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Chinchilla-Cárdenas DJ, Cruz-Méndez JS, Petano-Duque JM, García RO, Castro LR, Lobo-Castañón MJ, Cancino-Escalante GO. Current developments of SELEX technologies and prospects in the aptamer selection with clinical applications. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2024; 22:100400. [PMID: 39179327 PMCID: PMC11338109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotide sequences capable of binding to specific ligands with high affinity. In this manner, they are like antibodies but have advantages such as lower manufacturing costs, lower immunogenicity, fewer batch-to-batch differences, a longer shelf life, high tolerance to different molecular milieus, and a greater number of potential targets. Due to their special features, they have been used in drug delivery, biosensor technology, therapy, and diagnostics. The methodology that allowed its production was the "Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment" (SELEX). Unfortunately, the traditional protocol is time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, numerous variants with considerable optimization steps have been developed, nonetheless, there are still challenges to achieving real applications in the clinical field. Among them, are control of in vivo activities, fast renal filtration, degradation by nucleases and toxicity testing. This review focuses on current technologies based on SELEX, the critical factors for successful aptamer selection, and its upcoming biomedical and biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Jair Chinchilla-Cárdenas
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Genética Animal Mascolab, Calle 49 Sur # 45ª-300, Oficina 1202, Centro Empresarial S48 Tower, Envigado 055422, Antioquia, Colombia.
| | - Juan Sebastian Cruz-Méndez
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Genética Animal Mascolab, Calle 49 Sur # 45ª-300, Oficina 1202, Centro Empresarial S48 Tower, Envigado 055422, Antioquia, Colombia.
| | - Julieth Michel Petano-Duque
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Genética Animal Mascolab, Calle 49 Sur # 45ª-300, Oficina 1202, Centro Empresarial S48 Tower, Envigado 055422, Antioquia, Colombia; Group of Biosocial Studies of the Body-EBSC, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Antioquia, La Candelaria, Medellín 050010, Antioquia, Colombia.
| | | | - Lyda R Castro
- Grupo de investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia.
| | - María Jesús Lobo-Castañón
- Departamento de Química Física y Analítica, Universidad de Oviedo, Av. Julián Clavería 8, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
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2
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Caramiello AM, Pirota V. Novel Therapeutic Horizons: SNCA Targeting in Parkinson's Disease. Biomolecules 2024; 14:949. [PMID: 39199337 PMCID: PMC11352499 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080949] [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: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) aggregates are the primary component of Lewy bodies, which are pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). The toxicity of αSyn seems to increase with its elevated expression during injury, suggesting that therapeutic approaches focused on reducing αSyn burden in neurons could be beneficial. Additionally, studies have shown higher levels of SNCA mRNA in the midbrain tissues and substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons of sporadic PD post-mortem brains compared to controls. Therefore, the regulation of SNCA expression and inhibition of αSyn synthesis could play an important role in the pathogenesis of injury, resulting in an effective treatment approach for PD. In this context, we summarized the most recent and innovative strategies proposed that exploit the targeting of SNCA to regulate translation and efficiently knock down cytoplasmatic levels of αSyn. Significant progress has been made in developing antisense technologies for treating PD in recent years, with a focus on antisense oligonucleotides and short-interfering RNAs, which achieve high specificity towards the desired target. To provide a more exhaustive picture of this research field, we also reported less common but highly innovative strategies, including small molecules, designed to specifically bind 5'-untranslated regions and, targeting secondary nucleic acid structures present in the SNCA gene, whose formation can be modulated, acting as a transcription and translation control. To fully describe the efficiency of the reported strategies, the effect of αSyn reduction on cellular viability and dopamine homeostasis was also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valentina Pirota
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
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3
