1
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Levintov L, Vashisth H. Structural and computational studies of HIV-1 RNA. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-32. [PMID: 38100535 PMCID: PMC10730233 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2289709] [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] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses remain a global threat to animals, plants, and humans. The type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is a member of the retrovirus family and carries an RNA genome, which is reverse transcribed into viral DNA and further integrated into the host-cell DNA for viral replication and proliferation. The RNA structures from the HIV-1 genome provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the viral replication cycle. Moreover, these structures serve as models for designing novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we review structural data on RNA from the HIV-1 genome as well as computational studies based on these structural data. The review is organized according to the type of structured RNA element which contributes to different steps in the viral replication cycle. This is followed by an overview of the HIV-1 transactivation response element (TAR) RNA as a model system for understanding dynamics and interactions in the viral RNA systems. The review concludes with a description of computational studies, highlighting the impact of biomolecular simulations in elucidating the mechanistic details of various steps in the HIV-1's replication cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lev Levintov
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA
| | - Harish Vashisth
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA
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2
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Wang G, Vasquez KM. Dynamic alternative DNA structures in biology and disease. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:211-234. [PMID: 36316397 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00539-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Repetitive elements in the human genome, once considered 'junk DNA', are now known to adopt more than a dozen alternative (that is, non-B) DNA structures, such as self-annealed hairpins, left-handed Z-DNA, three-stranded triplexes (H-DNA) or four-stranded guanine quadruplex structures (G4 DNA). These dynamic conformations can act as functional genomic elements involved in DNA replication and transcription, chromatin organization and genome stability. In addition, recent studies have revealed a role for these alternative structures in triggering error-generating DNA repair processes, thereby actively enabling genome plasticity. As a driving force for genetic variation, non-B DNA structures thus contribute to both disease aetiology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guliang Wang
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Paediatric Research Institute, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Karen M Vasquez
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Paediatric Research Institute, Austin, TX, USA.
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3
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Williams JD, Houserova D, Johnson BR, Dyniewski B, Berroyer A, French H, Barchie AA, Bilbrey DD, Demeis JD, Ghee KR, Hughes AG, Kreitz NW, McInnis CH, Pudner SC, Reeves MN, Stahly AN, Turcu A, Watters BC, Daly GT, Langley RJ, Gillespie MN, Prakash A, Larson ED, Kasukurthi MV, Huang J, Jinks-Robertson S, Borchert GM. Characterization of long G4-rich enhancer-associated genomic regions engaging in a novel loop:loop 'G4 Kissing' interaction. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:5907-5925. [PMID: 32383760 PMCID: PMC7293029 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian antibody switch regions (∼1500 bp) are composed of a series of closely neighboring G4-capable sequences. Whereas numerous structural and genome-wide analyses of roles for minimal G4s in transcriptional regulation have been reported, Long G4-capable regions (LG4s)-like those at antibody switch regions-remain virtually unexplored. Using a novel computational approach we have identified 301 LG4s in the human genome and find LG4s prone to mutation and significantly associated with chromosomal rearrangements in malignancy. Strikingly, 217 LG4s overlap annotated enhancers, and we find the promoters regulated by these enhancers markedly enriched in G4-capable sequences suggesting G4s facilitate promoter-enhancer interactions. Finally, and much to our surprise, we also find single-stranded loops of minimal G4s within individual LG4 loci are frequently highly complementary to one another with 178 LG4 loci averaging >35 internal loop:loop complements of >8 bp. As such, we hypothesized (then experimentally confirmed) that G4 loops within individual LG4 loci directly basepair with one another (similar to characterized stem-loop kissing interactions) forming a hitherto undescribed, higher-order, G4-based secondary structure we term a 'G4 Kiss or G4K'. In conclusion, LG4s adopt novel, higher-order, composite G4 structures directly contributing to the inherent instability, regulatory capacity, and maintenance of these conspicuous genomic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Williams
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Dominika Houserova
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Bradley R Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Brad Dyniewski
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Alexandra Berroyer
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Hannah French
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Addison A Barchie
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Dakota D Bilbrey
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Demeis
