1
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Lee Y, Gu S, Al-Hashimi HM. Insights into the A-C Mismatch Conformational Ensemble in Duplex DNA and its Role in Genetic Processes through a Structure-based Review. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168710. [PMID: 39009073 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168710] [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: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Knowing the conformational ensembles formed by mismatches is crucial for understanding how they are generated and repaired and how they contribute to genomic instability. Here, we review structural and energetic studies of the A-C mismatch in duplex DNA and use the information to identify critical conformational states in its ensemble and their significance in genetic processes. In the 1970s, Topal and Fresco proposed the A-C wobble stabilized by two hydrogen bonds, one requiring protonation of adenine-N1. Subsequent NMR and X-ray crystallography studies showed that the protonated A-C wobble was in dynamic equilibrium with a neutral inverted wobble. The mismatch was shown to destabilize duplex DNA in a sequence- and pH-dependent manner by 2.4-3.8 kcal/mol and to have an apparent pKa ranging between 7.2 and 7.7. The A-C mismatch conformational repertoire expanded as structures were determined for damaged and protein-bound DNA. These structures included Watson-Crick-like conformations forming through tautomerization of the bases that drive replication errors, the reverse wobble forming through rotation of the entire nucleotide proposed to increase the fidelity of DNA replication, and the Hoogsteen base-pair forming through the flipping of the adenine base which explained the unusual specificity of DNA polymerases that bypass DNA damage. Thus, the A-C mismatch ensemble encompasses various conformational states that can be selectively stabilized in response to environmental changes such as pH shifts, intermolecular interactions, and chemical modifications, and these adaptations facilitate critical biological processes. This review also highlights the utility of existing 3D structures to build ensemble models for nucleic acid motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongjoon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Gu
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, United States of America
| | - Hashim M Al-Hashimi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States of America.
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2
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Lin SM, Huang HT, Fang PJ, Chang CF, Satange R, Chang CK, Chou SH, Neidle S, Hou MH. Structural basis of water-mediated cis Watson-Crick/Hoogsteen base-pair formation in non-CpG methylation. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:8566-8579. [PMID: 38989613 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae594] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-CpG methylation is associated with several cellular processes, especially neuronal development and cancer, while its effect on DNA structure remains unclear. We have determined the crystal structures of DNA duplexes containing -CGCCG- regions as CCG repeat motifs that comprise a non-CpG site with or without cytosine methylation. Crystal structure analyses have revealed that the mC:G base-pair can simultaneously form two alternative conformations arising from non-CpG methylation, including a unique water-mediated cis Watson-Crick/Hoogsteen, (w)cWH, and Watson-Crick (WC) geometries, with partial occupancies of 0.1 and 0.9, respectively. NMR studies showed that an alternative conformation of methylated mC:G base-pair at non-CpG step exhibits characteristics of cWH with a syn-guanosine conformation in solution. DNA duplexes complexed with the DNA binding drug echinomycin result in increased occupancy of the (w)cWH geometry in the methylated base-pair (from 0.1 to 0.3). Our structural results demonstrated that cytosine methylation at a non-CpG step leads to an anti→syntransition of its complementary guanosine residue toward the (w)cWH geometry as a partial population of WC, in both drug-bound and naked mC:G base pairs. This particular geometry is specific to non-CpG methylated dinucleotide sites in B-form DNA. Overall, the current study provides new insights into DNA conformation during epigenetic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Meng Lin
- Graduate Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Ti Huang
- Graduate Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Ju Fang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Fon Chang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Roshan Satange
- Graduate Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Ke Chang
- Taiwan Biobank, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Shan-Ho Chou
- Institute of Biochemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Stephen Neidle
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Ming-Hon Hou
- Graduate Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Doctoral Program in Medical Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
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3