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Kankia N, Lomidze L, Stevenson S, Musier-Forsyth K, Kankia B. Defined folding pattern of poly(rG) supports inherent ability to encode biological information. Biopolymers 2024:e23615. [PMID: 39004945 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The RNA World hypothesis posits that RNA can represent a primitive life form by reproducing itself and demonstrating catalytic activity. However, this hypothesis is incapable of addressing several major origin-of-life (OoL) questions. A recently described paradox-free alternative OoL hypothesis, the Quadruplex (G4) World, is based on the ability of poly(dG) to fold into a stable architecture with an unambiguous folding pattern using G-tetrads as building elements. Because of the folding pattern of three G-tetrads and single-G loops, dG15 is programmable and has the capability to encode biological information. Here, we address two open questions of the G4 World hypothesis: (1) Does RNA follow the same folding pattern as DNA? (2) How do stable quadruplexes evolve into the present-day system of information transfer, which is based on Watson-Crick base pair complementarity? To address these questions, we systematically studied the thermodynamic and optical properties of both DNA and RNA G15- and G3T (GGGTGGGTGGGTGGG)-derived sequences. Our study revealed that similar to DNA sequences, RNAs adopt quadruplexes with only three G-tetrads. Thus, both poly(dG) and poly(rG) possess inherent ability to fold into 3D quadruplex architecture with strictly defined folding pattern. The study also revealed that despite high stability of both DNA and RNA quadruplexes, they are vulnerable to single-nucleotide substitutions, which drop the thermal stability by ~40°C and can facilitate introduction of the complementarity principle into the G4 World.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nickolas Kankia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Levan Lomidze
- Institute of Biophysics, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Skylar Stevenson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Karin Musier-Forsyth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Besik Kankia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Institute of Biophysics, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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4
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Chen Z, Zhang Z, Liu S, Xiao Z, Luo Y, Pan X, Feng X, Xu L. Synthesis and evaluation of antisense oligonucleotides prodrug with G-quadruplex assembly and lysosome escape capabilities for oncotherapy. Bioorg Chem 2024; 148:107475. [PMID: 38772293 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
The applications of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) in rare or common diseases treatment have garnered great attention in recent years. Nevertheless, challenges associated with stability and bioavailability still persist, hampering the efficiency of ASOs. This work presents an ASO prodrug with parallel G-quadruplex assembly and lysosome escape capabilities for oncotherapy. Our findings revealed that the end-assembled quadruplex structure effectively shielded the ASO from enzymatic degradation. Meanwhile, the conjugation of maleimide within the quadruplex enhanced cellular uptake, potentially offering an alternative cell entry mechanism that circumvents lysosome involvement. Notably, an optimized molecule, Mal2-G4-ASO, exhibited remarkable therapeutic effects both in vitro and in vivo. This work presents a promising avenue for enhancing the activity of nucleic acid drugs in oncotherapy and potentially other disease contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China; China Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Shuangshuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China; China Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Zhenyu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xiaochen Pan
- Beijing Easyresearch Technology Limited, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xuesong Feng
- China Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang 110122, China.
| | - Liang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China.
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5
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Umezawa K, Ikeda R, Sakamoto T, Enomoto Y, Nihashi Y, Shinji S, Shimosato T, Kagami H, Takaya T. Development of the 12-Base Short Dimeric Myogenetic Oligodeoxynucleotide That Induces Myogenic Differentiation. BIOTECH 2024; 13:11. [PMID: 38804293 PMCID: PMC11130974 DOI: 10.3390/biotech13020011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
A myogenetic oligodeoxynucleotide (myoDN), iSN04 (5'-AGA TTA GGG TGA GGG TGA-3'), is a single-stranded 18-base telomeric DNA that serves as an anti-nucleolin aptamer and induces myogenic differentiation, which is expected to be a nucleic acid drug for the prevention of disease-associated muscle wasting. To improve the drug efficacy and synthesis cost of myoDN, shortening the sequence while maintaining its structure-based function is a major challenge. Here, we report the novel 12-base non-telomeric myoDN, iMyo01 (5'-TTG GGT GGG GAA-3'), which has comparable myogenic activity to iSN04. iMyo01 as well as iSN04 promoted myotube formation of primary-cultured human myoblasts with upregulation of myogenic gene expression. Both iMyo01 and iSN04 interacted with nucleolin, but iMyo01 did not bind to berberine, the isoquinoline alkaloid that stabilizes iSN04. Nuclear magnetic resonance revealed that iMyo01 forms a G-quadruplex structure despite its short sequence. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a computational molecular dynamics simulation indicated that iMyo01 forms a homodimer to generate a G-quadruplex. These results provide new insights into the aptamer truncation technology that preserves aptamer conformation and bioactivity for the development of efficient nucleic acid drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Umezawa
- Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan; (K.U.); (Y.E.); (T.S.); (H.K.)
