i-motif solution structure and dynamics of the d(AACCCC) and d(CCCCAA) tetrahymena telomeric repeats

Modulation of the tetrameric I-motif folding of C-rich Tetrahymena telomeric sequences by hexitol nucleic acid (HNA) modifications

I-motifs are non-canonical DNA structures consisting of two parallel strands held together by hemiprotonated cytosine-cytosine+ base pairs, which intercalate to form a ordered column of stacked base pairs. This unique structure covers potential relevance in various fields, including gene regulation and biotechnological applications. A unique structural feature of I-motifs (iM), is the presence of sugar-sugar interactions through their extremely narrow minor grooves. Consistently, oligonucleotides containing pentose derivatives such as ribose, 2'-deoxyribose, arabinose, and 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroarabinose highlighted a very different attitude to fold into iM. On the other hand, there is significant attention focused on exploring sugar-modifications that can increase nucleic acids resistance to nuclease degradation, a crucial requirement for therapeutic applications. An interesting example, not addressed in the iM field yet, is represented by hexitol nucleic acid (HNA), a metabolically stable six-membered ring analogue compatible with A-like double helix formation. Herein, we selected two DNA C-rich Tetrahymena telomeric sequences whose tetrameric iMs were already resolved by NMR and we investigated the iM folding of related HNA and RNA oligonucleotides by circular dichroism, differential scanning calorimetry and NMR. The comparison of their behaviours vs the DNA counterparts provided interesting insights into the influence of the sugar on iM folding. In particular, ribose and hexitol prevented iM formation. However, by clustering the hexitol-containing residues at the 3'-end, it was possible to modulate the distribution of the different topological species described for the DNA iMs. These data open new avenues for the exploitation of sugar modifications for I-motif characterization and applications.

A Screening Protocol for Exploring Loop Length Requirements for the Formation of a Three Cytosine-Cytosine+ Base-Paired i-Motif

DNA sequences containing at least four runs of repetitive cytosines can fold into tetra-helical structures called i-Motifs (iMs). The interest in these DNA secondary structures is increasing due to their therapeutical and technological applications. Still, limited knowledge of their folding requirements is currently available. We developed a novel step-by-step pipeline for the systematic screening of putative iM-forming model sequences. Focusing on structures comprising only three cytosine-cytosine+ base pairs, we investigated what the minimal lengths of the loops required for formation of an intra-molecular iM are. Our data indicate that two and three nucleotides are required to connect the strands through the minor and majorgrooves of the iM, respectively. Additionally, they highlight an asymmetric behavior according to the distribution of the cytosines. Specifically, no sequence containing a single cytosine in the first and third run was able to fold into intra-molecular iMs with the same stability of those formed when the first and the third run comprise two cytosines. This knowledge represents a step forward toward the development of prediction tools for the proper identification of biologically functional iMs, as well as for the rational design of these secondary structures as technological devices.

Crystal Structure of an i-Motif from the HRAS Oncogene Promoter

An i-motif is a non-canonical DNA structure implicated in gene regulation and linked to cancers. The C-rich strand of the HRAS oncogene, 5'-CGCCCGTGCCCTGCGCCCGCAACCCGA-3' (herein referred to as iHRAS), forms an i-motif in vitro but its exact structure was unknown. HRAS is a member of the RAS proto-oncogene family. About 19 % of US cancer patients carry mutations in RAS genes. We solved the structure of iHRAS at 1.77 Å resolution. The structure reveals that iHRAS folds into a double hairpin. The two double hairpins associate in an antiparallel fashion, forming an i-motif dimer capped by two loops on each end and linked by a connecting region. Six C-C+ base pairs form each i-motif core, and the core regions are extended by a G-G base pair and a cytosine stacking. Extensive canonical and non-canonical base pairing and stacking stabilizes the connecting region and loops. The iHRAS structure is the first atomic resolution structure of an i-motif from a human oncogene. This structure sheds light on i-motifs folding and function in the cell.

Selectively Identifying Exposed-over-Unexposed C-C+ Pairs in Human Telomeric i-Motif Structures with Length-Dependent Polymorphism

The i-motif structure (iM) has attracted much attention, because of its in vivo bioactivity and wide in vitro applications such as DNA-based switches. Herein, the length-dependent folding of cytosine-rich repeats of the human telomeric 5'-(CCCTAA)_n-1CCC-3' (iM-n, where n = 2-8) was fully explored. We found that iM-4, iM-5, and iM-8 mainly form the intramolecular monomer iM structures, while a tetramolecular structure populates only for iM-3. However, iM-6 and iM-7 have the potential to fold as well into the dimeric iM structures besides the monomer ones. The natural hypericin (Hyp) was used as the polymorphism-selective probe to recognize the iM structures. Interestingly, only iM-3, iM-6, and iM-7 can efficiently switch on the Hyp fluorescence by specifically binding with the outmost C-C⁺ base pairs that are exposed directly to solution. However, other iM structures that fold in a way with a coverage of the outmost C-C⁺ pairs by loop sequences are totally unavailable for the Hyp binding. Theoretical modeling indicates that adaptive π-π and cation-π interactions contribute to the Hyp recognition toward the exposed C-C⁺ pairs. This specific iM recognition can be boosted by a photocatalytic DNAzyme construct. Our work provides a reliable fluorescence method to selectively explore the polymorphism of iM structures.

