1
|
Dubrovin EV. Atomic force microscopy-based approaches for single-molecule investigation of nucleic acid- protein complexes. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:1015-1033. [PMID: 37974971 PMCID: PMC10643717 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction of nucleic acids with proteins plays an important role in many fundamental biological processes in living cells, including replication, transcription, and translation. Therefore, understanding nucleic acid-protein interaction is of high relevance in many areas of biology, medicine and technology. During almost four decades of its existence atomic force microscopy (AFM) accumulated a significant experience in investigation of biological molecules at a single-molecule level. AFM has become a powerful tool of molecular biology and biophysics providing unique information about properties, structure, and functioning of biomolecules. Despite a great variety of nucleic acid-protein systems under AFM investigations, there are a number of typical approaches for such studies. This review is devoted to the analysis of the typical AFM-based approaches of investigation of DNA (RNA)-protein complexes with a major focus on transcription studies. The basic strategies of AFM analysis of nucleic acid-protein complexes including investigation of the products of DNA-protein reactions and real-time dynamics of DNA-protein interaction are categorized and described by the example of the most relevant research studies. The described approaches and protocols have many universal features and, therefore, are applicable for future AFM studies of various nucleic acid-protein systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniy V. Dubrovin
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1 Bld. 2, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Per. 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700 Russian Federation
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Olimpiyskiy Ave 1, Township Sirius, Krasnodar Region, 354349 Russia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dubrovin EV, Klinov DV. Atomic Force Microscopy of Biopolymers on Graphite Surfaces. POLYMER SCIENCE SERIES A 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0965545x2106002x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
3
|
Liu W, Guo Y, Wang K, Zhou X, Wang Y, Lü J, Shao Z, Hu J, Czajkowsky DM, Li B. Atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy detects DNA base mismatches. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:17206-17210. [PMID: 31535117 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr05234h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule-force spectroscopy is limited by low throughput. We introduce addressable DNA origami to study multiple target molecules. Six target DNAs that differed by only a single base-pair mismatch were clearly differentiated a rupture force of only 4 pN.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China. and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yourong Guo
- Bio-ID Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Kaizhe Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China. and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xingfei Zhou
- School of Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China. and Zhangjiang Laboratory, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Junhong Lü
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China. and Zhangjiang Laboratory, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zhifeng Shao
- Bio-ID Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Jun Hu
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China. and Zhangjiang Laboratory, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China and School of Physical Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201204, China
| | - Daniel M Czajkowsky
- Bio-ID Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Bin Li
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China. and Zhangjiang Laboratory, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ramakrishnan S, Schärfen L, Hunold K, Fricke S, Grundmeier G, Schlierf M, Keller A, Krainer G. Enhancing the stability of DNA origami nanostructures: staple strand redesign versus enzymatic ligation. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:16270-16276. [PMID: 31455950 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr04460d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
DNA origami structures have developed into versatile tools in molecular sciences and nanotechnology. Currently, however, many potential applications are hindered by their poor stability, especially under denaturing conditions. Here we present and evaluate two simple approaches to enhance DNA origami stability. In the first approach, we elevated the melting temperature of nine critical staple strands by merging the oligonucleotides with adjacent sequences. In the second approach, we increased the global stability by enzymatically ligating all accessible staple strand ends directly. By monitoring the gradual urea-induced denaturation of a prototype triangular DNA origami modified by these approaches using atomic force microscopy, we show that rational redesign of a few, critical staple strands leads to a considerable increase in overall stability at high denaturant concentration and elevated temperatures. In addition, enzymatic ligation yields DNA nanostructures with superior stability at up to 37 °C and in the presence of 6 M urea without impairing their shape. This bio-orthogonal approach is readily adaptable to other DNA origami structures without the need for synthetic nucleotide modifications when structural integrity under harsh conditions is required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saminathan Ramakrishnan
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
| | - Leonard Schärfen
- B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, TU Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Kristin Hunold
- B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, TU Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Fricke
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
| | - Guido Grundmeier
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
| | - Michael Schlierf
- B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, TU Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Adrian Keller
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
| | - Georg Krainer
- B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, TU Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kielar C, Xin Y, Xu X, Zhu S, Gorin N, Grundmeier G, Möser C, Smith DM, Keller A. Effect of Staple Age on DNA Origami Nanostructure Assembly and Stability. Molecules 2019; 24:E2577. [PMID: 31315177 PMCID: PMC6680526 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24142577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA origami nanostructures are widely employed in various areas of fundamental and applied research. Due to the tremendous success of the DNA origami technique in the academic field, considerable efforts currently aim at the translation of this technology from a laboratory setting to real-world applications, such as nanoelectronics, drug delivery, and biosensing. While many of these real-world applications rely on an intact DNA origami shape, they often also subject the DNA origami nanostructures to rather harsh and potentially damaging environmental and processing conditions. Furthermore, in the context of DNA origami mass production, the long-term storage of DNA origami nanostructures or their pre-assembled components also becomes an issue of high relevance, especially regarding the possible negative effects on DNA origami structural integrity. Thus, we investigated the effect of staple age on the self-assembly and stability of DNA origami nanostructures using atomic force microscopy. Different harsh processing conditions were simulated by applying different sample preparation protocols. Our results show that staple solutions may be stored at -20 °C for several years without impeding DNA origami self-assembly. Depending on DNA origami shape and superstructure, however, staple age may have negative effects on DNA origami stability under harsh treatment conditions. Mass spectrometry analysis of the aged staple mixtures revealed no signs of staple fragmentation. We, therefore, attribute the increased DNA origami sensitivity toward environmental conditions to an accumulation of damaged nucleobases, which undergo weaker base-pairing interactions and thus lead to reduced duplex stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Kielar
