The oxidation potential of adenosine and adenosine-thymidine base pair in chloroform solution

Hole Transfer and the Resulting DNA Damage

In this review, we focus on the one-electron oxidation of DNA, which is a multipart event controlled by several competing factors. We will discuss the oxidation free energies of the four nucleobases and the electron detachment from DNA, influenced by specific interactions like hydrogen bonding and stacking interactions with neighboring sites in the double strand. The formation of a radical cation (hole) which can migrate through DNA (hole transport), depending on the sequence-specific effects and the allocation of the final oxidative damage, is also addressed. Particular attention is given to the one-electron oxidation of ds-ODN containing G:C pairs, including the complex mechanism of the deprotonation vs. hydration steps of a G:C•+ pair, as well as to the modes of formation of the two guanyl radical tautomers after deprotonation. Among the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in aerobic organisms by cellular metabolisms, several oxidants react with DNA. The mechanism of stable product formation and their use as biomarkers of guanine oxidation in DNA damage are also addressed.

Quantum Chemical Insights into DNA Nucleobase Oxidation: Bridging Theory and Experiment

The oxidation free energies of DNA nucleobases in aqueous solution are still matter of extensive discussion because of the contrasting results reported so far. With the aim of settling a longstanding debate about the oxidation potentials of DNA constituents, herein we report the results of state-of-the-art DFT-based molecular dynamics simulations, in which the whole solvent environment is modeled at the atomistic level, by using DFT supercell calculations, with periodic boundary conditions. Calculated vertical ionization energies are very close to those observed by photoelectron spectroscopy both in the gas phase and in solution. One-electron oxidation free energies in aqueous solution agree well with the results of differential pulse voltammetry measurements and with those inferred by photoelectron spectroscopy with the aid of theoretical computations to estimate vibrational relaxation.

Hydroxyl Radical vs. One-Electron Oxidation Reactivities in an Alternating GC Double-Stranded Oligonucleotide: A New Type Electron Hole Stabilization

We examined the reaction of hydroxyl radicals (HO•) and sulfate radical anions (SO4•-), which is generated by ionizing radiation in aqueous solutions under anoxic conditions, with an alternating GC doubled-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (ds-ODN), i.e., the palindromic 5'-d(GCGCGC)-3'. In particular, the optical spectra of the intermediate species and associated kinetic data in the range of ns to ms were obtained via pulse radiolysis. Computational studies by means of density functional theory (DFT) for structural and time-dependent DFT for spectroscopic features were performed on 5'-d(GCGC)-3'. Comprehensively, our results suggest the addition of HO• to the G:C pair moiety, affording the [8-HO-G:C]• detectable adduct. The previous reported spectra of one-electron oxidation of a variety of ds-ODN were assigned to [G(-H+):C]• after deprotonation. Regarding 5'-d(GCGCGC)-3' ds-ODN, the spectrum at 800 ns has a completely different spectral shape and kinetic behavior. By means of calculations, we assigned the species to [G:C/C:G]•+, in which the electron hole is predicted to be delocalized on the two stacked base pairs. This transient species was further hydrated to afford the [8-HO-G:C]• detectable adduct. These remarkable findings suggest that the double-stranded alternating GC sequences allow for a new type of electron hole stabilization via delocalization over the whole sequence or part of it.

The Time Scale of Electronic Resonance in Oxidized DNA as Modulated by Solvent Response: An MD/QM-MM Study

The time needed to establish electronic resonant conditions for charge transfer in oxidized DNA has been evaluated by molecular dynamics simulations followed by QM/MM computations which include counterions and a realistic solvation shell. The solvent response is predicted to take ca. 800-1000 ps to bring two guanine sites into resonance, a range of values in reasonable agreement with the estimate previously obtained by a kinetic model able to correctly reproduce the observed yield ratios of oxidative damage for several sequences of oxidized DNA.