- Department of Biomolecular Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan
| | - Rena Ikeda
- Department of Agriculture, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan
| | - Taiichi Sakamoto
- Department of Life Science, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Chiba Institute of Technology, 2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino-shi 275-0016, Japan;
| | - Yuya Enomoto
- Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan; (K.U.); (Y.E.); (T.S.); (H.K.)
| | - Yuma Nihashi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Centoral 5-41, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan;
| | - Sayaka Shinji
- Department of Agriculture, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan
| | - Takeshi Shimosato
- Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan; (K.U.); (Y.E.); (T.S.); (H.K.)
- Department of Biomolecular Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan
- Department of Agriculture, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kagami
- Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan; (K.U.); (Y.E.); (T.S.); (H.K.)
| | - Tomohide Takaya
- Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan; (K.U.); (Y.E.); (T.S.); (H.K.)
- Department of Biomolecular Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan
- Department of Agriculture, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina 399-4598, Japan
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6
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Brown A, Brill J, Amini R, Nurmi C, Li Y. Development of Better Aptamers: Structured Library Approaches, Selection Methods, and Chemical Modifications. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202318665. [PMID: 38253971 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202318665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) has been used to discover thousands of aptamers since its development in 1990. Aptamers are short single-stranded oligonucleotides capable of binding to targets with high specificity and selectivity through structural recognition. While aptamers offer advantages over other molecular recognition elements such as their ease of production, smaller size, extended shelf-life, and lower immunogenicity, they have yet to show significant success in real-world applications. By analyzing the importance of structured library designs, reviewing different SELEX methodologies, and the effects of chemical modifications, we provide a comprehensive overview on the production of aptamers for applications in drug delivery systems, therapeutics, diagnostics, and molecular imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4 K1, Canada
| | - Jake Brill
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4 K1, Canada
| | - Ryan Amini
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4 K1, Canada
| | - Connor Nurmi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4 K1, Canada
| | - Yingfu Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4 K1, Canada
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7
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Bhatt U, Cucchiarini A, Luo Y, Evans CW, Mergny JL, Iyer KS, Smith NM. Preferential formation of Z-RNA over intercalated motifs in long noncoding RNA. Genome Res 2024; 34:217-230. [PMID: 38355305 PMCID: PMC10984386 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278236.123] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Secondary structure is a principal determinant of lncRNA function, predominantly regarding scaffold formation and interfaces with target molecules. Noncanonical secondary structures that form in nucleic acids have known roles in regulating gene expression and include G-quadruplexes (G4s), intercalated motifs (iMs), and R-loops (RLs). In this paper, we used the computational tools G4-iM Grinder and QmRLFS-finder to predict the formation of each of these structures throughout the lncRNA transcriptome in comparison to protein-coding transcripts. The importance of the predicted structures in lncRNAs in biological contexts was assessed by combining our results with publicly available lncRNA tissue expression data followed by pathway analysis. The formation of predicted G4 (pG4) and iM (piM) structures in select lncRNA sequences was confirmed in vitro using biophysical experiments under near-physiological conditions. We find that the majority of the tested pG4s form highly stable G4 structures, and identify many previously unreported G4s in biologically important lncRNAs. In contrast, none of the piM sequences are able to form iM structures, consistent with the idea that RNA is unable to form stable iMs. Unexpectedly, these C-rich sequences instead form Z-RNA structures, which have not been previously observed in regions containing cytosine repeats and represent an interesting and underexplored target for protein-RNA interactions. Our results highlight the prevalence and potential structure-associated functions of noncanonical secondary structures in lncRNAs, and show G4 and Z-RNA structure formation in many lncRNA sequences for the first time, furthering the understanding of the structure-function relationship in lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uditi Bhatt
