1
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Lehner AF. Reactions of deoxyribonucleotide bases with sulfooxymethyl or halomethyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce unwinding of DNA supercoils. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024; 34:423-443. [PMID: 38133498 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2023.2297836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Torsional stress in double-stranded DNA enables and regulates facets of chromosomal metabolism, replication, and transcription and requires regulatory enzymatic systems including topoisomerases and histone methyltransferases. As such, this machinery may be subject to deleterious effects from reactive mutagens, including ones from carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) adduct formation with DNA. Supercoiled plasmid DNA was investigated for its torsional responses to adducts formed in vitro from PAH benzylic carbocation reactive intermediates created spontaneously by release of leaving groups. PAH sulfate esters were found to (1) unwind DNA in a concentration dependent manner, and (2) provide maximum unwinding in a pattern consistent with known carcinogenicities of the parent PAHs, that is, 6-methylbenzo[a]pyrene > 7,12-methylbenz[a]anthracene > 3-methylcholanthrene > 9-methylanthracene > 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene > 1-methylpyrene. Supercoil unwinding was demonstrated to be dependent on the presence of sulfate or chloride leaving groups such that reactive carbocations were generated in situ by hydrolysis. In silico modeling of intercalative complex topology showed PAH benzylic carbocation reactive functional groups in alignment with target nucleophiles on guanine bases in a 5'-dCdG-3' pocket in agreement with known formation of nucleotide adducts. Inhibitory or modulatory effects on PAH-induced supercoil unwinding were seen with ascorbic acid and an experimental antineoplastic agent Antineoplaston A10 in agreement with their known anticarcinogenic properties. In summary, the reactive PAH intermediates studied here undoubtedly participate in well-known mutational mechanisms such as frameshifts and apurinic site generation. However, they are also capable of random disruption of chromosomal supercoiling in a manner consistent with the known carcinogenicities of the parent compounds, and this mechanism may represent an additional detrimental motif worthy of further study for a more complete understanding of chemical carcinogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas F Lehner
- Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, Toxicology Section, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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2
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Kolbeck PJ, Tišma M, Analikwu BT, Vanderlinden W, Dekker C, Lipfert J. Supercoiling-dependent DNA binding: quantitative modeling and applications to bulk and single-molecule experiments. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:59-72. [PMID: 38000393 PMCID: PMC10783501 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA stores our genetic information and is ubiquitous in applications, where it interacts with binding partners ranging from small molecules to large macromolecular complexes. Binding is modulated by mechanical strains in the molecule and can change local DNA structure. Frequently, DNA occurs in closed topological forms where topology and supercoiling add a global constraint to the interplay of binding-induced deformations and strain-modulated binding. Here, we present a quantitative model with a straight-forward numerical implementation of how the global constraints introduced by DNA topology modulate binding. We focus on fluorescent intercalators, which unwind DNA and enable direct quantification via fluorescence detection. Our model correctly describes bulk experiments using plasmids with different starting topologies, different intercalators, and over a broad range of intercalator and DNA concentrations. We demonstrate and quantitatively model supercoiling-dependent binding in a single-molecule assay, where we directly observe the different intercalator densities going from supercoiled to nicked DNA. The single-molecule assay provides direct access to binding kinetics and DNA supercoil dynamics. Our model has broad implications for the detection and quantification of DNA, including the use of psoralen for UV-induced DNA crosslinking to quantify torsional tension in vivo, and for the modulation of DNA binding in cellular contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline J Kolbeck
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
- Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Miloš Tišma
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Brian T Analikwu
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Vanderlinden
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
- Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cees Dekker
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Lipfert
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
- Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
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3