Dependence of Fluorescence Quenching of CY3 Oligonucleotide Conjugates on the Oxidation Potential of the Stacking Base Pair

To understand the complex fluorescence properties of astraphloxin (CY3)-labelled oligonucleotides, it is necessary to take into account the redox properties of the nucleobases. In oligonucleotide hybrids, we observed a dependence of the fluorescence intensity on the oxidation potential of the neighbouring base pair. For the series I < A < G < 8-oxoG, the extent of fluorescence quenching follows the trend of decreasing oxidation potentials. In a series of 7 nt hybrids, stacking interactions of CY3 with perfect match and mismatch base pairs were found to stabilise the hybrid by 7–8 kJ/mol. The fluorescence measurements can be explained by complex formation resulting in fluorescence quenching that prevails over the steric effect of a reduced excited state trans-cis isomerisation, which was expected to increase the fluorescence efficiency of the dye when stacking to a base pair. This can be explained by the fact that, in a double strand, base pairing and stacking cause a dramatic change in the oxidation potential of the nucleobases. In single-molecule fluorescence measurements, the oxidation of G to 8-oxoG was observed as a result of photoinduced electron transfer and subsequent chemical reactions. Our results demonstrate that covalently linked CY3 is a potent oxidant towards dsDNA. Sulfonated derivatives should be used instead.

The Dynamics of Hole Transfer in DNA

High-energy radiation and oxidizing agents can ionize DNA. One electron oxidation gives rise to a radical cation whose charge (hole) can migrate through DNA covering several hundreds of Å, eventually leading to irreversible oxidative damage and consequent disease. Understanding the thermodynamic, kinetic and chemical aspects of the hole transport in DNA is important not only for its biological consequences, but also for assessing the properties of DNA in redox sensing or labeling. Furthermore, due to hole migration, DNA could potentially play an important role in nanoelectronics, by acting as both a template and active component. Herein, we review our work on the dynamics of hole transfer in DNA carried out in the last decade. After retrieving the thermodynamic parameters needed to address the dynamics of hole transfer by voltammetric and spectroscopic experiments and quantum chemical computations, we develop a theoretical methodology which allows for a faithful interpretation of the kinetics of the hole transport in DNA and is also capable of taking into account sequence-specific effects.

Strong Enhancement of π-Electron Donor/Acceptor Ability by Complementary DD/AA Hydrogen Bonding

π-Conjugated organic materials possess a wide range of tunable optoelectronic properties which are dictated by their molecular structure and supramolecular arrangement. While many efforts have been put into tuning the molecular structure to achieve the desired properties, rational supramolecular control remains a challenge. Here, we report a novel series of supramolecular materials formed by the co-assembly of weak π-electron donor (indolo[2,3-a]carbazole) and acceptor (aromatic o-quinones) molecules via complementary hydrogen bonding. The resulting polarization creates a drastic perturbation of the molecular energy levels, causing strong charge transfer in the weak donor-acceptor pairs. This leads to a significant lowering (up to 1.5 eV) of the band gaps, intense absorption in the near-IR region, very short π-stacking distances (≥3.15 Å), and strong ESR signals in the co-crystals. By varying the strength of the acceptor, the characteristics of the complexes can be tuned between intrinsic, gate-, or light-induced semiconductivity with a p-type or ambipolar transport mechanism.

Transient and Enduring Electronic Resonances Drive Coherent Long Distance Charge Transport in Molecular Wires

It is shown that the yields of oxidative damage observed in double-stranded DNA oligomers consisting of two guanines separated by adenine-thymine (A:T) _n bridges of various lengths are reliably accounted for by a multistep mechanism, in which transient and nontransient electronic resonances induce charge transport and solvent relaxation stabilizes the hole transfer products. The proposed multistep mechanism leads to results in excellent agreement with the observed yield ratios for both the short and the long distance regime; the almost distance independence of yield ratios for longer bridges ( n ≥ 3) is the consequence of the significant energy decrease of the electronic levels of the bridge, which, as the bridge length increases, become quasi-degenerate with those of the acceptor and donor groups (enduring resonance). These results provide significant guidelines for the design of novel DNA sequences to be employed in organic electronics.

