1
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Zhao J, Elgeti M, O'Brien ES, Sár CP, Ei Daibani A, Heng J, Sun X, White E, Che T, Hubbell WL, Kobilka BK, Chen C. Ligand efficacy modulates conformational dynamics of the µ-opioid receptor. Nature 2024; 629:474-480. [PMID: 38600384 PMCID: PMC11078757 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07295-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
The µ-opioid receptor (µOR) is an important target for pain management1 and molecular understanding of drug action on µOR will facilitate the development of better therapeutics. Here we show, using double electron-electron resonance and single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer, how ligand-specific conformational changes of µOR translate into a broad range of intrinsic efficacies at the transducer level. We identify several conformations of the cytoplasmic face of the receptor that interconvert on different timescales, including a pre-activated conformation that is capable of G-protein binding, and a fully activated conformation that markedly reduces GDP affinity within the ternary complex. Interaction of β-arrestin-1 with the μOR core binding site appears less specific and occurs with much lower affinity than binding of Gi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Matthias Elgeti
- Jules Stein Eye Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Evan S O'Brien
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cecília P Sár
- Institute of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Amal Ei Daibani
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jie Heng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoou Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Elizabeth White
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Wayne L Hubbell
- Jules Stein Eye Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brian K Kobilka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Chunlai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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2
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Bose R, Saleem I, Mustoe AM. Causes, functions, and therapeutic possibilities of RNA secondary structure ensembles and alternative states. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:17-35. [PMID: 38199037 PMCID: PMC10842484 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.12.010] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
RNA secondary structure plays essential roles in encoding RNA regulatory fate and function. Most RNAs populate ensembles of alternatively paired states and are continually unfolded and refolded by cellular processes. Measuring these structural ensembles and their contributions to cellular function has traditionally posed major challenges, but new methods and conceptual frameworks are beginning to fill this void. In this review, we provide a mechanism- and function-centric compendium of the roles of RNA secondary structural ensembles and minority states in regulating the RNA life cycle, from transcription to degradation. We further explore how dysregulation of RNA structural ensembles contributes to human disease and discuss the potential of drugging alternative RNA states to therapeutically modulate RNA activity. The emerging paradigm of RNA structural ensembles as central to RNA function provides a foundation for a deeper understanding of RNA biology and new therapeutic possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritwika Bose
- Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Irfana Saleem
- Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony M Mustoe
- Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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3
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Bello AJ, Popoola A, Okpuzor J, Ihekwaba-Ndibe AE, Olorunniji FJ. A Genetic Circuit Design for Targeted Viral RNA Degradation. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 11:22. [PMID: 38247899 PMCID: PMC10813695 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in synthetic biology have led to the design of biological parts that can be assembled in different ways to perform specific functions. For example, genetic circuits can be designed to execute specific therapeutic functions, including gene therapy or targeted detection and the destruction of invading viruses. Viral infections are difficult to manage through drug treatment. Due to their high mutation rates and their ability to hijack the host's ribosomes to make viral proteins, very few therapeutic options are available. One approach to addressing this problem is to disrupt the process of converting viral RNA into proteins, thereby disrupting the mechanism for assembling new viral particles that could infect other cells. This can be done by ensuring precise control over the abundance of viral RNA (vRNA) inside host cells by designing biological circuits to target vRNA for degradation. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have become important biological devices in regulating RNA processing. Incorporating naturally upregulated RBPs into a gene circuit could be advantageous because such a circuit could mimic the natural pathway for RNA degradation. This review highlights the process of viral RNA degradation and different approaches to designing genetic circuits. We also provide a customizable template for designing genetic circuits that utilize RBPs as transcription activators for viral RNA degradation, with the overall goal of taking advantage of the natural functions of RBPs in host cells to activate targeted viral RNA degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adebayo J. Bello
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (A.J.B.); (A.P.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede 232101, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Abdulgafar Popoola
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (A.J.B.); (A.P.)
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Kwara State University, Malete, Ilorin 241102, Kwara State, Nigeria
| | - Joy Okpuzor
- Department of Cell Biology & Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos 101017, Lagos State, Nigeria;
| | | | - Femi J. Olorunniji
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK; (A.J.B.); (A.P.)