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Costa EA, Gonçalves AP, Batista JAD, Bazoni RF, Santos AA, Rocha MS. New Insights into the Mechanism of Action of the Drug Chloroquine: Direct Interaction with DNA and Cytotoxicity. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:3512-3521. [PMID: 35533378 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c01119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Chloroquine (CLQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCLQ) are compounds largely employed in the treatment of various human diseases for decades. Nevertheless, a number of intrinsic details concerning their mechanisms of action, especially at the molecular level, are still unknown or have presented controversial results in the literature. Using optical tweezers, here, we investigate at the single-molecule level the molecular mechanism of action of the drug CLQ in its intrinsic interaction with the double-stranded (ds)DNA molecule, one of its targets inside cells, determining the binding modes and the physicochemical (binding) parameters of the interaction. In particular, we show that the ionic strength of the surrounding medium strongly influences such interaction, changing even the main binding mode. In addition, the cytotoxicity of CLQ against three different cell lines was also investigated here, allowing one to evaluate and compare the effect of the drug on the cell viability. In particular, we show that CLQ is highly cytotoxic at a very low (a few micromolar) concentration range for all cell lines tested. These results were rigorously compared to the equivalent ones obtained for the closely related compound hydroxychloroquine (HCLQ), allowing a critical comparison between the action of these drugs at the molecular and cellular levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethe A Costa
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Amanda P Gonçalves
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Josiane A D Batista
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36.036-900, Brazil
| | - Raniella F Bazoni
- Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, São Mateus, Espírito Santo 29.932-900, Brazil
| | - Anésia A Santos
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Márcio S Rocha
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
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4
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Kolbeck PJ, Vanderlinden W, Gemmecker G, Gebhardt C, Lehmann M, Lak A, Nicolaus T, Cordes T, Lipfert J. Molecular structure, DNA binding mode, photophysical properties and recommendations for use of SYBR Gold. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:5143-5158. [PMID: 33905507 PMCID: PMC8136779 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SYBR Gold is a commonly used and particularly bright fluorescent DNA stain, however, its chemical structure is unknown and its binding mode to DNA remains controversial. Here, we solve the structure of SYBR Gold by NMR and mass spectrometry to be [2-[N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N-propylamino]-4-[2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-(benzo-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-methylidene]-1-phenyl-quinolinium] and determine its extinction coefficient. We quantitate SYBR Gold binding to DNA using two complementary approaches. First, we use single-molecule magnetic tweezers (MT) to determine the effects of SYBR Gold binding on DNA length and twist. The MT assay reveals systematic lengthening and unwinding of DNA by 19.1° ± 0.7° per molecule upon binding, consistent with intercalation, similar to the related dye SYBR Green I. We complement the MT data with spectroscopic characterization of SYBR Gold. The data are well described by a global binding model for dye concentrations ≤2.5 μM, with parameters that quantitatively agree with the MT results. The fluorescence increases linearly with the number of intercalated SYBR Gold molecules up to dye concentrations of ∼2.5 μM, where quenching and inner filter effects become relevant. In summary, we provide a mechanistic understanding of DNA-SYBR Gold interactions and present practical guidelines for optimal DNA detection and quantitative DNA sensing applications using SYBR Gold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline J Kolbeck
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Willem Vanderlinden
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Gerd Gemmecker
- Bavarian NMR Center (BNMRZ), Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Christian Gebhardt
- Physical and Synthetic Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Martin Lehmann
- Plant Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Aidin Lak
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Nicolaus
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Thorben Cordes
- Physical and Synthetic Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jan Lipfert
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience, LMU Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
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5