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Smith SS. The bisulfite reaction with cytosine and genomic DNA structure. Anal Biochem 2024; 691:115532. [PMID: 38609028 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2024.115532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The bisulfite reaction with native DNA has been extensively employed in the detection of non-B DNA structures that can form spontaneously in DNA. These sequences are dynamic in that they can adopt both normal Watson-Crick paired B-DNA or unusual structures like the Triplex, G-Quadruplex, i-motif and Cruciform or Hairpin. Considerable evidence now suggests that these dynamic sequences play roles in both epigenetics and mutagenesis. The bisulfite reaction with native DNA offers a key approach to their detection. In this application whole cells, isolated nuclei or isolated DNA are treated with bisulfite under non-denaturing conditions in order to detect bisulfite accessible regions DNA that are associated with these structures. Here I review the stereochemistry of the bisulfite reaction, the electronic structure of its DNA cytosine substrates and its application in the detection of unusual structures in native DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven S Smith
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
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4
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Manghrani A, Rangadurai AK, Szekely O, Liu B, Guseva S, Al-Hashimi HM. Quantitative and systematic NMR measurements of sequence-dependent A-T Hoogsteen dynamics uncovers unique conformational specificity in the DNA double helix. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.15.594415. [PMID: 38798635 PMCID: PMC11118333 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.15.594415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The propensities to form lowly-populated short-lived conformations of DNA could vary with sequence, providing an important source of sequence-specificity in biochemical reactions. However, comprehensively measuring how these dynamics vary with sequence is challenging. Using 1H CEST and 13C R 1 ρ NMR, we measured Watson-Crick to Hoogsteen dynamics for an A-T base pair in thirteen trinucleotide sequence contexts. The Hoogsteen population and exchange rate varied 4-fold and 16-fold, respectively, and were dependent on both the 3'- and 5'-neighbors but only weakly dependent on monovalent ion concentration (25 versus 100 mM NaCl) and pH (6.8 versus 8.0). Flexible TA and CA dinucleotide steps exhibited the highest Hoogsteen populations, and their kinetics rates strongly depended on the 3'-neighbor. In contrast, the stiffer AA and GA steps had the lowest Hoogsteen population, and their kinetics were weakly dependent on the 3'-neighbor. The Hoogsteen lifetime was especially short when G-C neighbors flanked the A-T base pair. The Hoogsteen dynamics had a distinct sequence-dependence compared to duplex stability and minor groove width. Thus, our results uncover a unique source of sequence-specificity hidden within the DNA double helix in the form of A-T Hoogsteen dynamics and establish the utility of 1H CEST to quantitively measure sequence-dependent DNA dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Manghrani
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27705, United States
| | - Atul Kaushik Rangadurai
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27705, United States
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Or Szekely
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27705, United States
| | - Bei Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27705, United States
| | - Serafima Guseva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Hashim M. Al-Hashimi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, United States
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5
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Gu S, Al-Hashimi HM. Direct Measurement of 8OG Syn-Anti Flips in Mutagenic 8OG·A and Long-Range Damage-Dependent Hoogsteen Breathing Dynamics Using 1H CEST NMR. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:4087-4096. [PMID: 38644782 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00316] [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: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Elucidating how damage impacts DNA dynamics is essential for understanding the mechanisms of damage recognition and repair. Many DNA lesions alter their propensities to form low-populated and short-lived conformational states. However, NMR methods to measure these dynamics require isotopic enrichment, which is difficult for damaged nucleotides. Here, we demonstrate the utility of the 1H chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) NMR experiment in measuring the dynamics of oxidatively damaged 8-oxoguanine (8OG) in the mutagenic 8OGsyn·Aanti mismatch. Using 8OG-H7 as an NMR probe of the damaged base, we directly measured 8OG syn-anti flips to form a lowly populated (pop. ∼ 5%) and short-lived (lifetime ∼50 ms) nonmutagenic 8OGanti·Aanti. These exchange parameters were in quantitative agreement with values from 13C off-resonance R1ρ and CEST on the labeled partner adenine. The Watson-Crick-like 8OGsyn·Aanti mismatch also rescued the kinetics of Hoogsteen motions at distant A-T base pairs, which the G·A mismatch had slowed down. The results lend further support for 8OGanti·Aanti as a minor conformational state of 8OG·A, reveal that 8OG damage can impact Hoogsteen dynamics at a distance, and demonstrate the utility of 1H CEST for measuring damage-dependent dynamics in unlabeled DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Gu
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Hashim M Al-Hashimi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, United States
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6