Single-Stranded DNA Oligonucleotides Retain Rise Coordinates Characteristic of Double Helices

The structures of single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides from dimeric to hexameric sequences have been thoroughly investigated. Computations performed at the density functional level of theory including dispersion forces and solvation show that single-stranded helices adopt conformations very close to crystallographic B-DNA, with rise coordinates amounting up to 3.3 Å. Previous results, suggesting that single strands should be shorter than double helices, largely originated from the incompleteness of the adopted basis set. Although sensible deviations with respect to standard B-DNA are predicted, computations indicate that sequences rich in stacked adenines are the most ordered ones, favoring the B-DNA pattern and inducing regular arrangements also on flanking nucleobases. Several structural properties of double helices rich in adenine are indeed already reflected by the corresponding single strands.

Modeling DNA oxidation in water

A novel set of hole-site energies and electronic coupling parameters to be used, in the framework of the simplest tight-binding approximation, for predicting DNA hole trapping efficiencies and rates of hole transport in oxidized DNA is proposed. The novel parameters, significantly different from those previously reported in the literature, have been inferred from reliable density functional calculations, including both the sugar-phosphate ionic backbone and the effects of the aqueous environment. It is shown that most of the experimental oxidation free energies of DNA tracts and of oligonucleotides available from photoelectron spectroscopy and voltammetric measurements are reproduced with great accuracy, without the need for introducing sequence dependent parameters.

Asymmetric tandem hemiaminal-heterocyclization-aza-Mannich reaction of 2-formylbenzonitriles and amines using chiral phase transfer catalysis: an experimental and theoretical study

The first asymmetric synthesis of 3-amino-substituted isoindolinones was accomplished via cascade hemiaminal-heterocyclization-intramolecular aza-Mannich reaction of amines and 2-formylbenzonitriles using chiral phase transfer conditions (PTC).

Hole delocalization over adenine tracts in single stranded DNA oligonucleotides

Adiabatic ionization energies of single stranded DNA oligonucleotides containing adenine tracts of different sizes have been computed at the DFT level and compared with the oxidation potentials determined by differential pulse voltammetry. Geometry optimizations have been performed at the full quantum mechanical level, including the sugar phosphate backbone and solvent effects. The observed progressive lowering of the ionization energy upon increasing the number of consecutive adenines is well predicted, the computed ionization potential shifts being in very good agreement with the experimental outcomes, both by using pure and hybrid functionals. The spin density of the oligonucleotide radical cations is distributed almost over the whole adenine tract, forming delocalized polarons.

π-Cooperativity effect on the base stacking interactions in DNA: is there a novel stabilization factor coupled with base pairing H-bonds?

The results from absolutely localized molecular orbital (ALMO)-energy decomposition analysis (EDA) and ALMO-charge transfer analysis (CTA) at M06-2X/cc-pVTZ level reveal that double-proton transfer (DPT) reactions through base pairing H-bonds have nonignorable effects on the stacking energies of dinucleotide steps, which introduces us to a novel stabilization (or destabilization) factor in the DNA duplex. Thus, intra- and inter-strand base stacking interactions are coalesced with each other mediated by H-bridged quasirings between base pairs. Changes in stacking energies of dinucleotide steps depending on the positions of H atoms are due to variations in local aromaticities of individual nucleobases, manifesting π-cooperativity effects. CT analyses show that dispersion forces in dinucleotide steps can lead to radical changes in the redox properties of nucleobases, in particular those of adenine and guanine stacked dimers in a strand. Besides Watson-Crick rules, novel base pairing rules were propounded by considering CT results. According to these, additional base pairing through π-stacks of nucleobases in dinucleotide steps does not cause any intrinsic oxidative damage to the associated nucleobases throughout DPT.

Delocalized hole domains in Guanine-rich DNA oligonucleotides

Differential pulse voltammetries of guanine-rich single- and double-stranded oligonucleotides containing up to six consecutive guanines are reported. The observed progressive lowering of the first voltammetric peak potential as the number of adjacent guanines increases unambiguously points toward the establishment of delocalized hole domains; the hole stabilization energy is ca. 0.1 eV per GG step, significantly lower than that observed for AA steps.