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Hridya VM, Hynes JT, Mukherjee A. Dynamical Recrossing in the Intercalation Process of the Anticancer Agent Proflavine into DNA. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:10904-10914. [PMID: 31671261 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b08470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Intercalation into DNA is the interaction mode of some anthracycline antibiotics. Recently, the molecular mechanism of this process was explored using the static free energy landscape. Here we explore the dynamical effects in the intercalation of proflavine into DNA by calculating the transmission coefficient κ-providing a measure of the departure from transition state theory for the reaction rate constant-by examination of the recrossing events at the transition state. For that purpose, we first found the accurate transition state of this complex system-as judged by a committor analysis-using a set of all-atom simulations of total length 6.3 ms. In a subsequent calculation of the transmission coefficient κ in another extensive set of simulations the small value κ = 0.1 was found, indicating a significant departure from TST. Comparison of this result with Grote-Hynes and Kramers theories shows that neither theory is able to capture this complex system's recrossing events; the source of this striking failure is discussed, as are related aspects of the mechanism. This study suggests that, for biomolecular processes similar to this, dynamical effects essential for the process are complex in nature and require novel approaches for their elucidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- V M Hridya
- Department of Chemistry , Indian Institute of Science Education and Research , Pune 411008 , India
| | - James T Hynes
- Department of Chemistry , University of Colorado , Boulder , Colorado 80309-0215 , United States.,PASTEUR, Department of Chemistry, École normale supérieure , PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS , 75005 Paris , France
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry , Indian Institute of Science Education and Research , Pune 411008 , India
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6
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The promotional effect of SO42− on N2 selectivity for selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia over RuO2/ZrO2 catalyst. RESEARCH ON CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11164-019-03991-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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7
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Anticooperative Binding Governs the Mechanics of Ethidium-Complexed DNA. Biophys J 2019; 116:1394-1405. [PMID: 30954211 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA intercalators bind nucleic acids by stacking between adjacent basepairs. This causes a considerable elongation of the DNA backbone as well as untwisting of the double helix. In the past few years, single-molecule mechanical experiments have become a common tool to characterize these deformations and to quantify important parameters of the intercalation process. Parameter extraction typically relies on the neighbor-exclusion model, in which a bound intercalator prevents intercalation into adjacent sites. Here, we challenge the neighbor-exclusion model by carefully quantifying and modeling the force-extension and twisting behavior of single ethidium-complexed DNA molecules. We show that only an anticooperative ethidium binding that allows for a disfavored but nonetheless possible intercalation into nearest-neighbor sites can consistently describe the mechanical behavior of intercalator-bound DNA. At high ethidium concentrations and elevated mechanical stress, this causes an almost complete occupation of nearest-neighbor sites and almost a doubling of the DNA contour length. We furthermore show that intercalation into nearest-neighbor sites needs to be considered when estimating intercalator parameters from zero-stress elongation and twisting data. We think that the proposed anticooperative binding mechanism may also be applicable to other intercalating molecules.
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8
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Kriegel F, Vanderlinden W, Nicolaus T, Kardinal A, Lipfert J. Measuring Single-Molecule Twist and Torque in Multiplexed Magnetic Tweezers. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1814:75-98. [PMID: 29956228 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8591-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic tweezers permit application of precisely calibrated stretching forces to nucleic acid molecules tethered between a surface and superparamagnetic beads. In addition, magnetic tweezers can control the tethers' twist. Here, we focus on recent extensions of the technique that expand the capabilities of conventional magnetic tweezers by enabling direct measurements of single-molecule torque and twist. Magnetic torque tweezers (MTT) still control the DNA or RNA tether's twist, but directly measure molecular torque by monitoring changes in the equilibrium rotation angle upon overwinding and underwinding of the tether. In freely orbiting magnetic tweezers (FOMT), one end of the tether is allowed to rotate freely, while still applying stretching forces and monitoring rotation angle. Both MTT and FOMT have provided unique insights into the mechanical properties, structural transitions, and interactions of DNA and RNA. Here, we provide step-by-step protocols to carry out FOMT and MTT measurements. In particular, we focus on multiplexed measurements, i.e., measurements that record data for multiple nucleic acid tethers at the same time, to improve statistics and to facilitate the observation of rare events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Kriegel
- Department of Physics, Nanosystems Initiative Munich, and Center for Nanoscience, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Willem Vanderlinden
- Department of Physics, Nanosystems Initiative Munich, and Center for Nanoscience, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Nicolaus