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Gu S, Al-Hashimi HM. Direct Measurement of 8OG syn-anti Flips in Mutagenic 8OG•A and Long-Range Damage-Dependent Hoogsteen Breathing Dynamics Using 1H CEST NMR. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.15.575532. [PMID: 38293035 PMCID: PMC10827055 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.15.575532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Elucidating how damage impacts DNA dynamics is essential for understanding the mechanisms of damage recognition and repair. Many DNA lesions alter the propensities to form lowly-populated and short-lived conformational states. However, NMR methods to measure these dynamics require isotopic enrichment, which is difficult for damaged nucleotides. Here, we demonstrate the utility of the 1H chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) NMR experiment in measuring the dynamics of oxidatively damaged 8-oxoguanine (8OG) in the mutagenic 8OGsyn•Aanti mismatch. Using 8OG-H7 as an NMR probe of the damaged base, we directly measured 8OG syn-anti flips to form a lowly-populated (pop. ~ 5%) and short-lived (lifetime ~ 50 ms) non-mutagenic 8OGanti•Aanti. These exchange parameters were in quantitative agreement with values from 13C off-resonance R1ρ and CEST on a labeled partner adenine. The Watson-Crick-like 8OGsyn•Aanti mismatch also rescued the kinetics of Hoogsteen motions at distance A-T base pairs, which the G•A mismatch had slowed down. The results lend further support for 8OGanti•Aanti as a minor conformational state of 8OG•A, reveal that 8OG damage can impact Hoogsteen dynamics at a distance, and demonstrate the utility of 1H CEST for measuring damage-dependent dynamics in unlabeled DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Gu
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hashim M. Al-Hashimi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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7
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Escobar CA, Petersen RJ, Tonelli M, Fan L, Henzler-Wildman KA, Butcher SE. Solution Structure of Poly(UG) RNA. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168340. [PMID: 37924862 PMCID: PMC10841838 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168340] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Poly(UG) or "pUG" RNAs are UG or GU dinucleotide repeat sequences which are highly abundant in eukaryotes. Post-transcriptional addition of pUGs to RNA 3' ends marks mRNAs as vectors for gene silencing in C. elegans. We previously determined the crystal structure of pUG RNA bound to the ligand N-methyl mesoporphyrin IX (NMM), but the structure of free pUG RNA is unknown. Here we report the solution structure of the free pUG RNA (GU)12, as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and small and wide-angle x-ray scattering (NMR-SAXS-WAXS). The low complexity sequence and 4-fold symmetry of the structure result in overlapped NMR signals that complicate chemical shift assignment. We therefore utilized single site-specific deoxyribose modifications which did not perturb the structure and introduced well-resolved methylene signals that are easily identified in NMR spectra. The solution structure ensemble has a root mean squared deviation (RMSD) of 0.62 Å and is a compact, left-handed quadruplex with a Z-form backbone, or "pUG fold." Overall, the structure agrees with the crystal structure of (GU)12 bound to NMM, indicating the pUG fold is unaltered by docking of the NMM ligand. The solution structure reveals conformational details that could not be resolved by x-ray crystallography, which explain how the pUG fold can form within longer RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian A Escobar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Riley J Petersen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Marco Tonelli
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Lixin Fan
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, SAXS Core Facility of National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Katherine A Henzler-Wildman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Samuel E Butcher
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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8
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Bhai L, Thomas JK, Conroy DW, Xu Y, Al-Hashimi HM, Jaroniec CP. Hydrogen bonding in duplex DNA probed by DNP enhanced solid-state NMR N-H bond length measurements. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1286172. [PMID: 38111464 PMCID: PMC10726973 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1286172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous biological processes and mechanisms depend on details of base pairing and hydrogen bonding in DNA. Hydrogen bonds are challenging to quantify by X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM due to difficulty of visualizing hydrogen atom locations but can be probed with site specificity by NMR spectroscopy in solution and the solid state with the latter particularly suited to large, slowly tumbling DNA complexes. Recently, we showed that low-temperature dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhanced solid-state NMR is a valuable tool for distinguishing Hoogsteen base pairs (bps) from canonical Watson-Crick bps in various DNA systems under native-like conditions. Here, using a model 12-mer DNA duplex containing two central adenine-thymine (A-T) bps in either Watson-Crick or Hoogsteen confirmation, we demonstrate DNP solid-state NMR measurements of thymine N3-H3 bond lengths, which are sensitive to details of N-H···N hydrogen bonding and permit hydrogen bonds for the two bp conformers to be systematically compared within the same DNA sequence context. For this DNA duplex, effectively identical TN3-H3 bond lengths of 1.055 ± 0.011 Å and 1.060 ± 0.011 Å were found for Watson-Crick A-T and Hoogsteen A (syn)-T base pairs, respectively, relative to a reference amide bond length of 1.015 ± 0.010 Å determined for N-acetyl-valine under comparable experimental conditions. Considering that prior quantum chemical calculations which account for zero-point motions predict a somewhat longer effective peptide N-H bond length of 1.041 Å, in agreement with solution and solid-state NMR studies of peptides and proteins at ambient temperature, to