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4
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Niu X, Xu Z, Zhang Y, Zuo X, Chen C, Fang X. Structural and dynamic mechanisms for coupled folding and tRNA recognition of a translational T-box riboswitch. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7394. [PMID: 37968328 PMCID: PMC10651847 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43232-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
T-box riboswitches are unique riboregulators where gene regulation is mediated through interactions between two highly structured RNAs. Despite extensive structural insights, how RNA-RNA interactions drive the folding and structural transitions of T-box to achieve functional conformations remains unclear. Here, by combining SAXS, single-molecule FRET and computational modeling, we elaborate the folding energy landscape of a translational T-box aptamer consisting of stems I, II and IIA/B, which Mg2+-induced global folding and tRNA binding are cooperatively coupled. smFRET measurements reveal that high Mg2+ stabilizes IIA/B and its stacking on II, which drives the pre-docking of I and II into a competent conformation, subsequent tRNA binding promotes docking of I and II to form a high-affinity tRNA binding groove, of which the essentiality of IIA/B and S-turn in II is substantiated with mutational analysis. We highlight a delicate balance among Mg2+, the intra- and intermolecular RNA-RNA interactions in modulating RNA folding and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Niu
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhonghe Xu
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yufan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiaobing Zuo
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Chunlai Chen
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Xianyang Fang
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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5
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Huo B, Wang C, Hu X, Wang H, Zhu G, Zhu A, Li L. Peripheral substitution effects on unnatural base pairs: A case of brominated TPT3 to enhance replication fidelity. Bioorg Chem 2023; 140:106827. [PMID: 37683537 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106827] [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: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The high fidelity poses a central role in developing unnatural base pairs (UBPs), which means the high pairing capacity of unnatural bases with their partners, and low mispairing with all the natural bases. Different strategies have been used to develop higher-fidelity UBPs, including optimizing hydrophobic interaction forces between UBPs. Variant substituent groups are allowed to fine tune the hydrophobic forces of different UBPs' candidates. However, the modifications on the skeleton of TPT3 base are rare and the replication fidelity of TPT3-NaM remains hardly to improve so far. In this paper, we reasoned that modifying and/or expanding the aromatic surface by Bromo-substituents to slightly increase hydrophobicity of TPT3 might offer a way to increase the fidelity of this pair. Based on the hypothesis, we synthesized the bromine substituted TPT3, 2-bromo-TPT3 and 2, 4-dibromo-TPT3 as the new TPT3 analogs. While the enzyme reaction kinetic experiments showed that d2-bromo-TPT3-dNaM pair and d2, 4-dibromo-TPT3TP-dNaM pair had slightly less efficient incorporation and extension rates than that of dTPT3-dNaM pair, the assays did reveal that the mispairing of 2-bromo-TPT3 and 2, 4-dibromo-TPT3 with all the natural bases could dramatically decrease in contrast to TPT3. Their lower mispairing capacity promoted us to run polymerase chain amplification reactions, and a higher fidelity of d2-bromo-TPT3-dNaM pair could be obtained with 99.72 ± 0.01% of the in vitro replication fidelity than that of dTPT3-dNaM pair, 99.52 ± 0.09%. In addition, d2-bromo-TPT3-dNaM can also be effectively copied in E. coli cells, which showed the same replication fidelity as that of dTPT3-dNaM in the specific sequence, but a higher fidelity in the random sequence context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianbian Huo
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Chao Wang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Xiaoqi Hu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Honglei Wang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Gongming Zhu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Anlian Zhu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Lingjun Li
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China; Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
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6
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Tants JN, Schlundt A. Advances, Applications, and Perspectives in Small-Angle X-ray Scattering of RNA. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300110. [PMID: 37466350 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300110] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
RNAs exhibit a plethora of functions far beyond transmitting genetic information. Often, RNA functions are entailed in their structure, be it as a regulatory switch, protein binding site, or providing catalytic activity. Structural information is a prerequisite for a full understanding of RNA-regulatory mechanisms. Owing to the inherent dynamics, size, and instability of RNA, its structure determination remains challenging. Methods such as NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and cryo-electron microscopy can provide high-resolution structures; however, their limitations make structure determination, even for small RNAs, cumbersome, if at all possible. Although at a low resolution, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has proven valuable in advancing structure determination of RNAs as a complementary method, which is also applicable to large-sized RNAs. Here, we review the technological and methodological advancements of RNA SAXS. We provide examples of the powerful inclusion of SAXS in structural biology and discuss possible future applications to large RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Niklas Tants
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Biomagnetic Resonance Centre (BMRZ), Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Schlundt
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Biomagnetic Resonance Centre (BMRZ), Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
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7