Cytosine-rich oligonucleotides incorporating a non-nucleotide loop: A further step towards the obtainment of physiologically stable i-motif DNA

i-Motifs, also known as i-tetraplexes, are secondary structures of DNA occurring in cytosine-rich oligonucleotides (CROs) that recall increasing interest in the scientific community for their relevance in various biological processes and DNA nanotechnology. This study reports the design of new structurally modified CROs, named Double-Ended-Linker-CROs (DEL-CROs), capable of forming stable i-motif structures. Here, two C-rich strands having sequences d(AC₄A) and d(C₆) have been attached, in a parallel fashion, to the two linker's edges by their 3' or 5' ends. The resulting DEL-CROs have been investigated for their capability to form i-motif structures by circular dichroism, poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis, HPLC-size-exclusion chromatography, and NMR studies. This investigation established that DEL-CROs could form more stable i-motif structures than the corresponding unmodified CROs. In particular, the i-motif formed by DEL-5'-d(C₆)₂ resulted stable enough to be detected even at near physiological conditions (37 °C, pH 7.0). The results open the way to developing pH-switchable nanocarriers and aptamers based on suitably functionalized DEL-CROs.

Revealing structural peculiarities of homopurine GA repetition stuck by i-motif clip

Non-canonical forms of nucleic acids represent challenging objects for both structure-determination and investigation of their potential role in living systems. In this work, we uncover a structure adopted by GA repetition locked in a parallel homoduplex by an i-motif. A series of DNA oligonucleotides comprising GAGA segment and C3 clip is analyzed by NMR and CD spectroscopies to understand the sequence-structure-stability relationships. We demonstrate how the relative position of the homopurine GAGA segment and the C3 clip as well as single-base mutations (guanine deamination and cytosine methylation) affect base pairing arrangement of purines, i-motif topology and overall stability. We focus on oligonucleotides C3GAGA and methylated GAGAC3 exhibiting the highest stability and structural uniformity which allowed determination of high-resolution structures further analyzed by unbiased molecular dynamics simulation. We describe sequence-specific supramolecular interactions on the junction between homoduplex and i-motif blocks that contribute to the overall stability of the structures. The results show that the distinct structural motifs can not only coexist in the tight neighborhood within the same molecule but even mutually support their formation. Our findings are expected to have general validity and could serve as guides in future structure and stability investigations of nucleic acids.

Mass Spectrometry of Nucleic Acid Noncovalent Complexes

Nucleic acids have been among the first targets for antitumor drugs and antibiotics. With the unveiling of new biological roles in regulation of gene expression, specific DNA and RNA structures have become very attractive targets, especially when the corresponding proteins are undruggable. Biophysical assays to assess target structure as well as ligand binding stoichiometry, affinity, specificity, and binding modes are part of the drug development process. Mass spectrometry offers unique advantages as a biophysical method owing to its ability to distinguish each stoichiometry present in a mixture. In addition, advanced mass spectrometry approaches (reactive probing, fragmentation techniques, ion mobility spectrometry, ion spectroscopy) provide more detailed information on the complexes. Here, we review the fundamentals of mass spectrometry and all its particularities when studying noncovalent nucleic acid structures, and then review what has been learned thanks to mass spectrometry on nucleic acid structures, self-assemblies (e.g., duplexes or G-quadruplexes), and their complexes with ligands.

AC-motif: a DNA motif containing adenine and cytosine repeat plays a role in gene regulation

I-motif or C4 is a four-stranded DNA structure with a protonated cytosine:cytosine base pair (C+:C) found in cytosine-rich sequences. We have found that oligodeoxynucleotides containing adenine and cytosine repeats form a stable secondary structure at a physiological pH with magnesium ion, which is similar to i-motif structure, and have named this structure ‘adenine:cytosine-motif (AC-motif)’. AC-motif contains C⁺:C base pairs intercalated with putative A⁺:C base pairs between protonated adenine and cytosine. By investigation of the AC-motif present in the CDKL3 promoter (AC-motif_CDKL3), one of AC-motifs found in the genome, we confirmed that AC-motif_CDKL3 has a key role in regulating CDKL3 gene expression in response to magnesium. This is further supported by confirming that genome-edited mutant cell lines, lacking the AC-motif formation, lost this regulation effect. Our results verify that adenine-cytosine repeats commonly present in the genome can form a stable non-canonical secondary structure with a non-Watson–Crick base pair and have regulatory roles in cells, which expand non-canonical DNA repertoires.

Drivers of i-DNA Formation in a Variety of Environments Revealed by Four-Dimensional UV Melting and Annealing

i-DNA is a four-stranded, pH-sensitive structure formed by cytosine-rich DNA sequences. Previous reports have addressed the conditions for formation of this motif in DNA in vitro and validated its existence in human cells. Unfortunately, these in vitro studies have often been performed under different experimental conditions, making comparisons difficult. To overcome this, we developed a four-dimensional UV melting and annealing (4DUVMA) approach to analyze i-DNA formation under a variety of conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, salt, crowding). Analysis of 25 sequences provided a global understanding of i-DNA formation under disparate conditions, which should ultimately allow the design of accurate prediction tools. For example, we found reliable linear correlations between the midpoint of pH transition and temperature (-0.04 ± 0.003 pH unit per 1.0 °C temperature increment) and between the melting temperature and pH (-23.8 ± 1.1 °C per pH unit increment). In addition, by analyzing the hysteresis between denaturing and renaturing profiles in both pH and thermal transitions, we found that loop length, nature of the C-tracts, pH, temperature, and crowding agents all play roles in i-DNA folding kinetics. Interestingly, our data indicate which conformer is more favorable for the sequences with an odd number of cytosine base pairs. Then the thermal and pH stabilities of "native" i-DNAs from human promoter genes were measured under near physiological conditions (pH 7.0, 37 °C). The 4DUVMA method can become a universal resource to analyze the properties of any i-DNA-prone sequence.