- Department of Physics, Nanosystems Initiative Munich, and Center for Nanoscience, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Angelika Kardinal
- Department of Physics, Nanosystems Initiative Munich, and Center for Nanoscience, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Lipfert
- Department of Physics, Nanosystems Initiative Munich, and Center for Nanoscience, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
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9
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Salerno D, Beretta GL, Zanchetta G, Brioschi S, Cristofalo M, Missana N, Nardo L, Cassina V, Tempestini A, Giovannoni R, Cerrito MG, Zaffaroni N, Bellini T, Mantegazza F. Platinum-Based Drugs and DNA Interactions Studied by Single-Molecule and Bulk Measurements. Biophys J 2017; 110:2151-61. [PMID: 27224480 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Platinum-containing molecules are widely used as anticancer drugs. These molecules exert cytotoxic effects by binding to DNA through various mechanisms. The binding between DNA and platinum-based drugs hinders the opening of DNA, and therefore, DNA duplication and transcription are severely hampered. Overall, impeding the above-mentioned important DNA mechanisms results in irreversible DNA damage and the induction of apoptosis. Several molecules, including multinuclear platinum compounds, belong to the family of platinum drugs, and there is a body of research devoted to developing more efficient and less toxic versions of these compounds. In this study, we combined different biophysical methods, including single-molecule assays (magnetic tweezers) and bulk experiments (ultraviolet absorption for thermal denaturation) to analyze the differential stability of double-stranded DNA in complex with either cisplatin or multinuclear platinum agents. Specifically, we analyzed how the binding of BBR3005 and BBR3464, two representative multinuclear platinum-based compounds, to DNA affects its stability as compared with cisplatin binding. Our results suggest that single-molecule approaches can provide insights into the drug-DNA interactions that underlie drug potency and provide information that is complementary to that generated from bulk analysis; thus, single-molecule approaches have the potential to facilitate the selection and design of optimized drug compounds. In particular, relevant differences in DNA stability at the single-molecule level are demonstrated by analyzing nanomechanically induced DNA denaturation. On the basis of the comparison between the single-molecule and bulk analyses, we suggest that transplatinated drugs are able to locally destabilize small portions of the DNA chain, whereas other regions are stabilized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giovanni L Beretta
- Dipartimento di Oncologia Sperimentale e Medicina Molecolare, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuliano Zanchetta
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Translazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Italy
| | - Simone Brioschi
- School of Medicine, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Natalia Missana
- School of Medicine, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Luca Nardo
- School of Medicine, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Valeria Cassina
- School of Medicine, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Nadia Zaffaroni
- Dipartimento di Oncologia Sperimentale e Medicina Molecolare, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Tommaso Bellini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Translazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Italy
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10
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Probing the mechanical properties, conformational changes, and interactions of nucleic acids with magnetic tweezers. J Struct Biol 2016; 197:26-36. [PMID: 27368129 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2016.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids are central to the storage and transmission of genetic information. Mechanical properties, along with their sequence, both enable and fundamentally constrain the biological functions of DNA and RNA. For small deformations from the equilibrium conformations, nucleic acids are well described by an isotropic elastic rod model. However, external forces and torsional strains can induce conformational changes, giving rise to a complex force-torque phase diagram. This review focuses on magnetic tweezers as a powerful tool to precisely determine both the elastic parameters and conformational transitions of nucleic acids under external forces and torques at the single-molecule level. We review several variations of magnetic tweezers, in particular conventional magnetic tweezers, freely orbiting magnetic tweezers and magnetic torque tweezers, and discuss their characteristic capabilities. We then describe the elastic rod model for DNA and RNA and discuss conformational changes induced by mechanical stress. The focus lies on the responses to torque and twist, which are crucial in the mechanics and interactions of nucleic acids and can directly be measured using magnetic tweezers. We conclude by highlighting several recent studies of nucleic acid-protein and nucleic acid-small-molecule interactions as further applications of magnetic tweezers and give an outlook of some exciting developments to come.