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Deng J, Fang X, Huang L, Li S, Xu L, Ye K, Zhang J, Zhang K, Zhang QC. RNA structure determination: From 2D to 3D. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 3:727-737. [PMID: 38933295 PMCID: PMC11197651 DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA molecules serve a wide range of functions that are closely linked to their structures. The basic structural units of RNA consist of single- and double-stranded regions. In order to carry out advanced functions such as catalysis and ligand binding, certain types of RNAs can adopt higher-order structures. The analysis of RNA structures has progressed alongside advancements in structural biology techniques, but it comes with its own set of challenges and corresponding solutions. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in RNA structure analysis techniques, including structural probing methods, X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, cryo-electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering. Often, a combination of multiple techniques is employed for the integrated analysis of RNA structures. We also survey important RNA structures that have been recently determined using various techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Xianyang Fang
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lin Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics and Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Lilei Xu
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Keqiong Ye
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jinsong Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kaiming Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics and Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Qiangfeng Cliff Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
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8
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Liang Y, Qie Y, Yang J, Wu R, Cui S, Zhao Y, Anderson GJ, Nie G, Li S, Zhang C. Programming conformational cooperativity to regulate allosteric protein-oligonucleotide signal transduction. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4898. [PMID: 37580346 PMCID: PMC10425332 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40589-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Conformational cooperativity is a universal molecular effect mechanism and plays a critical role in signaling pathways. However, it remains a challenge to develop artificial molecular networks regulated by conformational cooperativity, due to the difficulties in programming and controlling multiple structural interactions. Herein, we develop a cooperative strategy by programming multiple conformational signals, rather than chemical signals, to regulate protein-oligonucleotide signal transduction, taking advantage of the programmability of allosteric DNA constructs. We generate a cooperative regulation mechanism, by which increasing the loop lengths at two different structural modules induced the opposite effects manifesting as down- and up-regulation. We implement allosteric logic operations by using two different proteins. Further, in cell culture we demonstrate the feasibility of this strategy to cooperatively regulate gene expression of PLK1 to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, responding to orthogonal protein-signal stimulation. This programmable conformational cooperativity paradigm has potential applications in the related fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liang
- School of Computer Science, Key Lab of High Confidence Software Technologies, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China
- School of Control and Computer Engineering, North China Electric Power University, 102206, Beijing, China
| | - Yunkai Qie
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, 100190, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
- GBA Research Innovation Institute for Nanotechnology, Guangzhou, 510530, China
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300211, China
| | - Jing Yang
- School of Control and Computer Engineering, North China Electric Power University, 102206, Beijing, China
| | - Ranfeng Wu
- School of Computer Science, Key Lab of High Confidence Software Technologies, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Cui
- School of Computer Science, Key Lab of High Confidence Software Technologies, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China
| | - Yuliang Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, 100190, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
- GBA Research Innovation Institute for Nanotechnology, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Greg J Anderson
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia
| | - Guangjun Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, 100190, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
- GBA Research Innovation Institute for Nanotechnology, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Suping Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, 100190, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
- GBA Research Innovation Institute for Nanotechnology, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
| | - Cheng Zhang
- School of Computer Science, Key Lab of High Confidence Software Technologies, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China.
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9
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Chen X, Wang Y, Xu Z, Cheng ML, Ma QQ, Li RT, Wang ZJ, Zhao H, Zuo X, Li XF, Fang X, Qin CF. Zika virus RNA structure controls its unique neurotropism by bipartite binding to Musashi-1. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1134. [PMID: 36854751 PMCID: PMC9972320 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36838-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Human RNA binding protein Musashi-1 (MSI1) plays a critical role in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) by binding to various host RNA transcripts. The canonical MSI1 binding site (MBS), A/GU(1-3)AG single-strand motif, is present in many RNA virus genomes, but only Zika virus (ZIKV) genome has been demonstrated to bind MSI1. Herein, we identified the AUAG motif and the AGAA tetraloop in the Xrn1-resistant RNA 2 (xrRNA2) as the canonical and non-canonical MBS, respectively, and both are crucial for ZIKV neurotropism. More importantly, the unique AGNN-type tetraloop is evolutionally conserved, and distinguishes ZIKV from other known viruses with putative MBSs. Integrated structural analysis showed that MSI1 binds to the AUAG motif and AGAA tetraloop of ZIKV in a bipartite fashion. Thus, our results not only identified an unusual viral RNA structure responsible for MSI recognition, but also revealed a role for the highly structured xrRNA in controlling viral neurotropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Chen
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology and Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhonghe Xu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology and Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Meng-Li Cheng
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Qing-Qing Ma
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Rui-Ting Li
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Zheng-Jian Wang
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Xiaobing Zuo
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Xianyang Fang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology and Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Cheng-Feng Qin
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing, 100071, China.
- Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China.
