Equilibrium analysis of ethidium binding to DNA containing base mismatches and branches

Interactions of small molecules with DNA junctions

The four natural DNA bases (A, T, G and C) associate in base pairs (A=T and G≡C), allowing the attached DNA strands to assemble into the canonical double helix of DNA (or duplex-DNA, also known as B-DNA). The intrinsic supramolecular properties of nucleobases make other associations possible (such as base triplets or quartets), which thus translates into a diversity of DNA structures beyond B-DNA. To date, the alphabet of DNA structures is ripe with approximately 20 letters (from A- to Z-DNA); however, only a few of them are being considered as key players in cell biology and, by extension, valuable targets for chemical biology intervention. In the present review, we summarise what is known about alternative DNA structures (what are they? When, where and how do they fold?) and proceed to discuss further about those considered nowadays as valuable therapeutic targets. We discuss in more detail the molecular tools (ligands) that have been recently developed to target these structures, particularly the three- and four-way DNA junctions, in order to intervene in the biological processes where they are involved. This new and stimulating chemical biology playground allows for devising innovative strategies to fight against genetic diseases.

Fluorescence lifetime excitation cytometry by kinetic dithering

Flow cytometers are powerful high-throughput devices that capture spectroscopic information from individual particles or cells. These instruments provide a means of multi-parametric analyses for various cellular biomarkers or labeled organelles and cellular proteins. However, the spectral overlap of fluorophores limits the number of fluorophores that can be used simultaneously during experimentation. Time-resolved parameters enable the quantification of fluorescence decay kinetics, thus circumventing common issues associated with intensity-based measurements. This contribution introduces fluorescence lifetime excitation cytometry by kinetic dithering (FLECKD) as a method to capture multiple fluorescence lifetimes using a hybrid time-domain approach. The FLECKD approach excites fluorophores by delivering short pulses of light to cells or particles by rapid dithering and facilitates measurement of complex fluorescence decay kinetics by flow cytometry. Our simulations demonstrated a resolvable fluorescence lifetime value as low as 1.8 ns (±0.3 ns) with less than 20% absolute error. Using the FLECKD instrument, we measured the shortest average fluorescence lifetime value of 2.4 ns and found the system measurement error to be ±0.3 ns (SEM), from hundreds of monodisperse and chemically stable fluorescent microspheres. Additionally, we demonstrate the ability to detect two distinct excited state lifetimes from fluorophores in single cells using FLECKD. This approach presents a new ability to resolve multiple fluorescence lifetimes while retaining the fluidic throughput of a cytometry system. The ability to discriminate more than one average fluorescence lifetime expands the current capabilities of high-throughput and intensity-based cytometry assays as the need to tag one single cell with multiple fluorophores is now widespread.

Photophysics and binding constant determination of the homodimeric dye BOBO-3 and DNA oligonucleotides

The interactions between single- and double-stranded DNA and the trimethine cyanine homodimer dye, BOBO-3 (1,1'-(4,4,7,7-tetramethyl-4,7-diazaundecamethylene)-bis-4-[3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-(benzo-1,3-thiazole)-2-methylidene]pyridinium tetraiodide), have been investigated in detail using absorption and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The dye interacts with both single-stranded and double-stranded DNA, under a variety of conditions, with changes in its spectral characteristics. Our results indicated that the complex formed between BOBO-3 dye and DNA oligonucleotides could not be explained with a simple, single intercalation mechanism; therefore, different modes of interaction were proposed. By using time-resolved fluorescence methodology and in-depth analysis of the fluorescence decay traces, we obtained the contribution of the different forms of BOBO-3: free in solution, a low affinity, electrostatically driven interaction with DNA, and a full bis-intercalation mechanism within the DNA double helix. With this information, we applied the McGhee-Von Hippel theory for two overlapping, noncooperative binding modes to obtain equilibrium binding constants and the number of sites occupied for each binding mode. Binding constants for dye/dsDNA complexes in complete bis-intercalation and externally bound were (8.8 +/- 1.1) x 10(5) and (2.6 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M(-1), respectively. The corresponding recovered number of base pairs covered were 5.9 +/- 0.2 and 3.5 +/- 0.5 sites for each mode.