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Kanesha R Ghee
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Alexandra G Hughes
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Naden W Kreitz
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Cameron H McInnis
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Susanna C Pudner
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Monica N Reeves
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Ashlyn N Stahly
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Ana Turcu
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Brianna C Watters
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Grant T Daly
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Raymond J Langley
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Mark N Gillespie
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Aishwarya Prakash
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mitchell Cancer Institute, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Erik D Larson
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, USA
| | | | - Jingshan Huang
- School of Computing, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Sue Jinks-Robertson
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Glen M Borchert
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
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4
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Liu D, Geary CW, Chen G, Shao Y, Li M, Mao C, Andersen ES, Piccirilli JA, Rothemund PWK, Weizmann Y. Branched kissing loops for the construction of diverse RNA homooligomeric nanostructures. Nat Chem 2020; 12:249-259. [PMID: 31959958 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-019-0406-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
In biological systems, large and complex structures are often assembled from multiple simpler identical subunits. This strategy-homooligomerization-allows efficient genetic encoding of structures and avoids the need to control the stoichiometry of multiple distinct units. It also allows the minimal number of distinct subunits when designing artificial nucleic acid structures. Here, we present a robust self-assembly system in which homooligomerizable tiles are formed from intramolecularly folded RNA single strands. Tiles are linked through an artificially designed branched kissing-loop motif, involving Watson-Crick base pairing between the single-stranded regions of a bulged helix and a hairpin loop. By adjusting the tile geometry to gain control over the curvature, torsion and the number of helices, we have constructed 16 different linear and circular structures, including a finite-sized three-dimensional cage. We further demonstrate cotranscriptional self-assembly of tiles based on branched kissing loops, and show that tiles inserted into a transfer RNA scaffold can be overexpressed in bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Cody W Geary
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Departments of Bioengineering, Computational and Mathematical Sciences, and Computation and Neural Systems, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Yaming Shao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mo Li
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Chengde Mao
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ebbe S Andersen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Joseph A Piccirilli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Paul W K Rothemund
- Departments of Bioengineering, Computational and Mathematical Sciences, and Computation and Neural Systems, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - Yossi Weizmann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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5
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Azéma L, Bonnet-Salomon S, Endo M, Takeuchi Y, Durand G, Emura T, Hidaka K, Dausse E, Sugiyama H, Toulmé JJ. Triggering nucleic acid nanostructure assembly by conditional kissing interactions. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:1052-1058. [PMID: 29272518 PMCID: PMC5814900 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acids are biomolecules of amazing versatility. Beyond their function for information storage they can be used for building nano-objects. We took advantage of loop–loop or kissing interactions between hairpin building blocks displaying complementary loops for driving the assembly of nucleic acid nano-architectures. It is of interest to make the interaction between elementary units dependent on an external trigger, thus allowing the control of the scaffold formation. To this end we exploited the binding properties of structure-switching aptamers (aptaswitch). Aptaswitches are stem–loop structured oligonucleotides that engage a kissing complex with an RNA hairpin in response to ligand-induced aptaswitch folding. We demonstrated the potential of this approach by conditionally assembling oligonucleotide nanorods in response to the addition of adenosine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Azéma
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5320, INSERM U1212, Bordeaux 33076, France
| | | | - Masayuki Endo
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.,Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yosuke Takeuchi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Guillaume Durand
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5320, INSERM U1212, Bordeaux 33076, France
| | - Tomoko Emura
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Kumi Hidaka
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Eric Dausse
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5320, INSERM U1212, Bordeaux 33076, France
| | - Hiroshi Sugiyama
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.,Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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6
