Deciphering the Origins of Observed Heat Capacity Changes for Aminoglycoside Binding to Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Ribosomal RNA A-Sites: A Calorimetric, Computational, and Osmotic Stress Study

Analysis of the HIV-1 Genomic RNA Dimerization Initiation Site Binding to Aminoglycoside Antibiotics Using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) provides a sensitive, powerful, and accurate tool to suitably analyze the thermodynamic of RNA binding events. This approach does not require any modification or labeling of the system under analysis and is performed in solution. ITC is a very convenient technique that provides an accurate determination of binding parameters, as well as a complete thermodynamic profile of the molecular interactions. Here we show how this approach can be used to characterize the interactions between the dimerization initiation site (DIS) RNA localized within the HIV-1 viral genome and aminoglycoside antibiotics. Our ITC study showed that the 4,5-disubstituted 2-desoxystreptamine (2-DOS) aminoglycosides can bind the DIS with a nanomolar affinity and a high specificity.

Shape readout of AT-rich DNA by carbohydrates

Gene expression can be altered by small molecules that target DNA; sequence as well as shape selectivities are both extremely important for DNA recognition by intercalating and groove-binding ligands. We have characterized a carbohydrate scaffold (1) exhibiting DNA "shape readout" properties. Thermodynamic studies with 1 and model duplex DNAs demonstrate the molecule's high affinity and selectivity towards B* form (continuous AT-rich) DNA. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism (CD) titration, ultraviolet (UV) thermal denaturation, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry were used to characterize the binding of 1 with a B* form AT-rich DNA duplex d[5'-G2 A6 T6 C2 -3']. The binding constant was determined using ITC at various temperatures, salt concentrations, and pH. ITC titrations were fit using a two-binding site model. The first binding event was shown to have a 1:1 binding stoichiometry and was predominantly entropy-driven with a binding constant of approximately 10(8) M(-1) . ITC-derived binding enthalpies were used to obtain the binding-induced change in heat capacity (ΔCp ) of -225 ± 19 cal/mol·K. The ionic strength dependence of the binding constant indicated a significant electrolytic contribution in ligand:DNA binding, with approximately four to five ion pairs involved in binding. Ligand 1 displayed a significantly higher affinity towards AT-tract DNA over sequences containing GC inserts, and binding experiments revealed the order of binding affinity for 1 with DNA duplexes: contiguous B* form AT-rich DNA (d[5'-G2 A6 T6 C2 -3']) >B form alternate AT-rich DNA (d[5'-G2 (AT)6 C2- 3']) > A form GC-rich DNA (d[5'-A2 G6 C6 T2 -3']), demonstrating the preference of ligand 1 for B* form DNA.

Interactions of amikacin with the RNA model of the ribosomal A-site: computational, spectroscopic and calorimetric studies

Amikacin is a 2-deoxystreptamine aminoglycoside antibiotic possessing a unique l-HABA (l-(-)-γ-amino-α-hydroxybutyric acid) group and applied in the treatment of hospital-acquired infections. Amikacin influences bacterial translation by binding to the decoding region of the small ribosomal subunit that overlaps with the binding site of aminoacylated-tRNA (A-site). Here, we have characterized thermodynamics of interactions of amikacin with a 27-mer RNA oligonucleotide mimicking the aminoglycoside binding site in the bacterial ribosome. We applied isothermal titration and differential scanning calorimetries, circular dichroism and thermal denaturation experiments, as well as computer simulations. Thermal denaturation studies have shown that amikacin affects only slightly the melting temperatures of the A-site mimicking RNA model suggesting a moderate stabilization of RNA by amikacin. Isothermal titration calorimetry gives the equilibrium dissociation constants for the binding reaction between amikacin and the A-site oligonucleotide in the micromolar range with a favorable enthalpic contribution. However, for amikacin we observe a positive entropic contribution to binding, contrary to other aminoglycosides, paromomycin and ribostamycin. Circular dichroism spectra suggest that the observed increase in entropy is not caused by structural changes of RNA because amikacin binding does not destabilize the helicity of the RNA model. To investigate the origins of this positive entropy change we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent for the 27-mer RNA oligonucleotide mimicking one A-site and the crystal structure of an RNA duplex containing two A-sites. We observed that the diversity of the conformational states of the l-HABA group sampled in the simulations of the complex was larger than for the free amikacin in explicit water. Therefore, the larger flexibility of the l-HABA group in the bound form may contribute to an increase of entropy upon binding.