Systematic Approach to Find the Global Minimum of Relaxation Dispersion Data for Protein-Induced B-Z Transition of DNA

Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) relaxation dispersion spectroscopy is commonly used for quantifying conformational changes of protein in μs-to-ms timescale transitions. To elucidate the dynamics and mechanism of protein binding, parameters implementing CPMG relaxation dispersion results must be appropriately determined. Building an analytical model for multi-state transitions is particularly complex. In this study, we developed a new global search algorithm that incorporates a random search approach combined with a field-dependent global parameterization method. The robust inter-dependence of the parameters carrying out the global search for individual residues (GSIR) or the global search for total residues (GSTR) provides information on the global minimum of the conformational transition process of the Zα domain of human ADAR1 (hZαADAR1)-DNA complex. The global search results indicated that a α-helical segment of hZαADAR1 provided the main contribution to the three-state conformational changes of a hZαADAR1-DNA complex with a slow B-Z exchange process. The two global exchange rate constants, kex and kZB, were found to be 844 and 9.8 s-1, respectively, in agreement with two regimes of residue-dependent chemical shift differences-the "dominant oscillatory regime" and "semi-oscillatory regime". We anticipate that our global search approach will lead to the development of quantification methods for conformational changes not only in Z-DNA binding protein (ZBP) binding interactions but also in various protein binding processes.

Identifying i-motif formation using capillary electrophoresis

Over the past few years, intercalated motifs (i-motifs) have attracted attention due to the direct visualization of their existence in the nuclei of human cells. Traditionally, i-motifs have been studied using expensive and complicated NMR, and/or relatively inexpensive but less common circular dichroism spectrometry. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using less expensive, less complicated, and more widely available CE as an alternative for i-motif related research. The mobilities of two DNA and RNA i-motifs in CE were determined under different pH conditions. Our results demonstrate that CE is able to identify and differentiate mostly folded, partially folded, and mostly unfolded DNA and RNA i-motifs through changes in peak shape and migration time, thus providing a new method to study both i-motif conformation and the interactions between i-motifs and their ligands.

Graphene oxide and Lambda exonuclease assisted screening of L-carnitine aptamers and the site-directed mutagenesis design of C-rich structure aptamer

In this study, Graphene Oxide (GO) was used to screen the binding with the aptamers of L-carnitine chiral enantiomers. The ssDNA library was prepared by the method of Lambda exonuclease. In addition, a simple casing device was designed to improve the purification and recovery efficiency of the small ssDNA fragments in the process of screening. Finally, more than 160,000 aptamer sequences were obtained by high-throughput sequencing. We determined the strongest affinity aptamer sequence, CA04, by the Resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) technology. We also analyzed the key binding sites (in the 16th position case) of the truncated aptamer sequence CAD10. Interestingly, we found that aptamer CA10 and CA06 were both C-rich bases through sequence alignment and analysis, and the aptamer CA10 was confirmed that the CA10 and CA06 were formed under acidic conditions (pH 4.5) by CD spectrum and ESI-MS analysis. The interaction between gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and functionalized aptamer CA10 was analyzed. We used Site-directed mutagenesis design and QGRS Mapper to optimize aptamer CA10, where an optimal aptamer CA10-03 were obtained after affinity analysis. It is also proved to be an effective method to obtain stronger affinity aptamer. Meanwhile, Native-PAGE and UV spectrum analysis were performed on the mutation sequences, and the interaction with ThT was analyzed. Finally, it is hoped that my study can provide help for later identification and detection of L-carnitine.

A DNA nanosensor for monitoring ligand-induced i-motif formation

A GNP-based DNA nanosensor has been developed that identifies i-motif inducing ligands at physiological pH from a chemical library.

A DNA G-quadruplex/i-motif hybrid

DNA can form many structures beyond the canonical Watson–Crick double helix. It is now clear that noncanonical structures are present in genomic DNA and have biological functions. G-rich G-quadruplexes and C-rich i-motifs are the most well-characterized noncanonical DNA motifs that have been detected in vivo with either proscribed or postulated biological roles. Because of their independent sequence requirements, these structures have largely been considered distinct types of quadruplexes. Here, we describe the crystal structure of the DNA oligonucleotide, d(CCAGGCTGCAA), that self-associates to form a quadruplex structure containing two central antiparallel G-tetrads and six i-motif C–C⁺ base pairs. Solution studies suggest a robust structural motif capable of assembling as a tetramer of individual strands or as a dimer when composed of tandem repeats. This hybrid structure highlights the growing structural diversity of DNA and suggests that biological systems may harbor many functionally important non-duplex structures.

Dynamics Studies of DNA with Non-canonical Structure Using NMR Spectroscopy

The non-canonical structures of nucleic acids are essential for their diverse functions during various biological processes. These non-canonical structures can undergo conformational exchange among multiple structural states. Data on their dynamics can illustrate conformational transitions that play important roles in folding, stability, and biological function. Here, we discuss several examples of the non-canonical structures of DNA focusing on their dynamic characterization by NMR spectroscopy: (1) G-quadruplex structures and their complexes with target proteins; (2) i-motif structures and their complexes with proteins; (3) triplex structures; (4) left-handed Z-DNAs and their complexes with various Z-DNA binding proteins. This review provides insight into how the dynamic features of non-canonical DNA structures contribute to essential biological processes.