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11
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Almaqwashi AA, Paramanathan T, Rouzina I, Williams MC. Mechanisms of small molecule-DNA interactions probed by single-molecule force spectroscopy. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:3971-88. [PMID: 27085806 PMCID: PMC4872107 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a wide range of applications for non-covalent DNA binding ligands, and optimization of such interactions requires detailed understanding of the binding mechanisms. One important class of these ligands is that of intercalators, which bind DNA by inserting aromatic moieties between adjacent DNA base pairs. Characterizing the dynamic and equilibrium aspects of DNA-intercalator complex assembly may allow optimization of DNA binding for specific functions. Single-molecule force spectroscopy studies have recently revealed new details about the molecular mechanisms governing DNA intercalation. These studies can provide the binding kinetics and affinity as well as determining the magnitude of the double helix structural deformations during the dynamic assembly of DNA–ligand complexes. These results may in turn guide the rational design of intercalators synthesized for DNA-targeted drugs, optical probes, or integrated biological self-assembly processes. Herein, we survey the progress in experimental methods as well as the corresponding analysis framework for understanding single molecule DNA binding mechanisms. We discuss briefly minor and major groove binding ligands, and then focus on intercalators, which have been probed extensively with these methods. Conventional mono-intercalators and bis-intercalators are discussed, followed by unconventional DNA intercalation. We then consider the prospects for using these methods in optimizing conventional and unconventional DNA-intercalating small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali A Almaqwashi
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Ioulia Rouzina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Mark C Williams
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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12
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Arias-Gonzalez JR. Single-molecule portrait of DNA and RNA double helices. Integr Biol (Camb) 2015; 6:904-25. [PMID: 25174412 DOI: 10.1039/c4ib00163j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The composition and geometry of the genetic information carriers were described as double-stranded right helices sixty years ago. The flexibility of their sugar-phosphate backbones and the chemistry of their nucleotide subunits, which give rise to the RNA and DNA polymers, were soon reported to generate two main structural duplex states with biological relevance: the so-called A and B forms. Double-stranded (ds) RNA adopts the former whereas dsDNA is stable in the latter. The presence of flexural and torsional stresses in combination with environmental conditions in the cell or in the event of specific sequences in the genome can, however, stabilize other conformations. Single-molecule manipulation, besides affording the investigation of the elastic response of these polymers, can test the stability of their structural states and transition models. This approach is uniquely suited to understanding the basic features of protein binding molecules, the dynamics of molecular motors and to shedding more light on the biological relevance of the information blocks of life. Here, we provide a comprehensive single-molecule analysis of DNA and RNA double helices in the context of their structural polymorphism to set a rigorous interpretation of their material response both inside and outside the cell. From early knowledge of static structures to current dynamic investigations, we review their phase transitions and mechanochemical behaviour and harness this fundamental knowledge not only through biological sciences, but also for Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ricardo Arias-Gonzalez
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), Calle Faraday no. 9, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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13
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Rocha MS. Extracting physical chemistry from mechanics: a new approach to investigate DNA interactions with drugs and proteins in single molecule experiments. Integr Biol (Camb) 2015; 7:967-86. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ib00127g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In this review we focus on the idea of establishing connections between the mechanical properties of DNA–ligand complexes and the physical chemistry of DNA–ligand interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. S. Rocha
- Laboratório de Física Biológica