4'-O-substitutions determine selectivity of aminoglycoside antibiotics

Clinical use of 2-deoxystreptamine aminoglycoside antibiotics, which target the bacterial ribosome, is compromised by adverse effects related to limited drug selectivity. Here we present a series of 4',6'-O-acetal and 4'-O-ether modifications on glucopyranosyl ring I of aminoglycosides. Chemical modifications were guided by measuring interactions between the compounds synthesized and ribosomes harbouring single point mutations in the drug-binding site, resulting in aminoglycosides that interact poorly with the drug-binding pocket of eukaryotic mitochondrial or cytosolic ribosomes. Yet, these compounds largely retain their inhibitory activity for bacterial ribosomes and show antibacterial activity. Our data indicate that 4'-O-substituted aminoglycosides possess increased selectivity towards bacterial ribosomes and little activity for any of the human drug-binding pockets.

Thermodynamics and solvation dynamics of BIV TAR RNA-Tat peptide interaction

The interaction of the trans-activation responsive (TAR) region of bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) RNA with the Tat peptide is known to play important role in viral replication. Despite being thoroughly studied through a structural point of view, the nature of binding between BIV TAR RNA and the BIV Tat peptide requires information related to its thermodynamics and the nature of hydration around the TAR-Tat complex. In this context, we carried out the thermodynamic study of binding of the Tat peptide to the BIV TAR RNA hairpin through different calorimetric and spectroscopic measurements. Fluorescence titration of 2-aminopurine tagged BIV TAR RNA with the Tat peptide gives their binding affinity. The isothermal titration calorimetric experiment reveals the enthalpy of binding between BIV TAR RNA and the Tat peptide to be largely exothermic with the value of -11.7 (SEM 0.2) kcal mol(-1). Solvation dynamics measurements of BIV TAR RNA having 2-AP located at the bulge region have been carried out in the absence and presence of the BIV Tat peptide using the time correlated single photon counting technique. The solvent cage around the Tat binding site of RNA appears to be more rigid in the presence of the Tat peptide as compared to the free RNA. The displacement of solvent and ions on RNA due to peptide binding influences the entropic contributions to the total binding energy.

Calorimetric and spectroscopic studies of aminoglycoside binding to AT-rich DNA triple helices

Calorimetric and fluorescence techniques were used to characterize the binding of aminoglycosides-neomycin, paromomycin, and ribostamycin, with 5'-dA(12)-x-dT(12)-x-dT(12)-3' intramolecular DNA triplex (x = hexaethylene glycol) and poly(dA).2poly(dT) triplex. Our results demonstrate the following features: (1) UV thermal analysis reveals that the T(m) for triplex decreases with increasing pH value in the presence of neomycin, while the T(m) for the duplex remains unchanged. (2) The binding affinity of neomycin decreases with increased pH, although there is an increase in observed binding enthalpy. (3) ITC studies conducted in two buffers (sodium cacodylate and MOPS) yield the number of protonated drug amino groups (Deltan) as 0.29 and 0.40 for neomycin and paromomycin interaction with 5'-dA(12)-x-dT(12)-x-dT(12)-3', respectively. (4) The specific heat capacity change (DeltaC(p)) determined by ITC studies is negative, with more negative values at lower salt concentrations. From 100 mM to 250 mM KCl, the DeltaC(p) ranges from -402 to -60 cal/(mol K) for neomycin. At pH 5.5, a more positive DeltaC(p) is observed, with a value of -98 cal/(mol K) at 100 mM KCl. DeltaC(p) is not significantly affected by ionic strength. (5) Salt dependence studies reveal that there are at least three amino groups of neomycin participating in the electrostatic interactions with the triplex. (6) FID studies using thiazole orange were used to derive the AC(50) (aminoglycoside concentration needed to displace 50% of the dye from the triplex) values. Neomycin shows a seven fold higher affinity than paromomycin and eleven fold higher affinity than ribostamycin at pH 6.8. (7) Modeling studies, consistent with UV and ITC results, show the importance of an additional positive charge in triplex recognition by neomycin. The modeling and thermodynamic studies indicate that neomycin binding to the DNA triplex depends upon significant contributions from charge as well as shape complementarity of the drug to the DNA triplex Watson-Hoogsteen groove.