Single-molecule analysis of i-motif within self-assembled DNA duplexes and nanocircles

The cytosine (C)-rich sequences that can fold into tetraplex structures known as i-motif are prevalent in genomic DNA. Recent studies of i-motif-forming sequences have shown increasing evidence of their roles in gene regulation. However, most of these studies have been performed in short single-stranded oligonucleotides, far from the intracellular environment. In cells, i-motif-forming sequences are flanked by DNA duplexes and packed in the genome. Therefore, exploring the conformational dynamics and kinetics of i-motif under such topologically constrained environments is highly relevant in predicting their biological roles. Using single-molecule fluorescence analysis of self-assembled DNA duplexes and nanocircles, we show that the topological environments play a key role on i-motif stability and dynamics. While the human telomere sequence (C3TAA)3C3 assumes i-motif structure at pH 5.5 regardless of topological constraint, it undergoes conformational dynamics among unfolded, partially folded and fully folded states at pH 6.5. The lifetimes of i-motif and the partially folded state at pH 6.5 were determined to be 6 ± 2 and 31 ± 11 s, respectively. Consistent with the partially folded state observed in fluorescence analysis, interrogation of current versus time traces obtained from nanopore analysis at pH 6.5 shows long-lived shallow blockades with a mean lifetime of 25 ± 6 s. Such lifetimes are sufficient for the i-motif and partially folded states to interact with proteins to modulate cellular processes.

i-Motif of cytosine-rich human telomere DNA fragments containing natural base lesions

i-Motif (iM) is a four stranded DNA structure formed by cytosine-rich sequences, which are often present in functionally important parts of the genome such as promoters of genes and telomeres. Using electronic circular dichroism and UV absorption spectroscopies and electrophoretic methods, we examined the effect of four naturally occurring DNA base lesions on the folding and stability of the iM formed by the human telomere DNA sequence (C₃TAA)₃C₃T. The results demonstrate that the TAA loop lesions, the apurinic site and 8-oxoadenine substituting for adenine, and the 5-hydroxymethyluracil substituting for thymine only marginally disturb the formation of iM. The presence of uracil, which is formed by enzymatic or spontaneous deamination of cytosine, shifts iM formation towards substantially more acidic pH values and simultaneously distinctly reduces iM stability. This effect depends on the position of the damage sites in the sequence. The results have enabled us to formulate additional rules for iM formation.

i-Motif DNA: structural features and significance to cell biology

The i-motif represents a paradigmatic example of the wide structural versatility of nucleic acids. In remarkable contrast to duplex DNA, i-motifs are four-stranded DNA structures held together by hemi- protonated and intercalated cytosine base pairs (C:C⁺). First observed 25 years ago, and considered by many as a mere structural oddity, interest in and discussion on the biological role of i-motifs have grown dramatically in recent years. In this review we focus on structural aspects of i-motif formation, the factors leading to its stabilization and recent studies describing the possible role of i-motifs in fundamental biological processes.

Base-pair Opening Dynamics of Nucleic Acids in Relation to Their Biological Function

Base-pair opening is a conformational transition that is required for proper biological function of nucleic acids. Hydrogen exchange, observed by NMR spectroscopic experiments, is a widely used method to study the thermodynamics and kinetics of base-pair opening in nucleic acids. The hydrogen exchange data of imino protons are analyzed based on a two-state (open/closed) model for the base-pair, where hydrogen exchange only occurs from the open state. In this review, we discuss examples of how hydrogen exchange data provide insight into several interesting biological processes involving functional interactions of nucleic acids: i) selective recognition of DNA by proteins; ii) regulation of RNA cleavage by site-specific mutations; iii) intermolecular interaction of proteins with their target DNA or RNA; iv) formation of PNA:DNA hybrid duplexes.

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This review systematically summarizes hydrogen exchange theory for base-paired imino protons of nucleic acids.

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Base-pair opening kinetics explain how the DNA can be selectively recognized by its target proteins.

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Base-pair opening kinetics explain the mechanisms by which site-specific mutations regulate RNA cleavage.

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Hydrogen exchange studies can elucidate the intermolecular interaction of proteins with their target DNA or RNA.

Chemical Regulation of DNA i-Motifs for Nanobiotechnology and Therapeutics

DNA sequences rich in cytosine have the propensity, under acidic pH, to fold into four-stranded intercalated DNA structures called i-motifs. Recent studies have provided significant breakthroughs that demonstrate how chemists can manipulate these structures for nanobiotechnology and therapeutics. The first section of this Minireview discusses the development of advanced functional nanostructures by synthetic conjugation of i-motifs with organic scaffolds and metal nanoparticles and their role in therapeutics. The second section highlights the therapeutic targeting of i-motifs with chemical scaffolds and their significance in biology. For this, first we shed light on the long-lasting debate regarding the stability of i-motifs under physiological conditions. Next, we present a comparative analysis of recently reported small molecules for specifically targeting i-motifs over other abundant DNA structures and modulating their function in cellular systems. These advances provide new insights into i-motif-targeted regulation of gene expression, telomere maintenance, and therapeutic applications.

DNA Quadruple Helices in Nanotechnology

DNA has played an early and powerful role in the development of bottom-up nanotechnologies, not least because of DNA's precise, predictable, and controllable properties of assembly on the nanometer scale. Watson-Crick complementarity has been used to build complex 2D and 3D architectures and design a number of nanometer-scale systems for molecular computing, transport, motors, and biosensing applications. Most of such devices are built with classical B-DNA helices and involve classical A-T/U and G-C base pairs. However, in addition to the above components underlying the iconic double helix, a number of alternative pairing schemes of nucleobases are known. This review focuses on two of these noncanonical classes of DNA helices: G-quadruplexes and the i-motif. The unique properties of these two classes of DNA helix have been utilized toward some remarkable constructions and applications: G-wires; nanostructures such as DNA origami; reconfigurable structures and nanodevices; the formation and utilization of hemin-utilizing DNAzymes, capable of generating varied outputs from biosensing nanostructures; composite nanostructures made up of DNA as well as inorganic materials; and the construction of nanocarriers that show promise for the therapeutics of diseases.