- Departamento de Física
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa
- Viçosa
- Brazil
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14
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Wang X, Gao L, Liang B, Li X, Guo X. Revealing the direct effect of individual intercalations on DNA conductance toward single-molecule electrical biodetection. J Mater Chem B 2015; 3:5150-5154. [DOI: 10.1039/c5tb00666j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The effect of individual intercalations on DNA conductance is revealed electrically at the single-molecule level by using DNA-functionalized molecular junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wang
- Center for Nanochemistry
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering
- Peking University
| | - Li Gao
- Center for Nanochemistry
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering
- Peking University
| | - Bo Liang
- Adesso Advanced Materials Wuxi Co., Ltd
- Huihong Industrial Park
- Wuxi
- P. R. China
| | - Xin Li
- Adesso Advanced Materials Wuxi Co., Ltd
- Huihong Industrial Park
- Wuxi
- P. R. China
| | - Xuefeng Guo
- Center for Nanochemistry
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering
- Peking University
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15
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Lipfert J, van Oene MM, Lee M, Pedaci F, Dekker NH. Torque spectroscopy for the study of rotary motion in biological systems. Chem Rev 2014; 115:1449-74. [PMID: 25541648 DOI: 10.1021/cr500119k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Lipfert
- Department of Physics, Nanosystems Initiative Munich, and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich , Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany
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16
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Abstract
Topoisomerases, polymerases, and the chirality introduced by the binding of histones or nucleoid-associated proteins affect DNA supercoiling in vivo. However, supercoiling is not just a by-product of DNA metabolism. Supercoiling is an indicator of cell health, it modifies the accessibility of chromatin, and coordinates the transcription of genes. This suggests that regulatory, protein-mediated loops in DNA may sense supercoiling of the genome in which they are embedded. The λ repressor (CI) maintains the quiescent (lysogenic) transcriptome of bacteriophage λ in infected Escherichia coli. CI-mediated looping prevents overexpression of the repressor protein to preserve sensitivity to conditions that trigger virulence (lysis). Experiments were performed to assess how well the CI-mediated DNA loop traps superhelicity and determine whether supercoiling enhances CI-mediated DNA looping. CI oligomers partitioned plasmids into topological domains and prevented the passage of supercoiling between them. Furthermore, in single DNA molecules stretched and twisted with magnetic tweezers, levels of superhelical density confined in CI-mediated DNA loops ranged from -15% or +11%. Finally, in DNA under tensions that may occur in vivo, supercoiling lowered the free energy of loop formation and was essential for DNA looping. Supercoiling-enhanced looping can influence the maintenance of lysogeny in the λ repressor system; it can encode sensitivity to the energy level of the cell and creates independent topological domains of distinct superhelical density.
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17
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Griffis JW, Safranovitch MM, Vyas SP, Gerrin S, Protozanova E, Malkin G, Meltzer RH. Single molecule DNA intercalation in continuous homogenous elongational flow. LAB ON A CHIP 2014; 14:3881-3893. [PMID: 25133764 DOI: 10.1039/c4lc00781f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Sequence-nonspecific staining of DNA with intercalating fluorophores is required for fluorescence-based length estimation of elongated DNA in optical mapping techniques. However, the observed length of a DNA molecule is affected by the relative concentrations of DNA and dye. In some applications, predetermination of DNA concentration may not be possible. Here we present a microfluidic approach in which individual DNA molecules are entrained by converging laminar sheath flows containing the intercalating dye PO-PRO-1. This provides uniform staining regardless of DNA concentration, and uniform elastic stretching of DNA in continuous elongational flow. On-chip intercalation provides a unique process for concentration-independent staining of long DNA fragments for the optical mapping method Genome Sequence Scanning (GSS), and normalizes intramolecular elasticity across a broad range of molecule lengths. These advances permit accurate mapping of observed molecules to sequence derived templates, thus improving detection of complex bacterial mixtures using GSS.