Probing anomalous structural features in polypurine tract-containing RNA-DNA hybrids with neomycin B

During (-)-strand DNA synthesis in retroviruses and Saccharomyces cerevisiae LTR retrotransposons, a purine rich region of the RNA template, known as the polypurine tract (PPT), is resistant to RNase H-mediated hydrolysis and subsequently serves as a primer for (+)-strand, DNA-dependent DNA synthesis. Although HIV-1 and Ty3 PPT sequences share no sequence similarity beyond the fact that both include runs of purine ribonucleotides, it has been suggested that these PPTs are processed by their cognate reverse transcriptases (RTs) through a common molecular mechanism. Here, we have used the aminoglycoside neomycin B (NB) to examine which structural features of the Ty3 PPT contribute to specific recognition and processing by its cognate RT. Using high-resolution NMR, direct infusion FTICR mass spectrometry, and isothermal titration calorimetry, we show that NB binds preferentially and selectively adjacent to the Ty3 3' PPT-U3 cleavage junction and in an upstream 5' region where the thumb subdomain of Ty3 RT putatively grips the substrate. Regions highlighted by NB on the Ty3 PPT are similar to those previously identified on the HIV-1 PPT sequence that are implicated as contact points for substrate binding by its RT. Our findings thus support the notion that common structural features of lentiviral and LTR-retrotransposon PPTs facilitate the interaction with their cognate RT.

Search for novel aminoglycosides by combining fragment-based virtual screening and 3D-QSAR scoring

Aminoglycosides are antibiotics targeting the 16S RNA A site of the bacterial ribosome. There have been many efforts directed toward design of their synthetic derivatives, however with only few successes. As RNA binders, aminoglycosides are also a difficult target for computational drug design, since most of the existing methods were developed for protein ligands. Here, we present an approach that allows for evading the problems related to still poorly developed RNA docking and scoring algorithms. It is aimed at identification of new molecular scaffolds potentially binding to the A site. The considered molecules are based on the neamine core, which is common for all aminoglycosides and provides specificity toward the binding site, linked with diverse molecular fragments via its O5 or O6 oxygen atom. Suitable fragments are selected with the use of 3D searches of molecular fragments library against two distinct pharmacophores designed on the basis of available structural data for aminoglycoside-RNA complexes. The compounds resulting from fragments assembly with neamine are then scored with a 3D-QSAR model developed using the biological data for known aminoglycoside derivatives. Twenty-one new potential ligands are obtained, four of which have predicted activities comparable to less potent aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Molecular recognition of a DNA:RNA hybrid: sub-nanomolar binding by a neomycin-methidium conjugate

A novel neomycin-methidium conjugate was synthesized. The covalent linkage of the aminoglycoside to an intercalator, a derivative of ethidium bromide, results in a new conjugate capable of selective recognition of the DNA:RNA hybrid duplex. Spectroscopic methods: UV, CD, fluorescence, and calorimetric techniques: DSC and ITC were used to characterize the sub-nanomolar binding displayed by the conjugate for the DNA:RNA hybrid duplex, poly(dA):poly(rU).