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Reiling-Steffensmeier C, Marky LA. Structural Insight into the Unbound State of the DNA Analogue of the PreQ 1 Riboswitch: A Thermodynamic Approach. Biochemistry 2017; 56:6231-6239. [PMID: 29076719 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The preQ1 riboswitch aptamer domain is very dynamic in its unbound state with the ability to form multiple structures: a hairpin, kissing hairpins, and pseudoknot-like structure. The aim of this study is to determine whether the DNA analogue (PreQ1) is able to form structures similar to that of the reported RNA aptamer. Using a thermodynamic approach, we report on structural determination using differential scanning calorimetry under different salt conditions. Further analysis of the primary sequence allowed us to design modified molecules to determine what potential structures are forming in this single-stranded DNA analogue. We found, in a 16 mM Na+ solution, PreQ1 has three transitions with TM values of 14.8, 19.4, and 26.2 °C and a total ΔH of -44.7 kcal/mol. With the increase in salt concentration to 116 mM, there are TM values of 22.3, 28.7, and 38.9 °C and a ΔH of -69.1 kcal/mol, while at 216 mM, the three transitions have TM values of 24.4, 31.6, and 42.9 °C with a total ΔH of -71.5 kcal/mol. Therefore, the increase in enthalpy is due to the formation of additional base-pair stacks. The modified molecules, which would inhibit pseudoknot formation, kissing hairpins, and internal loop interactions, were fully characterized and compared to the native DNA analogue. The analysis of the enthalpy and differential binding of counterions allows us to conclude this single-stranded DNA analogue under physiological conditions is not forming a pseudoknot-like structure. Instead, two potential structures, Compact-Hairpin and Kissing-Complex, are more likely and could be in equilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calliste Reiling-Steffensmeier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center , 986025 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6025, United States
| | - Luis A Marky
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center , 986025 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6025, United States
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7
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Ruan M, Seydou M, Noel V, Piro B, Maurel F, Barbault F. Molecular Dynamics Simulation of a RNA Aptasensor. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:4071-4080. [PMID: 28363022 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Single-stranded RNA aptamers have emerged as novel biosensor tools. However, the immobilization procedure of the aptamer onto a surface generally induces a loss of affinity. To understand this molecular process, we conducted a complete simulation study for the Flavin mononucleotide aptamer for which experimental data are available. Several molecular dynamics simulations (MD) of the Flavin in complex with its RNA aptamer were conducted in solution, linked with six thymidines (T6) and, finally, immobilized on an hexanol-thiol-functionalized gold surface. First, we demonstrated that our MD computations were able to reproduce the experimental solution structure and to provide a meaningful estimation of the Flavin free energy of binding. We also demonstrated that the T6 linkage, by itself, does not generate a perturbation of the Flavin recognition process. From the simulation of the complete biosensor system, we observed that the aptamer stays oriented parallel to the surface at a distance around 36 Å avoiding, this way, interaction with the surface. We evidenced a structural reorganization of the Flavin aptamer binding mode related to the loss of affinity and induced by an anisotropic distribution of sodium cationic densities. This means that ionic diffusion is different between the surface and the aptamer than above this last one. We suggest that these findings might be extrapolated to other nucleic acids systems for the future design of biosensors with higher efficiency and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Ruan
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, ITODYS, UMR 7086, CNRS, 15 rue J-A de Baïf, 75013 Paris, France.,School of Materials and Metallurgy, Hubei Polytechnic University , Huangshi, Hubei, China
| | - Mahamadou Seydou
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, ITODYS, UMR 7086, CNRS, 15 rue J-A de Baïf, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Vincent Noel
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, ITODYS, UMR 7086, CNRS, 15 rue J-A de Baïf, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Benoit Piro
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, ITODYS, UMR 7086, CNRS, 15 rue J-A de Baïf, 75013 Paris, France
| | - François Maurel
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, ITODYS, UMR 7086, CNRS, 15 rue J-A de Baïf, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Florent Barbault
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, ITODYS, UMR 7086, CNRS, 15 rue J-A de Baïf, 75013 Paris, France
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8