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10
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Review of FRET biosensing and its application in biomolecular detection. Am J Transl Res 2023; 15:694-709. [PMID: 36915763 PMCID: PMC10006758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Life science research is advancing rapidly in the 21st century. Many innovative technologies and methodologies are being applied in various fields of the life sciences to reveal how macromolecules interact with each other. The technology of using fluorescent molecules in biomedical research has contributed immensely to progress in this field. Fluorescence-based optical biosensors, which show high specificity, exhibit huge potential for clinical diagnosis and treatment of many of the life-changing diseases. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), is a technique that has been widely employed in biosensing ever since its discovery. It is a classic fluorescence technique, and an important biosensing research tool extensively utilized in the fields of toxicology, pharmacology, and biomedicine; many biosensor designs are based on FRET. Radiometric imaging of biological molecules, biomolecular interactions, and cellular processes are extensively performed using FRET biosensors. This review focuses on the selection of FRET donors and acceptors used for biosensing, and presents an overview of different FRET technologies. Furthermore, it highlights the progress in the application for FRET in nucleic acid and protein biosensing, and provides a viewpoint for future developmental trends using FRET technology.
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11
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Isolation and Genetic Characterization of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Two Decades after Its Elimination in Singapore. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122662. [PMID: 36560666 PMCID: PMC9786948 DOI: 10.3390/v14122662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is an important arbovirus in Asia that can cause serious neurological disease. JEV is transmitted by mosquitoes in an enzootic cycle involving porcine and avian reservoirs, in which humans are accidental, dead-end hosts. JEV is currently not endemic in Singapore, after pig farming was abolished in 1992; the last known human case was reported in 2005. However, due to its location along the East-Asian Australasian Flyway (EAAF), Singapore is vulnerable to JEV re-introduction from the endemic regions. Serological and genetic evidence in the last decade suggests JEV's presence in the local fauna. In the present study, we report the genetic characterization and the first isolation of JEV from 3214 mosquito pools consisting of 41,843 Culex mosquitoes, which were trapped from April 2014 to May 2021. The findings demonstrated the presence of genotype I of JEV (n = 10), in contrast to the previous reports of the presence of genotype II of JEV in Singapore. The genetic analyses also suggested that JEV has entered Singapore on several occasions and has potentially established an enzootic cycle in the local fauna. These observations have important implications in the risk assessment and the control of Japanese encephalitis in non-endemic countries, such as Singapore, that are at risk for JEV transmission.
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Hu Y, Wang Y, Singh J, Sun R, Xu L, Niu X, Huang K, Bai G, Liu G, Zuo X, Chen C, Qin PZ, Fang X. Phosphorothioate-Based Site-Specific Labeling of Large RNAs for Structural and Dynamic Studies. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2448-2460. [PMID: 36069699 PMCID: PMC10186269 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00199] [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] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Pulsed electron-electron double resonance (PELDOR) spectroscopy, X-ray scattering interferometry (XSI), and single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) are molecular rulers that provide inter- or intramolecular pair-wise distance distributions in the nanometer range, thus being ideally suitable for structural and dynamic studies of biomolecules including RNAs. The prerequisite for such applications requires site-specific labeling of biomolecules with spin labels, gold nanoparticles, and fluorescent tags, respectively. Recently, site-specific labeling of large RNAs has been achieved by a combination of transcription of an expanded genetic alphabet containing A-T/G-C base pairs and NaM-TPT3 unnatural base pair (UBP) with post-transcriptional modifications at UBP bases by click chemistry or amine-NHS ester reactions. However, due to the bulky sizes of functional groups or labeling probes used, such strategies might cause structural perturbation and decrease the accuracy of distance measurements. Here, we synthesize an α-thiophosphorylated variant of rTPT3TP (rTPT3αS), which allows for post-transcriptional site-specific labeling of large RNAs at the internal α-phosphate backbone via maleimide-modified probes. Subsequent PELDOR, XSI, and smFRET measurements result in narrower distance distributions than labeling at the TPT3 base. The presented strategy provides a new route to empower the molecular rulers for structural and dynamic studies of large RNA and its complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Hu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jaideep Singh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Ruirui Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lilei Xu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaolin Niu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Keyun Huang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Guangcan Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Guoquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiaobing Zuo