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18
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DNA fluorescence shift sensor: a rapid method for the detection of DNA hybridization using silver nanoclusters. J Colloid Interface Sci 2014; 433:183-188. [PMID: 25129336 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2014.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNC) are a class of subnanometer sized fluorophores with good photostability and brightness. It has been applied as a diagnostic tool mainly for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection. Integration of DNA oligomers to generate AgNCs is interesting as varying DNA sequences can result in different fluorescence spectra. This allows a simple fluorescence shifting effect to occur upon DNA hybridization with the hybridization efficiency being a pronominal factor for successful shifting. The ability to shift the fluorescence spectra as a result of hybridization overcomes the issue of background intensities in most fluorescent based assays. Here we describe an optimized method for the detection of single-stranded and double-stranded synthetic forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) target by hybridization with the DNA fluorescence shift sensor. The system forms a three-way junction by successful hybridization of AgNC, G-rich strand (G-rich) to the target DNA, which generated a shift in fluorescence spectra with a marked increase in fluorescence intensity. The DNA fluorescence shift sensor presents a rapid and specific alternative to conventional DNA detection.
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19
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Charoenphol P, Bermudez H. Design and application of multifunctional DNA nanocarriers for therapeutic delivery. Acta Biomater 2014; 10:1683-91. [PMID: 23896566 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The unique programmability of nucleic acids offers versatility and flexibility in the creation of self-assembled DNA nanostructures. To date, many three-dimensional DNA architectures of varying sizes and shapes have been precisely formed. Their biocompatibility, biodegradability and high intrinsic stability in physiological environments emphasize their emerging use as carriers for drug and gene delivery. Furthermore, DNA nanocarriers have been shown to enter cells efficiently and without the aid of transfection reagents. A key strength of DNA nanocarriers over other delivery systems is their modularity and their ability to control the spatial distribution of cargoes and ligands. Optimizing DNA nanocarrier properties to dictate their localization, uptake and intracellular trafficking is also possible. This review presents design considerations for DNA nanocarriers and examples of their use in the context of therapeutic delivery applications. The assembly of DNA nanocarriers and approaches for loading and releasing cargo are described. The stability and safety of DNA nanocarriers are also discussed, with particular attention to the in vivo physiological environment. Mechanisms of cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking are examined, and the paper concludes with strategies to enhance the delivery efficiency of DNA nanocarriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Charoenphol
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - H Bermudez
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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20
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Lavelle C. Pack, unpack, bend, twist, pull, push: the physical side of gene expression. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2014; 25:74-84. [PMID: 24576847 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2014.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Molecular motors such as polymerases produce physical constraints on DNA and chromatin. Recent techniques, in particular single-molecule micromanipulation, provide estimation of the forces and torques at stake. These biophysical approaches have improved our understanding of chromatin behaviour under physiological physical constraints and should, in conjunction with genome wide and in vivo studies, help to build more realistic mechanistic models of transcription in the context of chromatin. Here, we wish to provide a brief overview of our current knowledge in the field, and emphasize at the same time the importance of DNA supercoiling as a major parameter in gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Lavelle
- National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France; CNRS UMR7196, Paris, France; INSERM U1154, Paris, France; Nuclear Architecture and Dynamics, CNRS GDR3536, Paris, France.
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21
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Okay O, Lozinsky VI. Synthesis and Structure–Property Relationships of Cryogels. POLYMERIC CRYOGELS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-05846-7_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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22
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An improved SELEX-Seq strategy for characterizing DNA-binding specificity of transcription factor: NF-κB as an example. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76109. [PMID: 24130762 PMCID: PMC3794954 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
SELEX-Seq is now the optimal high-throughput technique for characterizing DNA-binding specificities of transcription factors. In this study, we introduced an improved EMSA-based SELEX-Seq strategy with several advantages. The improvements of this strategy included: (1) using a FAM-labeled probe to track protein-DNA complex in polyacrylamide gel for rapidly recovering the protein-bound dsDNA without relying on traditional radioactive labeling or ethidium bromide staining; (2) monitoring the specificity of SELEX selection by detecting a positive and negative sequence doped into the input DNAs used in each round with PCR amplification; (3) using nested PCR to ensure the specificity of PCR amplification of the selected DNAs after each round; (4) using the nucleotides added at the 5′ end of the nested PCR primers as the split barcode to code DNAs from various rounds for multiplexing sequencing samples. The split barcode minimized selection times and thus greatly simplified the current SELEX-Seq procedure. The reliability of the strategy was demonstrated by performing a successful SELEX-Seq of a well-known transcription factor, NF-κB. Therefore, this study provided a useful SELEX-Seq strategy for characterizing DNA-binding specificities of transcription factors.