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Barth A, Kobbe D, Focke M. DNA-DNA kissing complexes as a new tool for the assembly of DNA nanostructures. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:1502-13. [PMID: 26773051 PMCID: PMC4770242 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Kissing-loop annealing of nucleic acids occurs in nature in several viruses and in prokaryotic replication, among other circumstances. Nucleobases of two nucleic acid strands (loops) interact with each other, although the two strands cannot wrap around each other completely because of the adjacent double-stranded regions (stems). In this study, we exploited DNA kissing-loop interaction for nanotechnological application. We functionalized the vertices of DNA tetrahedrons with DNA stem-loop sequences. The complementary loop sequence design allowed the hybridization of different tetrahedrons via kissing-loop interaction, which might be further exploited for nanotechnology applications like cargo transport and logical elements. Importantly, we were able to manipulate the stability of those kissing-loop complexes based on the choice and concentration of cations, the temperature and the number of complementary loops per tetrahedron either at the same or at different vertices. Moreover, variations in loop sequences allowed the characterization of necessary sequences within the loop as well as additional stability control of the kissing complexes. Therefore, the properties of the presented nanostructures make them an important tool for DNA nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Barth
- Botanical Institute II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hertzstrasse 16, Karlsruhe, 76187, Germany
| | - Daniela Kobbe
- Botanical Institute II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hertzstrasse 16, Karlsruhe, 76187, Germany
| | - Manfred Focke
- Botanical Institute II, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hertzstrasse 16, Karlsruhe, 76187, Germany
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9
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Romano F, Hudson A, Doye JPK, Ouldridge TE, Louis AA. The effect of topology on the structure and free energy landscape of DNA kissing complexes. J Chem Phys 2012; 136:215102. [PMID: 22697570 DOI: 10.1063/1.4722203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We use a recently developed coarse-grained model for DNA to study kissing complexes formed by hybridization of complementary hairpin loops. The binding of the loops is topologically constrained because their linking number must remain constant. By studying systems with linking numbers -1, 0, or 1 we show that the average number of interstrand base pairs is larger when the topology is more favourable for the right-handed wrapping of strands around each other. The thermodynamic stability of the kissing complex also decreases when the linking number changes from -1 to 0 to 1. The structures of the kissing complexes typically involve two intermolecular helices that coaxially stack with the hairpin stems at a parallel four-way junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Romano
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
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10
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Hong C, Hagihara M, Nakatani K. Ligand-Assisted Complex Formation of Two DNA Hairpin Loops. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201100075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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11
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Hong C, Hagihara M, Nakatani K. Ligand-Assisted Complex Formation of Two DNA Hairpin Loops. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011; 50:4390-3. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201100075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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12
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Tulpan D, Andronescu M, Leger S. Free energy estimation of short DNA duplex hybridizations. BMC Bioinformatics 2010; 11:105. [PMID: 20181279 PMCID: PMC2837027 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-11-105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2009] [Accepted: 02/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estimation of DNA duplex hybridization free energy is widely used for predicting cross-hybridizations in DNA computing and microarray experiments. A number of software programs based on different methods and parametrizations are available for the theoretical estimation of duplex free energies. However, significant differences in free energy values are sometimes observed among estimations obtained with various methods, thus being difficult to decide what value is the accurate one. RESULTS We present in this study a quantitative comparison of the similarities and differences among four published DNA/DNA duplex free energy calculation methods and an extended Nearest-Neighbour Model for perfect matches based on triplet interactions. The comparison was performed on a benchmark data set with 695 pairs of short oligos that we collected and manually curated from 29 publications. Sequence lengths range from 4 to 30 nucleotides and span a large GC-content percentage range. For perfect matches, we propose an extension of the Nearest-Neighbour Model that matches or exceeds the performance of the existing ones, both in terms of correlations and root mean squared errors. The proposed model was trained on experimental data with temperature, sodium and sequence concentration characteristics that span a wide range of values, thus conferring the model a higher power of generalization when used for free energy estimations of DNA duplexes under non-standard experimental conditions. CONCLUSIONS Based on our preliminary results, we conclude that no statistically significant differences exist among free energy approximations obtained with 4 publicly available and widely used programs, when benchmarked against a collection of 695 pairs of short oligos collected and curated by the authors of this work based on 29 publications. The extended Nearest-Neighbour Model based on triplet interactions presented in this work is capable of performing accurate estimations of free energies for perfect match duplexes under both standard and non-standard experimental conditions and may serve as a baseline for further developments in this area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Tulpan
- National Research Council of Canada, Institute of Information Technology, 100 des Aboiteaux Street, Suite 1100, Moncton, NB E1A7R1, Canada.
