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Pakzad F, Eskandari K. Exploring the influence of metal cations on individual hydrogen bonds in Watson-Crick guanine-cytosine DNA base pair: An interacting quantum atoms analysis. J Comput Chem 2024. [PMID: 38922952 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.27441] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
This study delves into the nature of individual hydrogen bonds and the relationship between metal cations and hydrogen bonding in the Watson-Crick guanine-cytosine (GC) base pair and its alkali and alkaline earth cation-containing complexes (Mn+-GC). The findings reveal how metal cations affect the nature and strength of individual hydrogen bonds. The study employs interacting quantum atoms (IQA) analysis to comprehensively understand three individual hydrogen bonds within the GC base pair and its cationic derivatives. These analyses unveil the nature and strength of hydrogen bonds and serve as a valuable reference for exploring the impact of cations (and other factors) on each hydrogen bond. All the H⋯ $$ \cdots $$ D interactions (H is hydrogen and D is oxygen or nitrogen) in the GC base pair are primarily electrostatic in nature, with the charge transfer component playing a substantial role. Introducing a metal cation perturbs all H⋯ $$ \cdots $$ D interatomic interactions in the system, weakening the nearest hydrogen bond to the cation (indicated by a) and reinforcing the other (b and c) interactions. Notably, the interaction a, the strongest H⋯ $$ \cdots $$ D interaction in the GC base pair, becomes the weakest in the Mn+-GC complexes. A broader perspective on the stability of GC and Mn+-GC complexes is provided through interacting quantum fragments (IQF) analysis. This approach considers all pairwise interactions between fragments and intra-fragment components, offering a complete view of the factors that stabilize and destabilize GC and Mn+-GC complexes. The IQF analysis underscores the importance of electron sharing, with the dominant contribution arising from the inter-fragment exchange-correlation term, in shaping and sustaining GC and Mn+-GC complexes. From this point of view, alkaline and alkaline earth cations have distinct effects, with alkaline cations generally weakening inter-fragment interactions and alkaline earth cations strengthening them. In addition, IQA and IQF calculations demonstrate that the hydration of cations led to small changes in the hydrogen bonding network. Finally, the IQA interatomic energies associated with the hydrogen bonds and also inter-fragment interaction energies provide robust indicators for characterizing hydrogen bonds and complex stability, showing a strong correlation with total interaction energies.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Pakzad
- Department of Chemistry, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
| | - K Eskandari
- Department of Chemistry, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
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Piantanida L, Liddle JA, Hughes WL, Majikes JM. DNA nanostructure decoration: a how-to tutorial. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 35:273001. [PMID: 38373400 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ad2ac5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
DNA Nanotechnology is being applied to multiple research fields. The functionality of DNA nanostructures is significantly enhanced by decorating them with nanoscale moieties including: proteins, metallic nanoparticles, quantum dots, and chromophores. Decoration is a complex process and developing protocols for reliable attachment routinely requires extensive trial and error. Additionally, the granular nature of scientific communication makes it difficult to discern general principles in DNA nanostructure decoration. This tutorial is a guidebook designed to minimize experimental bottlenecks and avoid dead-ends for those wishing to decorate DNA nanostructures. We supplement the reference material on available technical tools and procedures with a conceptual framework required to make efficient and effective decisions in the lab. Together these resources should aid both the novice and the expert to develop and execute a rapid, reliable decoration protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Piantanida
- Faculty of Applied Science, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, B.C., V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - J Alexander Liddle
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, United States of America
| | - William L Hughes
- Faculty of Applied Science, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, B.C., V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Jacob M Majikes
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, United States of America
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Li J, Xu T, Zheng Y, Liu D, Zhang C, Li J, Wang ZA, Du Y. In Silico Study on a Binding Mechanism of ssDNA Aptamers Targeting Glycosidic Bond-Containing Small Molecules. Anal Chem 2024; 96:5056-5064. [PMID: 38497564 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Aptamer-based detection targeting glycoconjugates has attracted significant attention for its remarkable potential in identifying structural changes in saccharides in different stages of various diseases. However, the challenges in screening aptamers for small carbohydrates or glycoconjugates, which contain highly flexible and diverse glycosidic bonds, have hindered their application and commercialization. In this study, we investigated the binding conformations between three glycosidic bond-containing small molecules (GlySMs; glucose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and neomycin) and their corresponding aptamers in silico, and analyzed factors contributing to their binding affinities. Based on the findings, a novel binding mechanism was proposed, highlighting the central role of the stem structure of the aptamer in binding and recognizing GlySMs and the auxiliary role of the mismatched bases in the adjacent loop. Guided by this binding mechanism, an aptamer with a higher 6'-sialyllactose binding affinity was designed, achieving a KD value of 4.54 ± 0.64 μM in vitro through a single shear and one mutation. The binding mechanism offers crucial guidance for designing high-affinity aptamers, enhancing the virtual screening efficiency for GlySMs. This streamlined workflow filters out ineffective binding sites, accelerating aptamer development and providing novel insights into glycan-nucleic acid interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yalan Zheng
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Dongdong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zhuo A Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yuguang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
- Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 North second Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
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Lasham J, Djurabekova A, Zickermann V, Vonck J, Sharma V. Role of Protonation States in the Stability of Molecular Dynamics Simulations of High-Resolution Membrane Protein Structures. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:2304-2316. [PMID: 38430110 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide unmatched spatial and time resolution of protein structure and function. However, the accuracy of MD simulations often depends on the quality of force field parameters and the time scale of sampling. Another limitation of conventional MD simulations is that the protonation states of titratable amino acid residues remain fixed during simulations, even though protonation state changes coupled to conformational dynamics are central to protein function. Due to the uncertainty in selecting protonation states, classical MD simulations are sometimes performed with all amino acids modeled in their standard charged states at pH 7. Here, we performed and analyzed classical MD simulations on high-resolution cryo-EM structures of two large membrane proteins that transfer protons by catalyzing protonation/deprotonation reactions. In simulations performed with titratable amino acids modeled in their standard protonation (charged) states, the structure diverges far from its starting conformation. In comparison, MD simulations performed with predetermined protonation states of amino acid residues reproduce the structural conformation, protein hydration, and protein-water and protein-protein interactions of the structure much better. The results support the notion that it is crucial to perform basic protonation state calculations, especially on structures where protonation changes play an important functional role, prior to the launch of any conventional MD simulations. Furthermore, the combined approach of fast protonation state prediction and MD simulations can provide valuable information about the charge states of amino acids in the cryo-EM sample. Even though accurate prediction of protonation states in proteinaceous environments currently remains a challenge, we introduce an approach of combining pKa prediction with cryo-EM density map analysis that helps in improving not only the protonation state predictions but also the atomic modeling of density data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Lasham
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Amina Djurabekova
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Volker Zickermann
- Institute of Biochemistry II, University Hospital, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Janet Vonck
- Department of Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Vivek Sharma
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- HiLIFE Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Neyra K, Everson HR, Mathur D. Dominant Analytical Techniques in DNA Nanotechnology for Various Applications. Anal Chem 2024; 96:3687-3697. [PMID: 38353660 PMCID: PMC11261746 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04176] [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: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
DNA nanotechnology is rapidly gaining traction in numerous applications, each bearing varying degrees of tolerance to the quality and quantity necessary for viable nanostructure function. Despite the distinct objectives of each application, they are united in their reliance on essential analytical techniques, such as purification and characterization. This tutorial aims to guide the reader through the current state of DNA nanotechnology analytical chemistry, outlining important factors to consider when designing, assembling, purifying, and characterizing a DNA nanostructure for downstream applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Neyra
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Heather R Everson
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Divita Mathur
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio 44106, United States
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Pietruszka M, Marzec M. Proton-polarized states in DNA. Biosystems 2024; 237:105125. [PMID: 38331379 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105125] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
We observed signatures of a phase transition in the double-stranded DNA fragment of known length and sequences using a non-invasive semiconductor-electrolyte interface technique and statistical physics methods. Observations revealed a coherence peak in the electromotive force and a significant decline in calculated dynamic entropy at a critical temperature and pH. This behavior may arise from the dynamic interaction of proton (H+) pairs with opposite momentum and spin, carrying a charge q=2+ under critical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz Pietruszka
- University of Silesia, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Protection, 40-032 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Marek Marzec
- University of Silesia, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Protection, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
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Xing Y, Rottensteiner A, Ciccone J, Howorka S. Functional Nanopores Enabled with DNA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202303103. [PMID: 37186432 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202303103] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Membrane-spanning nanopores are used in label-free single-molecule sensing and next-generation portable nucleic acid sequencing, and as powerful research tools in biology, biophysics, and synthetic biology. Naturally occurring protein and peptide pores, as well as synthetic inorganic nanopores, are used in these applications, with their limitations. The structural and functional repertoire of nanopores can be considerably expanded by functionalising existing pores with DNA strands and by creating an entirely new class of nanopores with DNA nanotechnology. This review outlines progress in this area of functional DNA nanopores and outlines developments to open up new applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzheng Xing
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Alexia Rottensteiner
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Jonah Ciccone
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Stefan Howorka
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
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