Selective recognition of pyrimidine-pyrimidine DNA mismatches by distance-constrained macrocyclic bis-intercalators

Binding of three macrocyclic bis-intercalators, derivatives of acridine and naphthalene, and two acyclic model compounds to mismatch-containing and matched duplex oligodeoxynucleotides was analyzed by thermal denaturation experiments, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry studies (ESI-MS) and fluorescent intercalator displacement (FID) titrations. The macrocyclic bis-intercalators bind to duplexes containing mismatched thymine bases with high selectivity over the fully matched ones, whereas the acyclic model compounds are much less selective and strongly bind to the matched DNA. Moreover, the results from thermal denaturation experiments are in very good agreement with the binding affinities obtained by ESI-MS and FID measurements. The FID results also demonstrate that the macrocyclic naphthalene derivative BisNP preferentially binds to pyrimidine–pyrimidine mismatches compared to all other possible base mismatches. This ligand also efficiently competes with a DNA enzyme (M.TaqI) for binding to a duplex with a TT-mismatch, as shown by competitive fluorescence titrations. Altogether, our results demonstrate that macrocyclic distance-constrained bis-intercalators are efficient and selective mismatch-binding ligands that can interfere with mismatch-binding enzymes.

Restrained torsional dynamics of nuclear DNA in living proliferative mammalian cells

Physical parameters, describing the state of chromatinized DNA in living mammalian cells, were revealed by in situ fluorescence dynamic properties of ethidium in its free and intercalated states. The lifetimes and anisotropy decays of this cationic chromophore were measured within the nuclear domain, by using the ultra-sensitive time-correlated single-photon counting technique, confocal microscopy, and ultra-low probe concentrations. We found that, in living cells: 1) free ethidium molecules equilibrate between extracellular milieu and nucleus, demonstrating that the cation is naturally transported into the nucleus; 2) the intercalation of ethidium into chromatinized DNA is strongly inhibited, with relaxation of the inhibition after mild (digitonin) cell treatment; 3) intercalation sites are likely to be located in chromatin DNA; and 4) the fluorescence anisotropy relaxation of intercalated molecules is very slow. The combination of fluorescence kinetic and fluorescence anisotropy dynamics indicates that the torsional dynamics of nuclear DNA is highly restrained in living cells.

1H-NMR determination of the thermodynamics of drug complexation with single-stranded and double-stranded oligonucleotides in solution: ethidium bromide complexation with the deoxytetranucleotides 5'-d(ApCpGpT), 5'-d(ApGpCpT), and 5'-d(TpGpCpA)

The thermodynamical parameters (free energy, enthalpy, and entropy) of complex formation between ethidium bromide and single-stranded and double-stranded tetranucleotides of different base sequence [5-d(TpGpCpA), 5-d(ApCpGpT), and 5-d(ApGpCpT) have been determined from the temperature dependencies of 500 MHz proton nmr chemical shifts. The analysis enables the contributions to be differentiated for the formation of different types of complexes (1:1, 2:1, 1.2 and 2:2) in aqueous solution. The results have been interpreted in terms of the main types of intermolecular interactions responsible for formation of the different complexes; van der Waals and electrostatic interactions are important for formation of complexes of ethidium bromide with single-stranded tetranucleotides, whereas van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions play a significant role in the binding of the dye to the tetramer duplexes.

Calorimetry of proteins and nucleic acids

The availability of sensitive calorimetric instrumentation has led to a considerable increase in thermodynamic studies of proteins, nucleic acids, and their interactions. This article reviews some of the recent contributions of calorimetry to characterizing the thermodynamic origins of protein and nucleic acid stability and conformational preferences, as well as the interactions of proteins with each other, with small molecules, and with nucleic acids.