The association constant of 5',8-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine with cytidine

The association of 5′,8-cyclo-2′-deoxyguanosine (cdG), a DNA tandem lesion, with its complementary base cytosine has been studied by voltammetry and NMR in chloroform, using properly silylated derivatives of the two nucleobases for increasing their solubilities. Both voltammetric data and NMR titrations indicated that the Watson-Crick complex of cytidine with cdG is weaker than that with guanosine, the difference being approximately of one order of magnitude between the two association constants.

Vibronic couplings and coherent electron transfer in bridged systems

A computational strategy to analyze the dynamics of coherent electron transfer processes in bridged systems, involving three or more electronic states, is presented.

Stacking interactions between adenines in oxidized oligonucleotides

The effects of stacking interactions on the oxidation potentials of single strand oligonucleotides containing up to four consecutive adenines, alternated with thymines and cytosines in different sequences and ratios, have been determined by means of differential pulse voltammetry. Voltammetric measurements point toward the establishment in solution of structured oligonucleotide conformations, in which the nucleobases are well stacked altogether. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm that finding, indicating that single strands assume geometrical parameters characteristic of the B-DNA form. The analysis of the voltammetric signals in terms of a simple effective tight binding quantum model leads one to infer a robust set of parameters for treating hole transfer in one-electron-oxidized DNA containing adenines and thymines.

1,8-Naphthyridine-2,7-diamine: a potential universal reader of Watson-Crick base pairs for DNA sequencing by electron tunneling

With the aid of Density Functional Theory (DFT), we designed 1,8-naphthyridine-2,7-diamine as a recognition molecule to read DNA base pairs for genomic sequencing by electron tunneling. NMR studies show that it can form stable triplets with both A : T and G : C base pairs through hydrogen bonding. Our results suggest that the naphthyridine molecule should be able to function as a universal base pair reader in a tunneling gap, generating distinguishable signatures under electrical bias for each of DNA base pairs.

Fluorescent C-linked C8-aryl-guanine probe for distinguishing syn from anti structures in duplex DNA

The synthesis and optical properties of the carbon (C)-linked C(8)-(2"-benzo[b]thienyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine ((Bth)dG), which acts as a fluorescent reporter of syn versus anti glycosidic conformations in duplex DNA, are described. In the syn-conformation, the probe stabilizes a G:G mismatch, emits at ∼385 nm (excitation ∼285 nm), and shows an induced circular dichroism (ICD) signal at ∼320 nm. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations predict a wedge (W)-conformation for the mismatched duplex with the C(8)-benzo[b]thienyl moiety residing in the minor groove. In contrast, the probe destabilizes the duplex when base paired with its normal pyrimidine partner C. With flanking purine bases, a major groove B-type duplex is favored with (Bth)dG present in the anti-conformation emitting at ∼413 nm (excitation ∼326 nm) and no ICD signal. However, with flanking pyrimidine bases, (Bth)dG adopts the syn-conformation when base paired with C, and MD simulations predict a base-displaced stacked (S)-conformation, with the opposing C flipped out of the helix. The different duplex (B-, S-, and W-) conformers formed upon incorporation of (Bth)dG are known to play a critical role in the biological activity of N-linked C8-dG adducts formed by arylamine carcinogens. Bulky environment-sensitive fluorescent C(8)-dG adducts that mimic the duplex structures formed by carcinogens may be useful in luminescence-based DNA polymerase assays.

Determination of the electron-detachment energies of 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate anion: influence of the conformation

The vertical electron-detachment energies (VDEs) of the singly charged 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate anion (dGMP-) are determined by using the multiconfigurational second-order perturbation CASPT2 method at the MP2 ground-state equilibrium geometry of relevant conformers. The origin of the unique low-energy band in the gas phase photoelectron spectrum of dGMP-, with maximum at around 5.05 eV, is unambiguously assigned to electron detachment from the highest occupied molecular orbital of pi-character belonging to guanine fragment of a syn conformation. The presence of a short H-bond linking the 2-amino and phosphate groups, the guanine moiety acting as proton donor, is precisely responsible for the pronounced decrease of the computed VDE with respect to that obtained in other conformations. As a whole, the present research supports the nucleobase as the site with the lowest ionization potential in negatively charged (deprotonated) nucleotides at the most stable conformations as well as for B-DNA-like type arrangements, in agreement with experimental evidence.