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Anne Cucchiarini
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Yu Luo
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Cameron W Evans
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - K Swaminathan Iyer
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Nicole M Smith
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia;
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8
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Luo Y, Granzhan A, Marquevielle J, Cucchiarini A, Lacroix L, Amrane S, Verga D, Mergny JL. Guidelines for G-quadruplexes: I. In vitro characterization. Biochimie 2023; 214:5-23. [PMID: 36596406 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Besides the well-known DNA double-helix, non-canonical nucleic acid structures regulate crucial biological activities. Among these oddities, guanine-rich DNA sequences can form unusual four-stranded secondary structures called G-quadruplexes (G4s). G4-prone sequences have been found in the genomes of most species, and G4s play important roles in essential processes such as transcription, replication, genome integrity and epigenetic regulation. Here, we present a short overview of G-quadruplexes followed by a detailed description of the biophysical and biochemical methods used to characterize G4s in vitro. The principles, experimental details and possible shortcomings of each method are discussed to provide a comprehensive view of the techniques used to study these structures. We aim to provide a set of guidelines for standardizing research on G-quadruplexes; these guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, but should rather provide useful information on the methods currently used to study these fascinating motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Luo
- Laboratoire D'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120, Palaiseau, France; CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Anton Granzhan
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France; CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Julien Marquevielle
- Université de Bordeaux, ARNA Laboratory, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Anne Cucchiarini
- Laboratoire D'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120, Palaiseau, France
| | - Laurent Lacroix
- Institut de Biologie de L'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Samir Amrane
- Université de Bordeaux, ARNA Laboratory, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Daniela Verga
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France; CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, F-91405, Orsay, France.
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire D'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120, Palaiseau, France; Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
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9
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Dobrovodský D, Di Primo C. Do conformational changes contribute to the surface plasmon resonance signal? Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 232:115296. [PMID: 37079993 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensors are widely used instruments for characterizing molecular interactions. In theory the SPR signal depends only on mass changes for interacting molecules of same chemical nature. Whether conformational changes of interacting molecules also contribute to the SPR signal is still a subject of lively debates. Works have been published claiming that conformational changes were detected but all factors contributing to the SPR signal were not carefully considered, in addition to often using no or improper controls. In the present work we used a very well-characterized oligonucleotide, the thrombin-binding DNA aptamer (TBA), which upon binding of potassium ions folds into a two G-tetrad antiparallel G-quadruplex structure. All terms contributing to the maximal expected SPR response, Rmax, in particular the refractive index increment, RII, of both partners and the fraction of immobilized TBA target available, ca, were experimentally assessed. The resulting Rmax was then compared to the maximal experimental SPR response for potassium ions binding to TBA using appropriate controls. Regardless how the RIIs were measured, by SPR or refractometry, and how much TBA available for interacting with potassium ions was considered, the theoretical and the experimental SPR responses never matched, the former being always lower than the latter. Using a straightforward experimental model system and by thoroughly taking into account all contributing factors we therefore conclude that conformational changes can indeed contribute to the measured SPR signal.