Targeting human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA with oxazole-containing macrocyclic compounds

Oxazole-containing macrocycles, which include the natural product telomestatin, represent a promising class of anticancer agents that target G-quadruplex DNA. Two synthetic hexaoxazole-containing macrocyclic compounds (HXDV and HXLV-AC) have been characterized with regard to their cytotoxic activities versus human cancer cells, as well as the mode, thermodynamics, and specificity with which they bind to the intramolecular (3+1) G-quadruplex structural motif formed in the presence of K+ ions by human telomeric DNA. Both compounds exhibit cytotoxic activities versus human lymphoblast (RPMI 8402) and oral carcinoma (KB3-1) cells, with associated IC50 values ranging from 0.4 to 0.9microM. The compounds bind solely to the quadruplex nucleic acid form, but not to the duplex or triplex form. Binding to the quadruplex is associated with a stoichiometry of two ligand molecules per DNA molecule, with one ligand molecule binding to each end of the host quadruplex via a nonintercalative "terminal capping" mode of interaction. For both compounds, quadruplex binding is primarily entropy driven, while also being associated with a negative change in heat capacity. These thermodynamic properties reflect contributions from favorable ligand-induced alterations in the loop configurational entropies of the quadruplex, but not from changes in net hydration. The stoichiometry and mode of binding revealed by our studies have profound implications with regard to the number of ligand molecules that can potentially bind the 3-overhang region of human telomeric DNA.

Association of aminoglycosidic antibiotics with the ribosomal A-site studied with Brownian dynamics

Brownian dynamics methodology was applied to simulate the encounter of aminoglycosidic antibiotics with the ribosomal A-site RNA. Studied antibiotics included neamine, neomycin, ribostamycin and paromomycin which differ in chemical structure, the number of pseudo-sugar rings and the net charge. The influence of structural, electrostatic and hydrodynamic properties of antibiotics on the kinetics of their association with the ribosomal A-site was analyzed. The computed diffusion limited rates of association are of the order of 10(10)[Formula: see text] and they weakly depend on ionic strength. Prior to binding antibiotics often slide along the RNA groove with the time scale of approximately 10 ns per base pair in case of neamine. We observed that upon forming the encounter complex aminoglycosides displace from the binding pocket up to two Mg(2+) ions.

Defining the molecular forces that determine the impact of neomycin on bacterial protein synthesis: importance of the 2'-amino functionality

2-Deoxystreptamine (2-DOS) aminoglycosides exert their antibiotic actions by binding to the A site of the 16S rRNA and interfering with bacterial protein synthesis. However, the molecular forces that govern the antitranslational activities of aminoglycosides are poorly understood. Here, we describe studies aimed at elucidating these molecular forces. In this connection, we compare the bactericidal, antitranslational, and rRNA binding properties of the 4,5-disubstituted 2-DOS aminoglycoside neomycin (Neo) and a conformationally restricted analog of Neo (CR-Neo) in which the 2'-nitrogen atom is covalently conjugated to the 5''-carbon atom. The bactericidal potency of Neo exceeds that of CR-Neo, with this enhanced antibacterial activity reflecting a correspondingly enhanced antitranslational potency. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy studies suggest that the enhanced antitranslational potency of Neo relative to that of CR-Neo is due to a greater extent of drug-induced reduction in the mobilities of the nucleotides at positions 1492 and 1493 of the rRNA A site. Buffer- and salt-dependent binding studies, coupled with high-resolution structural information, point to electrostatic contacts between the 2'-amino functionality of Neo and the host rRNA as being an important modulator of 1492 and 1493 base mobilities and therefore antitranslational activities.

Binding of aminoglycosidic antibiotics to the oligonucleotide A-site model and 30S ribosomal subunit: Poisson-Boltzmann model, thermal denaturation, and fluorescence studies

The binding of paromomycin and similar antibiotics to the oligonucleotide A-site model and the small (30S) ribosomal subunit has been studied using continuum electrostatics methods. Crystallographic information from complexes of paromomycin, tobramycin, and Geneticin bound to an A-site oligonucleotide, and paromomycin and streptomycin complexed to the 30S subunit was used as a foundation to develop structures of similar antibiotics in the same ribosomal binding site. Relative binding free energies were calculated by combining the electrostatic contribution, which was obtained by solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, with a surface-area-dependent apolar term and contributions from conformational changes. These computed results showed good correlation with the experimental data resulting from fluorescence binding assays and thermal denaturation studies, demonstrating the ability of the Poisson-Boltzmann model to provide insight into the electrostatic mechanisms for aminoglycoside binding and direction for designing more effective antibiotics.