facilitate direct comparisons with these earlier studies TN3-H3 bond lengths for the DNA samples can be readily scaled appropriately to yield 1.083 Å and 1.087 Å for Watson-Crick A-T and Hoogsteen A (syn)-T bps, respectively, relative to the 1.041 Å reference peptide N-H bond length. Remarkably, in the context of the model DNA duplex, these results indicate that there are no significant differences in N-H···N A-T hydrogen bonds between Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen bp conformers. More generally, high precision measurements of N-H bond lengths by low-temperature DNP solid-state NMR based methods are expected to facilitate detailed comparative analysis of hydrogen bonding for a range of DNA complexes and base pairing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Bhai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Justin K. Thomas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Daniel W. Conroy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Hashim M. Al-Hashimi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christopher P. Jaroniec
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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9
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Demir M, Russelburg LP, Lin WJ, Trasviña-Arenas C, Huang B, Yuen P, Horvath M, David S. Structural snapshots of base excision by the cancer-associated variant MutY N146S reveal a retaining mechanism. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:1034-1049. [PMID: 36631987 PMCID: PMC9943663 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA glycosylase MutY plays a critical role in suppression of mutations resulted from oxidative damage, as highlighted by cancer-association of the human enzyme. MutY requires a highly conserved catalytic Asp residue for excision of adenines misinserted opposite 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG). A nearby Asn residue hydrogen bonds to the catalytic Asp in structures of MutY and its mutation to Ser is an inherited variant in human MUTYH associated with colorectal cancer. We captured structural snapshots of N146S Geobacillus stearothermophilus MutY bound to DNA containing a substrate, a transition state analog and enzyme-catalyzed abasic site products to provide insight into the base excision mechanism of MutY and the role of Asn. Surprisingly, despite the ability of N146S to excise adenine and purine (P) in vitro, albeit at slow rates, N146S-OG:P complex showed a calcium coordinated to the purine base altering its conformation to inhibit hydrolysis. We obtained crystal structures of N146S Gs MutY bound to its abasic site product by removing the calcium from crystals of N146S-OG:P complex to initiate catalysis in crystallo or by crystallization in the absence of calcium. The product structures of N146S feature enzyme-generated β-anomer abasic sites that support a retaining mechanism for MutY-catalyzed base excision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Demir
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - L Peyton Russelburg
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Wen-Jen Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | | | - Beili Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Philip K Yuen
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Martin P Horvath
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sheila S David
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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10
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Pluta R, Aragón E, Prescott NA, Ruiz L, Mees RA, Baginski B, Flood JR, Martin-Malpartida P, Massagué J, David Y, Macias MJ. Molecular basis for DNA recognition by the maternal pioneer transcription factor FoxH1. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7279. [PMID: 36435807 PMCID: PMC9701222 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34925-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box H1 (FoxH1) is an essential maternal pioneer factor during embryonic development that binds to specific GG/GT-containing DNA target sequences. Here we have determined high-resolution structures of three FoxH1 proteins (from human, frog and fish species) and four DNAs to clarify the way in which FoxH1 binds to these sites. We found that the protein-DNA interactions extend to both the minor and major DNA grooves and are thus almost twice as extensive as those of other FOX family members. Moreover, we identified two specific amino acid changes in FoxH1 that allowed the recognition of GG/GT motifs. Consistent with the pioneer factor activity of FoxH1, we found that its affinity for nucleosomal DNA is even higher than for linear DNA fragments. The structures reported herein illustrate how FoxH1 binding to distinct DNA sites provides specificity and avoids cross-regulation by other FOX proteins that also operate during the maternal-zygotic transition and select canonical forkhead sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radoslaw Pluta
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Eric Aragón
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Nicholas A Prescott
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY, USA
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Lidia Ruiz
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Rebeca A Mees
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Blazej Baginski
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Julia R Flood
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Pau Martin-Malpartida
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Joan Massagué
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yael David
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Maria J Macias
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona, 08010, Spain.