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10
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Kohlberger M, Gadermaier G. SELEX: Critical factors and optimization strategies for successful aptamer selection. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2022; 69:1771-1792. [PMID: 34427974 PMCID: PMC9788027 DOI: 10.1002/bab.2244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Within the last decade, the application range of aptamers in biochemistry and medicine has expanded rapidly. More than just a replacement for antibodies, these intrinsically structured RNA- or DNA-oligonucleotides show great potential for utilization in diagnostics, specific drug delivery, and treatment of certain medical conditions. However, what is analyzed less frequently is the process of aptamer identification known as systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) and the functional mechanisms that lie at its core. SELEX involves numerous singular processes, each of which contributes to the success or failure of aptamer generation. In this review, critical steps during aptamer selection are discussed in-depth, and specific problems are presented along with potential solutions. The discussed aspects include the size and molecule type of the selected target, the nature and stringency of the selection process, the amplification step with its possible PCR bias, the efficient regeneration of RNA or single-stranded DNA, and the different sequencing procedures and screening assays currently available. Finally, useful quality control steps and their role within SELEX are presented. By understanding the mechanisms through which aptamer selection is influenced, the design of more efficient SELEX procedures leading to a higher success rate in aptamer identification is enabled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kohlberger
- Department of BiosciencesParis Lodron University SalzburgSalzburgAustria,Christian Doppler Laboratory for Biosimilar CharacterizationParis Lodron University SalzburgSalzburgAustria
| | - Gabriele Gadermaier
- Department of BiosciencesParis Lodron University SalzburgSalzburgAustria,Christian Doppler Laboratory for Biosimilar CharacterizationParis Lodron University SalzburgSalzburgAustria
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11
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Bansal A, Kaushik S, Kukreti S. Non-canonical DNA structures: Diversity and disease association. Front Genet 2022; 13:959258. [PMID: 36134025 PMCID: PMC9483843 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.959258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A complete understanding of DNA double-helical structure discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, unveil the importance and significance of DNA. For the last seven decades, this has been a leading light in the course of the development of modern biology and biomedical science. Apart from the predominant B-form, experimental shreds of evidence have revealed the existence of a sequence-dependent structural diversity, unusual non-canonical structures like hairpin, cruciform, Z-DNA, multistranded structures such as DNA triplex, G-quadruplex, i-motif forms, etc. The diversity in the DNA structure depends on various factors such as base sequence, ions, superhelical stress, and ligands. In response to these various factors, the polymorphism of DNA regulates various genes via different processes like replication, transcription, translation, and recombination. However, altered levels of gene expression are associated with many human genetic diseases including neurological disorders and cancer. These non-B-DNA structures are expected to play a key role in determining genetic stability, DNA damage and repair etc. The present review is a modest attempt to summarize the available literature, illustrating the occurrence of non-canonical structures at the molecular level in response to the environment and interaction with ligands and proteins. This would provide an insight to understand the biological functions of these unusual DNA structures and their recognition as potential therapeutic targets for diverse genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Bansal
- Nucleic Acid Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Shikha Kaushik
- Nucleic Acid Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- Department of Chemistry, Rajdhani College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Shrikant Kukreti
- Nucleic Acid Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Shrikant Kukreti,
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12
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Roxo C, Pasternak A. Changes in physicochemical and anticancer properties modulated by chemically modified sugar moieties within sequence-related G-quadruplex structures. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273528. [PMID: 35998148 PMCID: PMC9397905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273528] [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: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We systematically investigated the influence of locked nucleic acid (LNA), unlock nucleic acid (UNA), and 2’-O-methyl-RNA (2’-O-Me-RNA) residues on the thermal stability, structure folding topology, biological activity and enzymatic resistance of three sequence-related DNA G-quadruplexes. In order to better understand the mechanism of action of the studied modifications, a single-position substitution in the loops or G-tetrads was performed and their influence was analyzed for a total of twenty-seven modified G-quadruplex variants. The studies show that the influence of each modification on the physicochemical properties of G-quadruplexes is position-dependent, due to mutual interactions between G-tetrads, loops, and additional guanosine at 5’ or 3’ end. Nevertheless, the anticancer activity of the modified G-quadruplexes is determined by their structure, thus also by the local changes of chemical character of sugar moieties, what might influence the specific interactions with therapeutic targets. In general, UNA modifications are efficient modulators of the G-quadruplex thermodynamic stability, however they are poor tools to improve the anticancer properties. In contrast, LNA and 2’-O-Me-RNA modified G-quadruplexes demonstrated certain antiproliferative potential and might be used as molecular tools for designing novel G-quadruplex-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Roxo