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Chunlai Chen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Peter Z Qin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Xianyang Fang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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D'Souza MH, Mrozowich T, Badmalia MD, Geeraert M, Frederickson A, Henrickson A, Demeler B, Wolfinger MT, Patel TR. Biophysical characterisation of human LincRNA-p21 sense and antisense Alu inverted repeats. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5881-5898. [PMID: 35639511 PMCID: PMC9177966 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Long Intergenic Noncoding RNA-p21 (LincRNA-p21) is a regulatory noncoding RNA that plays an important role in promoting apoptosis. LincRNA-p21 is also critical in down-regulating many p53 target genes through its interaction with a p53 repressive complex. The interaction between LincRNA-p21 and the repressive complex is likely dependent on the RNA tertiary structure. Previous studies have determined the two-dimensional secondary structures of the sense and antisense human LincRNA-p21 AluSx1 IRs using SHAPE. However, there were no insights into its three-dimensional structure. Therefore, we in vitro transcribed the sense and antisense regions of LincRNA-p21 AluSx1 Inverted Repeats (IRs) and performed analytical ultracentrifugation, size exclusion chromatography, light scattering, and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies. Based on these studies, we determined low-resolution, three-dimensional structures of sense and antisense LincRNA-p21. By adapting previously known two-dimensional information, we calculated their sense and antisense high-resolution models and determined that they agree with the low-resolution structures determined using SAXS. Thus, our integrated approach provides insights into the structure of LincRNA-p21 Alu IRs. Our study also offers a viable pipeline for combining the secondary structure information with biophysical and computational studies to obtain high-resolution atomistic models for long noncoding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H D'Souza
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Tyler Mrozowich
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Maulik D Badmalia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Mitchell Geeraert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Angela Frederickson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Amy Henrickson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Borries Demeler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.,NorthWest Biophysics Consortium, University of Lethbridge, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Michael T Wolfinger
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Computer Science, Währingerstrasse 29, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,Department of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Trushar R Patel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology and Discovery Lab, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
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Zhu G, Song P, Wu J, Luo M, Chen Z, Chen T. Application of Nucleic Acid Frameworks in the Construction of Nanostructures and Cascade Biocatalysts: Recent Progress and Perspective. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:792489. [PMID: 35071205 PMCID: PMC8777461 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.792489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acids underlie the storage and retrieval of genetic information literally in all living organisms, and also provide us excellent materials for making artificial nanostructures and scaffolds for constructing multi-enzyme systems with outstanding performance in catalyzing various cascade reactions, due to their highly diverse and yet controllable structures, which are well determined by their sequences. The introduction of unnatural moieties into nucleic acids dramatically increased the diversity of sequences, structures, and properties of the nucleic acids, which undoubtedly expanded the toolbox for making nanomaterials and scaffolds of multi-enzyme systems. In this article, we first introduce the molecular structures and properties of nucleic acids and their unnatural derivatives. Then we summarized representative artificial nanomaterials made of nucleic acids, as well as their properties, functions, and application. We next review recent progress on constructing multi-enzyme systems with nucleic acid structures as scaffolds for cascade biocatalyst. Finally, we discuss the future direction of applying nucleic acid frameworks in the construction of nanomaterials and multi-enzyme molecular machines, with the potential contribution that unnatural nucleic acids may make to this field highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gan Zhu
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Song
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wu
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Minglan Luo
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhipeng Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingjian Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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Endeward B, Hu Y, Bai G, Liu G, Prisner TF, Fang X. Long-range distance determination in fully deuterated RNA with pulsed EPR spectroscopy. Biophys J 2022; 121:37-43. [PMID: 34896070 PMCID: PMC8758415 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulsed electron-electron double resonance (PELDOR or DEER) spectroscopy is powerful in structure and dynamics study of biological macromolecules by providing distance distribution information ranging from 1.8 to 6 nm, providing that the biomolecules are site-specifically labeled with paramagnetic tags. However, long distances up to 16 nm have been measured on perdeuterated and spin-labeled proteins in deuterated solvent by PELDOR. Here we demonstrate long-range distance measurement on a large RNA, the 97-nucleotide 3'SL RNA element of the Dengue virus 2 genome, by combining a posttranscriptional site-directed spin labeling method using an unnatural basepair system with RNA perdeuteration by enzymatic synthesis using deuterated nucleotides. The perdeuteration removes the coupling of the electron spins of the nitroxide spin labels from the proton nuclear spin system of the RNA and does extend the observation time windows of PELDOR up to 50 μs. This enables one to determine long distances up to 14 nm for large RNAs and their conformational flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burkhard Endeward
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Yanping Hu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 10086, China
| | - Guangcan Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 10019, China
| | - Guoquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 10019, China
| | - Thomas F. Prisner
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany,Corresponding author
| | - Xianyang Fang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 10086, China,Corresponding author
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