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11
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Geronimo I, De Vivo M. Alchemical Free-Energy Calculations of Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen Base Pairing Interconversion in DNA. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:6966-6973. [PMID: 36201305 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hoogsteen (HG) base pairs have a transient nature and can be structurally similar to Watson-Crick (WC) base pairs, making their occurrence and thermodynamic stability difficult to determine experimentally. Herein, we employed the restrain-free-energy perturbation-release (R-FEP-R) method to calculate the relative free energy of the WC and HG base pairing modes in isolated and bound DNA systems and predict the glycosyl torsion conformational preference of purine bases. Notably, this method does not require prior knowledge of the transition pathway between the two end states. Remarkably, relatively fast convergence was reached, with results in excellent agreement with experimental data for all the examined DNA systems. The R-REP-R method successfully determined the stability of HG base pairing and more generally, the conformational preference of purine bases, in these systems. Therefore, this computational approach can help to understand the dynamic equilibrium between the WC and HG base pairing modes in DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inacrist Geronimo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling & Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genoa 16163, Italy
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling & Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genoa 16163, Italy
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12
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Conroy DW, Xu Y, Shi H, Gonzalez Salguero N, Purusottam RN, Shannon MD, Al-Hashimi HM, Jaroniec CP. Probing Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen base pairing in duplex DNA using dynamic nuclear polarization solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2200681119. [PMID: 35857870 PMCID: PMC9335254 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2200681119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of base pairs in double-stranded DNA exist in the canonical Watson-Crick geometry. However, they can also adopt alternate Hoogsteen conformations in various complexes of DNA with proteins and small molecules, which are key for biological function and mechanism. While detection of Hoogsteen base pairs in large DNA complexes and assemblies poses considerable challenges for traditional structural biology techniques, we show here that multidimensional dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced solid-state NMR can serve as a unique spectroscopic tool for observing and distinguishing Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen base pairs in a broad range of DNA systems based on characteristic NMR chemical shifts and internuclear dipolar couplings. We illustrate this approach using a model 12-mer DNA duplex, free and in complex with the antibiotic echinomycin, which features two central adenine-thymine base pairs with Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen geometry, respectively, and subsequently extend it to the ∼200 kDa Widom 601 DNA nucleosome core particle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W. Conroy
- aDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Yu Xu
- bDepartment of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
| | - Honglue Shi
- bDepartment of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
| | | | - Rudra N. Purusottam
- aDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Matthew D. Shannon
- aDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Hashim M. Al-Hashimi
- bDepartment of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
- cDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
- dDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
- 1To whom correspondence may be addressed. or
| | - Christopher P. Jaroniec
- aDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
- 1To whom correspondence may be addressed. or
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13
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Satange R, Kao SH, Chien CM, Chou SH, Lin CC, Neidle S, Hou MH. Staggered intercalation of DNA duplexes with base-pair modulation by two distinct drug molecules induces asymmetric backbone twisting and structure polymorphism. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8867-8881. [PMID: 35871296 PMCID: PMC9410880 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of multiple drugs simultaneously targeting DNA is a promising strategy in cancer therapy for potentially overcoming single drug resistance. In support of this concept, we report that a combination of actinomycin D (ActD) and echinomycin (Echi), can interact in novel ways with native and mismatched DNA sequences, distinct from the structural effects produced by either drug alone. Changes in the former with GpC and CpG steps separated by a A:G or G:A mismatch or in a native DNA with canonical G:C and C:G base pairs, result in significant asymmetric backbone twists through staggered intercalation and base pair modulations. A wobble or Watson–Crick base pair at the two drug-binding interfaces can result in a single-stranded ‘chair-shaped’ DNA duplex with a straight helical axis. However, a novel sugar-edged hydrogen bonding geometry in the G:A mismatch leads to a ‘curved-shaped’ duplex. Two non-canonical G:C Hoogsteen base pairings produce a sharply kinked duplex in different forms and a four-way junction-like superstructure, respectively. Therefore, single base pair modulations on the two drug-binding interfaces could significantly affect global DNA structure. These structures thus provide a rationale for atypical DNA recognition via multiple DNA intercalators and a structural basis for the drugs’ potential synergetic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshan Satange