- Department of Nucleic Acids Bioengineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Pasternak
- Department of Nucleic Acids Bioengineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- * E-mail:
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13
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Choi BE, Lee HT. DNA-RNA hybrid G-quadruplex tends to form near the 3' end of telomere overhang. Biophys J 2022; 121:2962-2980. [PMID: 35769005 PMCID: PMC9388385 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) has been suggested to participate in telomere maintenance. TERRA consisting of UUAGGG repeats is capable of forming an intermolecular G-quadruplex (GQ) with single-stranded TTAGGG-repeat DNA in the telomere 3' overhang. To explore the structural features and potential functions of this DNA-RNA hybrid GQ (HGQ), we used single-molecule FRET to study the folding patterns of DNA with four to seven telomeric tandem repeats annealed with a short RNA consisting of two or five telomeric repeats. Our data highlight that RNA prefers to form DNA-RNA HGQ near the 3' end of telomeric DNA. Furthermore, the unfolding of secondary structures by a complementary C-rich sequence was observed for DNA GQ but not for DNA-RNA HGQ, which demonstrated the enhanced stability of the telomere 3' end via hybridization with RNA. These conformational and physical properties of telomeric DNA-RNA HGQ suggest that TERRA might limit access to the 3' end of the telomeric DNA overhang, which is known to be critical for the interaction with telomerase and other telomere-associated proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bok-Eum Choi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Hui-Ting Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
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14
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Hirashima S, Sugiyama H, Park S. Characterization of 2-Fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine in Duplex, G-quadruplex and I-motif. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200222. [PMID: 35438834 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Among various kinds of fluorine-substituted biomolecules, 2-fluoroadenine (2FA) and its derivatives have been actively investigated as therapeutic reagents, radio-sensitizers, and 19F-NMR probe. In spite of their excellent properties, DNA containing 2FA has not been studied well. Toward fundamental understanding and future applications to the development of functional nucleic acids, we characterized 2FA-containing oligonucleotides for canonical right-handed DNA duplex, G-quadruplex, and i-motif structures. Properties of 2FA were similar to native adenine due to the small size of fluorine atom, but it showed unique features caused by high electronegativity. This work provides useful information for future application of 2FA-modified DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Hirashima
- Kyoto University: Kyoto Daigaku, Chemistry, Kitashirakawa-oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku,, 606-8502, Kyoto, JAPAN
| | - Hiroshi Sugiyama
- Kyoto University: Kyoto Daigaku, Chemistry, Kitashirakawa-oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, 606-8502, Kyoto, JAPAN
| | - Soyoung Park
- Osaka University: Osaka Daigaku, Immunology Research Frontier Center, 3-1 Ymadaoka Suita, 565-0871, Osaka, JAPAN
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15
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Chan KY, Kinghorn AB, Hollenstein M, Tanner JA. Chemical modifications for a next generation of nucleic acid aptamers. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200006. [PMID: 35416400 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In the past three decades, in vitro systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) has yielded many aptamers for translational applications in both research and clinical settings. Despite their promise as an alternative to antibodies, the low success rate of SELEX (~ 30%) has been a major bottleneck that hampers the further development of aptamers. One hurdle is the lack of chemical diversity in nucleic acids. To address this, the aptamer chemical repertoire has been extended by introducing exotic chemical groups, which provide novel binding functionalities. This review will focus on how modified aptamers can be selected and evolved, with illustration of some successful examples. In particular, unique chemistries are exemplified. Various strategies of incorporating modified building blocks into the standard SELEX protocol are highlighted, with a comparison of the differences between pre-SELEX and post-SELEX modifications. Nucleic acid aptamers with extended functionality evolved from non-natural chemistries will open up new vistas for function and application of nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwing Yeung Chan