Silica nano-channel induced i-motif formation and stabilization at neutral and alkaline pH

Here, we have developed a new strategy to stabilize i-motif DNA in neutral and alkaline media by incorporating C-rich sequences inside silica nano-channels. Subsequently, the reversibility of this conformational transition has been achieved using a positively charged protein. Importantly, this entire conformational transition can be performed in multiple cycles, which offers an alternative way to control i-motif formation other than pH and thermal annealing.

i-Clamp phenoxazine for the fine tuning of DNA i-motif stability

Non-canonical DNA structures are widely used for regulation of gene expression, in DNA nanotechnology and for the development of new DNA-based sensors. I-motifs (iMs) are two intercalated parallel duplexes that are held together by hemiprotonated C-C base pairs. Previously, iMs were used as an accurate sensor for intracellular pH measurements. However, iM stability is moderate, which in turn limits its in vivo applications. Here, we report the rational design of a new substituted phenoxazine 2'-deoxynucleotide (i-clamp) for iM stabilization. This residue contains a C8-aminopropyl tether that interacts with the phosphate group within the neighboring chain without compromising base pairing. We studied the influence of i-clamp on pH-dependent stability for intra- and intermolecular iM structures and found the optimal positions for modification. Two i-clamps on opposite strands provide thermal stabilization up to 10-11°C at a pH of 5.8. Thus, we developed a new modification that shows significant iM-stabilizing effect both at strongly and mildly acidic pH and increases iM transition pH values. i-Clamp can be used for tuning iM-based pH probes or assembling extra stable iM structures for various applications.

The structural diversity of C-rich DNA aggregates: unusual self-assembly of beetle-like nanostructures

We studied the ability of oligonucleotides C_nT₂₅ (n = 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 25) to form an intermolecular i-motif using circular dichroism, ultra-violet spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, high-resolution atomic force microscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and molecular dynamics simulations. The arrangement of single-stranded oligonucleotides in multimer i-motifs was very unusual: C-tracts of different oligonucleotides followed each other consecutively in order to fold into a closed intermolecular i-motif core with minimal loops (one cytidine in a loop spanning over a minor groove, three cytidines in a loop over a major groove); intact T-tracts protruded from predefined loci allowing visualization of beetle-like nanostructures by atomic force microscopy. The same structures were formed from analogous biotinylated oligonucleotides demonstrating one of the potential applications of such structures as carriers of multiple functional groups. Our findings open up possibilities for the rational design of pH-sensitive DNA aggregates and evaluation of the efficiency of their assembly.

An Extraordinarily Stable DNA Minidumbbell

The minidumbbell (MDB) is a new type of native DNA structure. At neutral pH, two TTTA or CCTG repeats can fold into the highly compact MDB with a melting temperature of ∼22 °C. Owing to the relatively low thermodynamic stability, MDBs have been proposed to be the structural intermediates that lead to efficient DNA repair escape and thus repeat expansions. In this study, we reveal that two CCTG repeats can also form an extraordinarily stable MDB with a melting temperature of ∼46 °C at pH 5.0. This unusual stability predominantly results from the formation of a three hydrogen bond C⁺·C mispair between the two minor groove cytosine residues. Due to the drastic stability change, the CCTG MDB, when combined with its complementary sequence, shows instant and complete structural conversions when the pH switches between 5.0 and 7.0, making the system serve as a simple and efficient pH-controlled molecular switch.

Structural varieties of selectively mixed G- and C-rich short DNA sequences studied with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Short guanine(G)-repeat and cytosine(C)-repeat DNA strands can self-assemble to form four-stranded G-quadruplexes and i-motifs, respectively. Herein, G-rich and C-rich strands with non-G or non-C terminal bases and different lengths of G- or C-repeats are mixed selectively in pH 4.5 and 6.7 ammonium acetate buffer solutions and studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Various strand associations corresponding to bi-, tri- and tetramolecular ions are observed in mass spectra, indicating that the formation of quadruplex structures is a random strand by strand association process. However, with increasing incubation time for the mixtures, initially associated hybrid tetramers will transform into self-assembled conformations, which is mainly driven by the structural stability. The melting temperature values of self-assembled quadruplexes suggest that the length of G-repeats or C-repeats shows more significant effect on the stability of quadruplex structures than that of terminal residues. Accordingly, we can obtain the self-associated tetrameric species generated from the mixtures of various homologous G- or C-strands efficiently by altering the length of G- or C-repeats. Our studies demonstrate that ESI-MS is a very direct, fast and sensitive tool to provide significant information on DNA strand associations and stoichiometric transitions, particularly for complex mixtures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Use of a Ureido-Substituted Deoxycytidine Module for DNA Assemblies

Ureido-substituted cytosine derivatives are promising for constructing self-assembly structures that can be applied to nanotechnology research. However, conventional cytosine modules achieve assembly in organic solvents. In this study, an N-phenylcarbamoyl deoxycytidine nucleoside was incorporated into a C-rich oligonucleotide to achieve self-assembly in aqueous solution. The results show that the capability of the module to form DNA assemblies varied depending on the number of modules incorporated. The deoxycytidine derivative has a potential application in the development of smart materials based on DNA assembly.

Folding and hydrodynamics of a DNA i-motif from the c-MYC promoter determined by fluorescent cytidine analogs

The four-stranded i-motif (iM) conformation of cytosine-rich DNA has importance to a wide variety of biochemical systems that range from their use in nanomaterials to potential roles in oncogene regulation. The iM structure is formed at slightly acidic pH, where hemiprotonation of cytosine results in a stable C-C(+) basepair. Here, we performed fundamental studies to examine iM formation from a C-rich strand from the promoter of the human c-MYC gene. We used a number of biophysical techniques to characterize both the hydrodynamic properties and folding kinetics of a folded iM. Our hydrodynamic studies using fluorescence anisotropy decay and analytical ultracentrifugation show that the iM structure has a compact size in solution and displays the rigidity of a double strand. By studying the rates of circular dichroism spectral changes and quenching of fluorescent cytidine analogs, we also established a mechanism for the folding of a random coil oligo into the iM. In the course of determining this folding pathway, we established that the fluorescent dC analogs tC° and PdC can be used to monitor individual residues of an iM structure and to determine the pKa of an iM. We established that the C-C(+) hydrogen bonding of certain bases initiates the folding of the iM structure. We also showed that substitutions in the loop regions of iMs give a distinctly different kinetic signature during folding compared with bases that are intercalated. Our data reveal that the iM passes through a distinct intermediate form between the unfolded and folded forms. Taken together, our results lay the foundation for using fluorescent dC analogs to follow structural changes during iM formation. Our technique may also be useful for examining folding and structural changes in more complex iMs.