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University , Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University , Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hao Kao
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University , Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ming Chien
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University , Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Shan-Ho Chou
- Institute of Biochemistry, National Chung Hsing University , Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chien Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Science, National Chung Hsing University , Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Stephen Neidle
- The School of Pharmacy, University College London , London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
| | - Ming-Hon Hou
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University , Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University , Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University , Taichung 402, Taiwan
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14
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Measuring thermodynamic preferences to form non-native conformations in nucleic acids using ultraviolet melting. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2112496119. [PMID: 35671421 PMCID: PMC9214542 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112496119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermodynamic preferences to form non-native conformations are crucial for understanding how nucleic acids fold and function. However, they are difficult to measure experimentally because this requires accurately determining the population of minor low-abundance (<10%) conformations in a sea of other conformations. Here, we show that melting experiments enable facile measurements of thermodynamic preferences to adopt nonnative conformations in DNA and RNA. The key to this "delta-melt" approach is to use chemical modifications to render specific minor non-native conformations the major state. The validity and robustness of delta-melt is established for four different non-native conformations under various physiological conditions and sequence contexts through independent measurements of thermodynamic preferences using NMR. Delta-melt is faster relative to NMR, simple, and cost-effective and enables thermodynamic preferences to be measured for exceptionally low-populated conformations. Using delta-melt, we obtained rare insights into conformational cooperativity, obtaining evidence for significant cooperativity (1.0 to 2.5 kcal/mol) when simultaneously forming two adjacent Hoogsteen base pairs. We also measured the thermodynamic preferences to form G-C+ and A-T Hoogsteen and A-T base open states for nearly all 16 trinucleotide sequence contexts and found distinct sequence-specific variations on the order of 2 to 3 kcal/mol. This rich landscape of sequence-specific non-native minor conformations in the DNA double helix may help shape the sequence specificity of DNA biochemistry. Thus, melting experiments can now be used to access thermodynamic information regarding regions of the free energy landscape of biomolecules beyond the native folded and unfolded conformations.
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15
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Pérez de Alba Ortíz A, Vreede J, Ensing B. Sequence dependence of transient Hoogsteen base pairing in DNA. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010113. [PMID: 35617357 PMCID: PMC9177043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hoogsteen (HG) base pairing is characterized by a 180° rotation of the purine base with respect to the Watson-Crick-Franklin (WCF) motif. Recently, it has been found that both conformations coexist in a dynamical equilibrium and that several biological functions require HG pairs. This relevance has motivated experimental and computational investigations of the base-pairing transition. However, a systematic simulation of sequence variations has remained out of reach. Here, we employ advanced path-based methods to perform unprecedented free-energy calculations. Our methodology enables us to study the different mechanisms of purine rotation, either remaining inside or after flipping outside of the double helix. We study seven different sequences, which are neighbor variations of a well-studied A⋅T pair in A6-DNA. We observe the known effect of A⋅T steps favoring HG stability, and find evidence of triple-hydrogen-bonded neighbors hindering the inside transition. More importantly, we identify a dominant factor: the direction of the A rotation, with the 6-ring pointing either towards the longer or shorter segment of the chain, respectively relating to a lower or higher barrier. This highlights the role of DNA's relative flexibility as a modulator of the WCF/HG dynamic equilibrium. Additionally, we provide a robust methodology for future HG proclivity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Pérez de Alba Ortíz
- Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences and Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jocelyne Vreede
- Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences and Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bernd Ensing
- Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences and Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- AI4Science Laboratory, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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