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Yang Xin
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Xiaodan Xu
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Siqi Zhu
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Nelli Gorin
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Guido Grundmeier
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Christin Möser
- DNA Nanodevices Unit, Department Diagnostics, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - David M Smith
- DNA Nanodevices Unit, Department Diagnostics, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Adrian Keller
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kielar C, Xin Y, Shen B, Kostiainen MA, Grundmeier G, Linko V, Keller A. On the Stability of DNA Origami Nanostructures in Low-Magnesium Buffers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201802890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Kielar
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry; Paderborn University; Warburger Str. 100 33098 Paderborn Germany
| | - Yang Xin
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry; Paderborn University; Warburger Str. 100 33098 Paderborn Germany
| | - Boxuan Shen
- Biohybrid Materials; Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Aalto University; P. O. Box 16100 00076 Aalto Finland
| | - Mauri A. Kostiainen
- Biohybrid Materials; Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Aalto University; P. O. Box 16100 00076 Aalto Finland
| | - Guido Grundmeier
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry; Paderborn University; Warburger Str. 100 33098 Paderborn Germany
| | - Veikko Linko
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry; Paderborn University; Warburger Str. 100 33098 Paderborn Germany
- Biohybrid Materials; Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Aalto University; P. O. Box 16100 00076 Aalto Finland
| | - Adrian Keller
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry; Paderborn University; Warburger Str. 100 33098 Paderborn Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kielar C, Xin Y, Shen B, Kostiainen MA, Grundmeier G, Linko V, Keller A. On the Stability of DNA Origami Nanostructures in Low-Magnesium Buffers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 57:9470-9474. [PMID: 29799663 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201802890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
DNA origami structures have great potential as functional platforms in various biomedical applications. Many applications, however, are incompatible with the high Mg2+ concentrations commonly believed to be a prerequisite for maintaining DNA origami integrity. Herein, we investigate DNA origami stability in low-Mg2+ buffers. DNA origami stability is found to crucially depend on the availability of residual Mg2+ ions for screening electrostatic repulsion. The presence of EDTA and phosphate ions may thus facilitate DNA origami denaturation by displacing Mg2+ ions from the DNA backbone and reducing the strength of the Mg2+ -DNA interaction, respectively. Most remarkably, these buffer dependencies are affected by DNA origami superstructure. However, by rationally selecting buffer components and considering superstructure-dependent effects, the structural integrity of a given DNA origami nanostructure can be maintained in conventional buffers even at Mg2+ concentrations in the low-micromolar range.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Kielar
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Yang Xin
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Boxuan Shen
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Aalto University, P. O. Box 16100, 00076, Aalto, Finland
| | - Mauri A Kostiainen
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Aalto University, P. O. Box 16100, 00076, Aalto, Finland
| | - Guido Grundmeier
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Veikko Linko
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany.,Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Aalto University, P. O. Box 16100, 00076, Aalto, Finland
| | - Adrian Keller
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hong F, Zhang F, Liu Y, Yan H. DNA Origami: Scaffolds for Creating Higher Order Structures. Chem Rev 2017; 117:12584-12640. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 645] [Impact Index Per Article: 92.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Hong
- The Biodesign Institute and
School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Fei Zhang
- The Biodesign Institute and
School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Yan Liu
- The Biodesign Institute and
School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Hao Yan
- The Biodesign Institute and
School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ramakrishnan S, Krainer G, Grundmeier G, Schlierf M, Keller A. Structural stability of DNA origami nanostructures in the presence of chaotropic agents. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:10398-10405. [PMID: 27142120 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00835f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
DNA origami represent powerful platforms for single-molecule investigations of biomolecular processes. The required structural integrity of the DNA origami may, however, pose significant limitations regarding their applicability, for instance in protein folding studies that require strongly denaturing conditions. Here, we therefore report a detailed study on the stability of 2D DNA origami triangles in the presence of the strong chaotropic denaturing agents urea and guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) and its dependence on concentration and temperature. At room temperature, the DNA origami triangles are stable up to at least 24 h in both denaturants at concentrations as high as 6 M. At elevated temperatures, however, structural stability is governed by variations in the melting temperature of the individual staple strands. Therefore, the global melting temperature of the DNA origami does not represent an accurate measure of their structural stability. Although GdmCl has a stronger effect on the global melting temperature, its attack results in less structural damage than observed for urea under equivalent conditions. This enhanced structural stability most likely originates from the ionic nature of GdmCl. By rational design of the arrangement and lengths of the individual staple strands used for the folding of a particular shape, however, the structural stability of DNA origami may be enhanced even further to meet individual experimental requirements. Overall, their high stability renders DNA origami promising platforms for biomolecular studies in the presence of chaotropic agents, including single-molecule protein folding or structural switching.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saminathan Ramakrishnan
- Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Paderborn, Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|