Formation and Dissociation of the Interstrand i-Motif by the Sequences d(XnC 4Y m) Monitored with Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Formation and dissociation of the interstrand i-motifs by DNA with the sequence d(X(n)C(4)Y(m)) (X and Y represent thymine, adenine, or guanine, and n, m range from 0 to 2) are studied with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), circular dichroism (CD), and UV spectrophotometry. The ion complexes detected in the gas phase and the melting temperatures (Tm) obtained in solution show that a non-C base residue located at 5' end favors formation of the four-stranded structures, with T > A > G for imparting stability. Comparatively, no rule is found when a non-C base is located at the 3' end. Detection of penta- and hexa-stranded ions indicates the formation of i-motifs with more than four strands. In addition, the i-motifs seen in our mass spectra are accompanied by single-, double-, and triple-stranded ions, and the trimeric ions were always less abundant during annealing and heat-induced dissociation process of the DNA strands in solution (pH = 4.5). This provides a direct evidence of a strand-by-strand formation and dissociation pathway of the interstrand i-motif and formation of the triple strands is the rate-limiting step. In contrast, the trimeric ions are abundant when the tetramolecular ions are subjected to collision-induced dissociation (CID) in the gas phase, suggesting different dissociation behaviors of the interstrand i-motif in the gas phase and in solution. Furthermore, hysteretic UV absorption melting and cooling curves reveal an irreversible dissociation and association kinetic process of the interstrand i-motif in solution.

Building Specific Signals from Frequency Chaos Game and Revealing Periodicities Using a Smoothed Fourier Analysis

Investigating the roles and functions of DNA within genomes is becoming a primary focus of genomic research. Thus, the research works are moving towards cooperation between different scientific disciplines which aims at facilitating the interpretation of genetic information. In order to characterize the DNA of living organisms, signal processing tools appear to be very suitable for such study. However, a DNA sequence must be converted into a numerical sequence before processing; which defines the concept of DNA coding. In line with this, we propose a new one dimensional model based on the chaos game representation theory called Frequency Chaos Game Signal: FCGS. Then, we perform a Smoothed Fourier Transform to enhance hidden periodicities in the C.elegans DNA sequences. Through this study, we demonstrate the performance of our coding approach in highlighting characteristic periodicities. Indeed, several periodicities are shown to be involved in the 1D spectra and the 2D spectrograms of FCGSs. To investigate further about the contribution of our method in the enhancement of characteristic spectral attributes, a comparison with a range of binary indicators is established.

Proposing a new RNA quadruplex structure: j-motif, with possible links to neural development

An RNA-binding protein, hnRNP K, has been studied extensively because of its involvement in neural development through the post-transcriptional regulation of its downstream target genes; however, its binding mode remains unclear. According to structural features of the binding sites, we have presumed the existence of possible unique structures 'j-motifs' that are similar to known i-motifs, the difference being that the initial cluster comprises successive U nucleic acids instead of C. It was suspected that the motifs could be recognized by hnRNP K to regulate the translation levels of target proteins, however, there were virtually no methods to verify their existence except computational methods: regular expression searches and theoretical molecular orbital (MO) calculations. Here, we first show a list of 16 genes having j-motif-like sequences we discovered under refined search conditions. The list was highly related to neural development from both subjective and objective aspects. Additionally, MO calculations revealed the similarity of non-canonical base pairs found in i- and j-motifs qualitatively, leading to a proposal of the possible existence of the j-motifs. When taken into consideration, it was indicated that the j-motifs could be formed and play some role in the neural development.

Fundamental aspects of the nucleic acid i-motif structures

The latest research on fundamental aspects of i-motif structures is reviewed with special attention to their hypothetical rolein vivo.

Distance-dependent duplex DNA destabilization proximal to G-quadruplex/i-motif sequences

G-quadruplexes and i-motifs are complementary examples of non-canonical nucleic acid substructure conformations. G-quadruplex thermodynamic stability has been extensively studied for a variety of base sequences, but the degree of duplex destabilization that adjacent quadruplex structure formation can cause has yet to be fully addressed. Stable in vivo formation of these alternative nucleic acid structures is likely to be highly dependent on whether sufficient spacing exists between neighbouring duplex- and quadruplex-/i-motif-forming regions to accommodate quadruplexes or i-motifs without disrupting duplex stability. Prediction of putative G-quadruplex-forming regions is likely to be assisted by further understanding of what distance (number of base pairs) is required for duplexes to remain stable as quadruplexes or i-motifs form. Using oligonucleotide constructs derived from precedented G-quadruplexes and i-motif-forming bcl-2 P1 promoter region, initial biophysical stability studies indicate that the formation of G-quadruplex and i-motif conformations do destabilize proximal duplex regions. The undermining effect that quadruplex formation can have on duplex stability is mitigated with increased distance from the duplex region: a spacing of five base pairs or more is sufficient to maintain duplex stability proximal to predicted quadruplex/i-motif-forming regions.

One identity or more for telomeres?

