodiester linkage, suggesting formation of a hydrogen bond. The carcinogen-guanine linkage was defined by torsion angles alpha' [N9-C8-N(IQ)-C2(IQ)] of 159 +/- 7 degrees and beta' [C8-N(IQ)-C2(IQ)-N3(IQ)] of -23 +/- 8 degrees . The complementary cytosine was also displaced into the major groove. This allowed IQ to intercalate between the flanking C.G base pairs. The disruption of Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding was corroborated by chemical-shift perturbations for base aromatic protons in the complementary strand opposite to the modified guanine. Chemical-shift perturbations were also observed for (31)P resonances corresponding to phosphodiester linkages flanking the adduct. The results confirmed that IQ adopted a base-displaced intercalated conformation in this sequence context but did not corroborate the formation of a hydrogen bond between the IQ quinoline nitrogen and the complementary dC [Elmquist, C. E.; Stover, J. S.; Wang, Z.; Rizzo, C. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 11189-11201].