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13
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Escaja N, Gómez-Pinto I, Viladoms J, Rico M, Pedroso E, González C. Induced-fit recognition of DNA by small circular oligonucleotides. Chemistry 2007; 12:4035-42. [PMID: 16607659 DOI: 10.1002/chem.200600050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
We have investigated the molecular interaction between cyclic and linear oligonucleotides. We have found that short cyclic oligonucleotides can induce hairpinlike structures in linear DNA fragments. By using NMR and CD spectroscopy we have studied the interaction of the cyclic oligonucleotide d<pCCTTCGGT> with d<pCAGTCCCT>, as well as with its two linear analogs d(GTCCCTCA) and d(CTCAGTCC). Here we report the NMR structural study of these complexes. Recognition between these oligonucleotides occurs through formation of four intermolecular Watson-Crick base pairs. The three-dimensional structure is stabilized by two tetrads, formed by facing the minor-groove side of the Watson-Crick base pairs. Overall, the structure is similar to those observed previously in other quadruplexes formed by minor-groove alignment of Watson-Crick base pairs. However, in this case the complexes are heterodimeric and are formed by two different tetrads (G:C:A:T and G:C:G:C). These complexes represent a new model of DNA recognition by small cyclic oligonucleotides, increasing the number of potential applications of these interesting molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Escaja
- Departament de Química Orgànica, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí I Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Abstract
CTG triplet repeat sequences have been found to form slipped-strand structures leading to self-expansion during DNA replication. The lengthening of these repeats causes the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, such as myotonic dystrophy. In this study, electrophoretic and NMR spectroscopic studies have been carried out to investigate the length and the structural roles of CTG repeats in affecting the hairpin formation propensity. Direct NMR evidence has been successfully obtained the first time to support the presence of three types of hairpin structures in sequences containing 1–10 CTG repeats. The first type contains no intra-loop hydrogen bond and occurs when the number of repeats is less than four. The second type has a 4 nt TGCT-loop and occurs in sequences with even number of repeats. The third type contains a 3 nt CTG-loop and occurs in sequences with odd number of repeats. Although stabilizing interactions have been identified between CTG repeats in both the second and third types of hairpins, the structural differences observed account for the higher hairpin formation propensity in sequences containing even number of CTG repeats. The results of this study confirm the hairpin loop structures and explain how slippage occurs during DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sik Lok Lam
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +852 2609 8126; Fax: +852 2603 5057;
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15
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Beaurain F, Di Primo C, Toulmé JJ, Laguerre M. Molecular dynamics reveals the stabilizing role of loop closing residues in kissing interactions: comparison between TAR-TAR* and TAR-aptamer. Nucleic Acids Res 2003; 31:4275-84. [PMID: 12853646 PMCID: PMC165981 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkg467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2002] [Revised: 01/21/2003] [Accepted: 05/10/2003] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A RNA aptamer (R06) raised against the trans- activation responsive (TAR) element of HIV-1 was previously shown to generate a loop-loop complex whose stability is strongly dependent on the selected G and A residues closing the aptamer loop. The rationally designed TAR* RNA hairpin with a loop sequence fully complementary to the TAR element, closed by U,A residues, also engages in a loop-loop association with TAR, but with a lower stability compared with the TAR-R06 complex. UV absorption monitored thermal denaturation showed that TAR-TAR*(GA), in which the U,A kissing residues were exchanged for G,A, is as stable as the selected TAR-R06 complex. Consequently, we used the TAR-TAR* structure deduced from NMR studies to model the TAR-R06 complex with either GA, CA or UA loop closing residues. The results of the molecular dynamics trajectories correlate well with the thermal denaturation experiments and show that the increased stability of the GA variant results from an optimized stacking of the bases at the stem-loop junction and from stable interbackbone hydrogen bonds.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Beaurain
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, CNRS UMR 5144, 16 Avenue Pey Berland, F-33607 Pessac Cedex, France.