A major issue in telomere research is to understand how the integrity of chromosome ends is controlled. The fact that different types of nucleoprotein complexes have been described at the telomeres of different organisms raises the question of whether they have in common a structural identity that explains their role in chromosome protection. We will review here how telomeric nucleoprotein complexes are structured, comparing different organisms and trying to link these structures to telomere biology. It emerges that telomeres are formed by a complex and specific network of interactions between DNA, RNA, and proteins. The fact that these interactions and associated activities are reinforcing each other might help to guarantee the robustness of telomeric functions across the cell cycle and in the event of cellular perturbations. We will also discuss the recent notion that telomeres have evolved specific systems to overcome the DNA topological stress generated during their replication and transcription. This will lead to revisit the way we envisage the functioning of telomeric complexes since the regulation of topology is central to DNA stability, replication, recombination, and transcription as well as to chromosome higher-order organization.

Intramolecular folding in human ILPR fragment with three C-rich repeats

Enrichment of four tandem repeats of guanine (G) rich and cytosine (C) rich sequences in functionally important regions of human genome forebodes the biological implications of four-stranded DNA structures, such as G-quadruplex and i-motif, that can form in these sequences. However, there have been few reports on the intramolecular formation of non-B DNA structures in less than four tandem repeats of G or C rich sequences. Here, using mechanical unfolding at the single-molecule level, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), circular dichroism (CD), and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, we report an intramolecularly folded non-B DNA structure in three tandem cytosine rich repeats, 5'-TGTC4ACAC4TGTC4ACA (ILPR-I3), in the human insulin linked polymorphic region (ILPR). The thermal denaturation analyses of the sequences with systematic C to T mutations have suggested that the structure is linchpinned by a stack of hemiprotonated cytosine pairs between two terminal C4 tracts. Mechanical unfolding and Br(2) footprinting experiments on a mixture of the ILPR-I3 and a 5'-C4TGT fragment have further indicated that the structure serves as a building block for intermolecular i-motif formation. The existence of such a conformation under acidic or neutral pH complies with the strand-by-strand folding pathway of ILPR i-motif structures.

G-quadruplex and i-motif are mutually exclusive in ILPR double-stranded DNA

G-quadruplex has demonstrated its biological functions in vivo. Although G-quadruplex in single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) has been well characterized, investigation of this species in double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) lags behind. Here we use chemical footprinting and laser-tweezers-based single-molecule approaches to demonstrate that a dsDNA fragment found in the insulin-linked polymorphic region (ILPR), 5'-(ACA GGGG TGT GGGG)2 TGT, can fold into a G-quadruplex at pH 7.4 with 100 mM K+, and an i-motif at pH 5.5 with 100 mM Li+. Surprisingly, under a condition that favors the formation of both G-quadruplex and i-motif (pH 5.5, 100 mM K+), a unique determination of change in the free energy of unfolding (ΔGunfold) by laser-tweezers experiments provides compelling evidence that only one species is present in each dsDNA. Under this condition, molecules containing G-quadruplex are more stable than those with i-motif. These two species have mechanical stabilities (rupture force≥17 pN) comparable to the stall force of RNA polymerases, which, from a mechanical perspective alone, could justify a regulatory mechanism for tetraplex structures in the expression of human insulin.

Biophysical characterization of an ensemble of intramolecular i-motifs formed by the human c-MYC NHE III1 P1 promoter mutant sequence

i-Motif-forming sequences are present in or near the regulatory regions of >40% of all genes, including known oncogenes. We report here the results of a biophysical characterization and computational study of an ensemble of intramolecular i-motifs that model the polypyrimidine sequence in the human c-MYC P1 promoter. Circular dichroism results demonstrate that the mutant sequence (5'-CTT TCC TAC CCTCCC TAC CCT AA-3') can adopt multiple "i-motif-like," classical i-motif, and single-stranded structures as a function of pH. The classical i-motif structures are predominant in the pH range 4.2-5.2. The "i-motif-like" and single-stranded structures are the most significant species in solution at pH higher and lower, respectively, than that range. Differential scanning calorimetry results demonstrate an equilibrium mixture of at least three i-motif folded conformations with Tm values of 38.1, 46.6, and 49.5 degrees C at pH 5.0. The proposed ensemble of three folded conformations includes the three lowest-energy conformations obtained by computational modeling and two folded conformers that were proposed in a previous NMR study. The NMR study did not report the most stable conformer found in this study.

Coexistence of an ILPR i-motif and a partially folded structure with comparable mechanical stability revealed at the single-molecule level

Investigation of i-motif is of high importance to fully understand the biological functions of G quadruplexes in the context of double-stranded DNA. Whereas single-molecule approaches have profiled G quadruplexes from a perspective unavailable by bulk techniques, there is a lack of similar literature on the i-motif in the cytosine (C)-rich region complementary to G quadruplex-forming sequences. Here, we have used laser tweezers to investigate the structures formed in 5'-(TGTCCCCACACCCC)(2), a predominate variant in the insulin-linked polymorphic region (ILPR). We have observed two species with the change in contour length (DeltaL) of 10.4 (+/-0.1) and 5.1 (+/-0.5) nm, respectively. Since DeltaL of 10.4 nm is located within the expected range for an i-motif structure, we assign this species to the i-motif. The formation of the i-motif in the same sequence has been corroborated by bulk experiments such as Br(2) footprinting, circular dichroism, and thermal denaturation. The assignment of the i-motif is further confirmed by decreased formation of this structure (23% to 1.3%) with pH 5.5 --> 7.0, which is a well-established behavior for i-motifs. In contrast to that of the i-motif, the formation of the second species with DeltaL of 5.1 nm remains unchanged (6.1 +/- 1.6%) in the same pH range, implying that pH-sensitive C:CH(+) pairs may not contribute to the structure as significantly as those to the i-motif. Compared to the DeltaG(unfold) of an i-motif (16.0 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol), the decreased free energy in the partially folded structure (DeltaG(unfold) 10.4 +/- 0.7 kcal/mol) may reflect a weakened structure with reduced C:CH(+) pairs. Both DeltaL and DeltaG(unfold) argue for the intermediate nature of the partially folded structure in comparison to the i-motif. In line with this argument, we have directly observed the unfolding of an i-motif through the partially folded structure. The i-motif and the partially folded structure share similar rupture forces of 22-26 pN, which are higher than those that can stall transcription catalyzed by RNA polymerases. This suggests, from a mechanical perspective alone, that either of the structures can stop RNA transcription.