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23
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Peters JP, Yelgaonkar SP, Srivatsan SG, Tor Y, James Maher L. Mechanical properties of DNA-like polymers. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:10593-604. [PMID: 24013560 PMCID: PMC3905893 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular structure of the DNA double helix has been known for 60 years, but we remain surprisingly ignorant of the balance of forces that determine its mechanical properties. The DNA double helix is among the stiffest of all biopolymers, but neither theory nor experiment has provided a coherent understanding of the relative roles of attractive base stacking forces and repulsive electrostatic forces creating this stiffness. To gain insight, we have created a family of double-helical DNA-like polymers where one of the four normal bases is replaced with various cationic, anionic or neutral analogs. We apply DNA ligase-catalyzed cyclization kinetics experiments to measure the bending and twisting flexibilities of these polymers under low salt conditions. Interestingly, we show that these modifications alter DNA bending stiffness by only 20%, but have much stronger (5-fold) effects on twist flexibility. We suggest that rather than modifying DNA stiffness through a mechanism easily interpretable as electrostatic, the more dominant effect of neutral and charged base modifications is their ability to drive transitions to helical conformations different from canonical B-form DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin P Peters
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, 900, NCL Innovation Park, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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24
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Abstract
Methods for exerting and measuring forces on single molecules have revolutionized the study of the physics of biology. However, it is often the case that biological processes involve rotation or torque generation, and these parameters have been more difficult to access experimentally. Recent advances in the single-molecule field have led to the development of techniques that add the capability of torque measurement. By combining force, displacement, torque, and rotational data, a more comprehensive description of the mechanics of a biomolecule can be achieved. In this review, we highlight a number of biological processes for which torque plays a key mechanical role. We describe the various techniques that have been developed to directly probe the torque experienced by a single molecule, and detail a variety of measurements made to date using these new technologies. We conclude by discussing a number of open questions and propose systems of study that would be well suited for analysis with torsional measurement techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Forth
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA.
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26
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Bryant Z, Oberstrass FC, Basu A. Recent developments in single-molecule DNA mechanics. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2012; 22:304-12. [PMID: 22658779 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2012.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2012] [Accepted: 04/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, measurements on individual stretched and twisted DNA molecules have helped define the basic elastic properties of the double helix and enabled real-time functional assays of DNA-associated molecular machines. Recently, new magnetic tweezers approaches for simultaneously measuring freely fluctuating twist and extension have begun to shed light on the structural dynamics of large nucleoprotein complexes. Related technical advances have facilitated direct measurements of DNA torque, contributing to a better understanding of abrupt structural transitions in mechanically stressed DNA. The new measurements have also been exploited in studies that hint at a developing synergistic relationship between single-molecule manipulation and structural DNA nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zev Bryant
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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27
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Theoretical investigation of interaction between psoralen and altretamine with stacked DNA base pairs. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2011.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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28
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Lobo S, Escauriaza C, Celedon A. Measurement of surface effects on the rotational diffusion of a colloidal particle. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2011; 27:2142-2145. [PMID: 21322571 DOI: 10.1021/la1049452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
A growing number of nanotechnologies involve rotating particles. Because the particles are normally close to a solid surface, hydrodynamic interaction may affect particle rotation. Here, we track probes composed of two particles tethered to a solid surface by a DNA molecule to measure for the first time the effect of a surface on the rotational viscous drag. We use a model that superimposes solutions of the Stokes equation in the presence of a wall to confirm and interpret our measurements. We show that the hydrodynamic interaction between the surface and the probe increases the rotational viscous drag and that the effect strongly depends on the geometry of the probe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Lobo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-3030, United States
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