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Horiya S, Li X, Kawai G, Saito R, Katoh A, Kobayashi K, Harada K. RNA LEGO: magnesium-dependent formation of specific RNA assemblies through kissing interactions. CHEMISTRY & BIOLOGY 2003; 10:645-54. [PMID: 12890538 DOI: 10.1016/s1074-5521(03)00146-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The high affinity and specificity of nucleic acid base complementarity has been proven to be a powerful method for constructing specific molecular assemblies. On the other hand, recent structural studies of RNA have revealed the wide range of tertiary interactions utilized in RNA folding, which may potentially be used as tools for the design of specific macromolecular assemblies. Here, RNA building blocks containing two hairpin loops, based on the dimerization initiation site (DIS) of HIV RNA, connected by a short linker were used to construct large RNA assemblies through hairpin loop-loop ("kissing") interactions. We show that specific linear and circular assemblies can be constructed in a magnesium-dependent manner using several non-self-complementary loop-loop interactions designed in this study. These results show that the use of RNA tertiary interactions may broaden the repertoire of nucleic acid-based nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Horiya
- Department of Life Science, Tokyo Gakugei University, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8501, Japan
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Völker J, Makube N, Plum GE, Klump HH, Breslauer KJ. Conformational energetics of stable and metastable states formed by DNA triplet repeat oligonucleotides: implications for triplet expansion diseases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:14700-5. [PMID: 12417759 PMCID: PMC137482 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.222519799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We have embedded the hexameric triplet repeats (CAG)(6) and (CTG)(6) between two (GC)(3) domains to produce two 30-mer hairpins with the sequences d[(GC)(3)(CAG)(6)(GC)(3)] and d[(GC)(3)(CTG)(6)(GC)(3)]. This construct reduces the conformational space available to these repetitive DNA sequences. We find that the (CAG)(6) and (CTG)(6) repeats form stable, ordered, single-stranded structures. These structures are stabilized at 62 degrees C by an average enthalpy per base of 1.38 kcal.mol(-1) for the CAG triplet and 2.87 kcal.mol(-1) for the CTG triplet, while being entropically destabilized by 3.50 cal.K(-1).mol(-1) for the CAG triplet and 7.6 cal.K(-1).mol(-1) for the CTG triplet. Remarkably, these values correspond, respectively, to 1/3 (for CAG) and 2/3 (for CTG) of the enthalpy and entropy per base values associated with Watson-Crick base pairs. We show that the presence of the loop structure kinetically inhibits duplex formation from the two complementary 30-mer hairpins, even though the duplex is the thermodynamically more stable state. Duplex formation, however, does occur at elevated temperatures. We propose that this thermally induced formation of a more stable duplex results from thermal disruption of the single-stranded order, thereby allowing the complementary domains to associate (perhaps via "kissing hairpins"). Our melting profiles show that, once duplex formation has occurred, the hairpin intermediate state cannot be reformed, consistent with our interpretation of kinetically trapped hairpin structures. The duplex formed by the two complementary oligonucleotides does not have any unusual optical or thermodynamic properties. By contrast, the very stable structures formed by the individual single-stranded triplet repeat sequences are thermally and thermodynamically unusual. We discuss this stable, triplet repeat, single-stranded structure and its interconversion with duplex in terms of triplet expansion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Völker
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway 08854, USA
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