Formation of i-motif structure at neutral and slightly alkaline pH

It is well known that oligonucleotides containing tracts cytosines can form i-motif structures under acidic conditions (pH < 7). However, whether i-motif can be formed under normal physiological cellular conditions (pH 7.0-7.5) is yet no conclusive proof. In the present work, using circular dichroism (CD), UV absorption spectroscopies and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), we provided the compelling evidence for the formation of i-motif structures by four cytosine clusters, [C(3)TA(2)](3)C(3) (HT), [C(4)G](3)C(4)TA (RET), C(2)T(3)C(2)T(4)C(2)T(3)C(2) (CTC) and GC(2)GC(3)A(4)C(6)G (Rb), at neutral and slightly alkaline pH at 4 degrees C. Furthermore, for HT, we also supplied the evidence for the formation of i-motif structure by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and investigated its folding kinetics. The formation time constants obtained by CD and fluorescence experiments are 214 and 493 s, respectively, indicating that HT can slowly form i-motif structure at pH 7.0 and 4 degrees C. This work implies that i-motif structures may possible form in vivo.

A direct and nondestructive approach to determine the folding structure of the I-motif DNA secondary structure by NMR

I-motifs are four-stranded DNA secondary structures formed in C-rich DNA sequences and consist of parallel-stranded DNA duplexes zipped together in an antiparallel orientation by intercalated, hemiprotonated cytosine(+)-cytosine base pairs. I-motif structures have been indicated to form in various regions of the human genome as well as in nanotechnological applications. While NMR is a major tool for structural studies of I-motifs, the determination of the folding topologies of unimolecular I-motifs has been a challenging and arduous task using conventional NMR spectral assignment strategies, due to the inherent sequence redundancy of the C-rich strands in the formation of unimolecular I-motif structures. We report here a direct and nondestructive method that can be utilized to unambiguously determine the hemiprotonated C(+)-C base pairs and thus the folding topology of unimolecular I-motif structures formed from native C-rich DNA sequences. The reported approach uses affordable low-enrichment site-specific labeling. More significantly, the reported method can directly and unambiguously determine the equilibrating multiple conformations coexisting in a single DNA sequence, which would be a very difficult task using conventional assignment strategies. Additionally, this method can be applied to the direct detection of the base-paired thymines that are involved in the capping structures.

The formation pathway of i-motif tetramers

The i-motif is a four-stranded structure formed by two intercalated parallel duplexes containing hemiprotonated C•C⁺ pairs. In order to describe the sequence of reactions by which four C-rich strands associate, we measured the formation and dissociation rates of three [TC_n]₄ tetramers (n = 3, 4 and 5), their dissociation constant and the reaction order for tetramer formation by NMR. We find that TC_n association results in the formation of several tetramers differing by the number of intercalated C•C⁺ pairs. The formation rates of the fully and partially intercalated species are comparable but their lifetimes increase strongly with the number of intercalated C•C⁺ pairs, and for this reason the single tetramer detected at equilibrium is that with optimal intercalation. The tetramer half formation times vary as the power −2 of the oligonucleotide concentration indicating that the reaction order for i-motif formation is 3. This observation is inconsistent with a model supposing association of two preformed duplex and suggests that quadruplex formation proceeds via sequential strand association into duplex and triplex intermediate species and that triplex formation is rate limiting.

Tunable c-MYC LNA i-motif

Using spectroscopic techniques, we demonstrate the effect of LNA (locked nucleic acid) nucleotides in modulating the formation and stability of the i-motif structure formed by the c-MYC sequence.

Evidence of strong hydrogen bonding by 8-aminoguanine

DNA oligonucleotides containing 8-aminodeoxyguanosine residues form a pH-dependent self-structure with strong hydrogen bonds.

Molecular modeling and biophysical analysis of the c-MYC NHE-III1 silencer element

G-Quadruplex and i-Motif-forming sequences in the promoter regions of several oncogenes show promise as targets for the regulation of oncogenes. In this study, molecular models were created for the c-MYC NHE-III(1) (nuclease hypersensitivity element III(1)) from two 39-base complementary sequences. The NHE modeled here consists of single folded conformers of the polypurine intramolecular G-Quadruplex and the polypyrimidine intramolecular i-Motif structures, flanked by short duplex DNA sequences. The G-Quadruplex was based on published NMR structural data for the c-MYC 1:2:1 loop isomer. The i-Motif structure is theoretical (with five cytosine-cytosine pairs), where the central intercalated cytosine core interactions are based on NMR structural data obtained for a tetramolecular [d(A(2)C(4))(4)] model i-Motif. The loop structures are in silico predictions of the c-MYC i-motif loops. The porphyrin meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine (TMPyP4), as well as the ortho and meta analogs TMPyP2 and TMPyP3, were docked to six different locations in the complete c-MYC NHE. Comparisons are made for drug binding to the NHE and the isolated G-Quadruplex and i-Motif structures. NHE models both with and without bound cationic porphyrin were simulated for 100 ps using molecular dynamics techniques, and the non-bonded interaction energies between the DNA and porphyrins calculated for all of the docking interactions.