Effects of monovalent anions on a temperature-dependent heat capacity change for Escherichia coli SSB tetramer binding to single-stranded DNA

We have previously shown that the linkage of temperature-dependent protonation and DNA base unstacking equilibria contribute significantly to both the negative enthalpy change (DeltaH(obs)) and the negative heat capacity change (DeltaC(p,obs)) for Escherichia coli SSB homotetramer binding to single-stranded (ss) DNA. Using isothermal titration calorimetry we have now examined DeltaH(obs) over a much wider temperature range (5-60 degrees C) and as a function of monovalent salt concentration and type for SSB binding to (dT)(70) under solution conditions that favor the fully wrapped (SSB)(65) complex (monovalent salt concentration >or=0.20 M). Over this wider temperature range we observe a strongly temperature-dependent DeltaC(p,obs). The DeltaH(obs) decreases as temperature increases from 5 to 35 degrees C (DeltaC(p,obs) <0) but then increases at higher temperatures up to 60 degrees C (DeltaC(p,obs) >0). Both salt concentration and anion type have large effects on DeltaH(obs) and DeltaC(p,obs). These observations can be explained by a model in which SSB protein can undergo a temperature- and salt-dependent conformational transition (below 35 degrees C), the midpoint of which shifts to higher temperature (above 35 degrees C) for SSB bound to ssDNA. Anions bind weakly to free SSB, with the preference Br(-) > Cl(-) > F(-), and these anions are then released upon binding ssDNA, affecting both DeltaH(obs) and DeltaC(p,obs). We conclude that the experimentally measured values of DeltaC(p,obs) for SSB binding to ssDNA cannot be explained solely on the basis of changes in accessible surface area (ASA) upon complex formation but rather result from a series of temperature-dependent equilibria (ion binding, protonation, and protein conformational changes) that are coupled to the SSB-ssDNA binding equilibrium. This is also likely true for many other protein-nucleic acid interactions.

Binding-linked protonation of a DNA minor-groove agent

The energetics for binding of a diphenyl diamidine antitrypanosomal agent CGP 40215A to DNA have been studied by spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and surface plasmon resonance biosensor methods. Both amidines are positively charged under experimental conditions, but the linking group for the two phenyl amidines has a pK(a) of 6.3 that is susceptible to a protonation process. Spectroscopic studies indicate an increase of 2.7 pK(a) units in the linking group when the compound binds to an A/T minor-groove site. Calorimetric titrations in different buffers and pH conditions support the proton-linkage process and are in a good agreement with spectroscopic titrations. The two methods established a proton-uptake profile as a function of pH. The exothermic enthalpy of complex formation varies with different pH conditions. The observed binding enthalpy increases as a function of temperature indicating a negative heat capacity change that is typical for DNA minor-groove binders. Solvent accessible surface area calculations suggest that surface burial accounts for about one-half of the observed intrinsic negative heat capacity change. Biosensor and calorimetric experiments indicate that the binding affinities vary with pH values and salt concentrations due to protonation and electrostatic interactions. The surface plasmon resonance binding studies indicate that the charge density per phosphate in DNA hairpins is smaller than that in polymers. Energetic contributions from different factors were also estimated for the ligand/DNA complex.

Survey of the year 2004: literature on applications of isothermal titration calorimetry

The market for commercially available isothermal titration calorimeters continues to grow as new applications and methodologies are developed. Concomitantly the number of users (and abusers) increases dramatically, resulting in a steady increase in the number of publications in which isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) plays a role. In the present review, we will focus on areas where ITC is making a significant contribution and will highlight some interesting applications of the technique. This overview of papers published in 2004 also discusses current issues of interest in the development of ITC as a tool of choice in the determination of the thermodynamics of molecular recognition and interaction.