- The University of Hong Kong, School of Biomedical Sciences, HONG KONG
| | | | | | - Julian Alexander Tanner
- The University of Hong Kong, School of Biomedical Sciences, 3/F Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, 000000, Pokfulam, HONG KONG
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16
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Abune L, Lee K, Wang Y. Development of a Biomimetic Extracellular Matrix with Functions of Protein Sequestration and Cell Attachment Using Dual Aptamer-Functionalized Hydrogels. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:1279-1289. [PMID: 35179358 PMCID: PMC9764160 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) has not only cell-binding sites for cell attachment but also protein-binding sites for molecular sequestration. Aptamers have high binding affinities and specificities against their target molecules. Thus, the purpose of this work was to develop dual aptamer-functionalized hydrogels for simultaneously recapitulating the two key features of the ECM in binding cells and sequestering proteins. We synthesized the hydrogels using free-radical polymerization in a freezing procedure. As the hydrogels were macroporous with pores of 40-50 μm, both cells and proteins could be loaded into the hydrogels after the synthesis. Importantly, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) aptamer improved VEGF sequestration and reduced the apparent diffusivity of VEGF by over 2 orders of magnitude, resultantly prolonging VEGF retention and release. The c-MET aptamer promoted the attachment of endothelial cells in the hydrogel network. When two aptamers were both incorporated into the hydrogel, they could produce synergistic effects on cell survival and growth. Thus, this work has successfully demonstrated the potential of developing biomimetic ECMs with two key functions of cell attachment and protein sequestration using dual aptamer-functionalized hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidya Abune
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 122 CBE Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16801, United States
| | - Kyungsene Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 122 CBE Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16801, United States
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 122 CBE Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16801, United States
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17
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Hoque ME, Mahendran T, Basu S. Reversal of G-Quadruplexes' Role in Translation Control When Present in the Context of an IRES. Biomolecules 2022; 12:314. [PMID: 35204814 PMCID: PMC8869680 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (GQs) are secondary nucleic acid structures that play regulatory roles in various cellular processes. G-quadruplex-forming sequences present within the 5' UTR of mRNAs can function not only as repressors of translation but also as elements required for optimum function. Based upon previous reports, the majority of the 5' UTR GQ structures inhibit translation, presumably by blocking the ribosome scanning process that is essential for detection of the initiation codon. However, there are certain mRNAs containing GQs that have been identified as positive regulators of translation, as they are needed for translation initiation. While most cellular mRNAs utilize the 5' cap structure to undergo cap-dependent translation initiation, many rely on cap-independent translation under certain conditions in which the cap-dependent initiation mechanism is not viable or slowed down, for example, during development, under stress and in many diseases. Cap-independent translation mainly occurs via Internal Ribosomal Entry Sites (IRESs) that are located in the 5' UTR of mRNAs and are equipped with structural features that can recruit the ribosome or other factors to initiate translation without the need for a 5' cap. In this review, we will focus only on the role of RNA GQs present in the 5' UTR of mRNAs, where they play a critical role in translation initiation, and discuss the potential mechanism of this phenomenon, which is yet to be fully delineated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Soumitra Basu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA; (M.E.H.); (T.M.)
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18
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Boyle EP, Lomidze L, Musier‐Forsyth K, Kankia B. A Chimeric DNA/RNA Antiparallel Quadruplex with Improved Stability. ChemistryOpen 2022; 11:e202100276. [PMID: 35103415 PMCID: PMC8805387 DOI: 10.1002/open.202100276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid quadruplexes are proposed to play a role in the regulation of gene expression, are often present in aptamers selected for specific binding functions and have potential applications in medicine and biotechnology. Therefore, understanding their structure and thermodynamic properties and designing highly stable quadruplexes is desirable for a variety of applications. Here, we evaluate DNA→RNA substitutions in the context of a monomolecular, antiparallel quadruplex, the thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA, GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG) in the presence of either K+ or Sr2+ . TBA predominantly folds into a chair-type configuration containing two G-tetrads, with G residues in both syn and anti conformation. All chimeras with DNA→RNA substitutions (G→g) at G residues requiring the syn conformation demonstrated strong destabilization. In contrast, G→g substitutions at Gs with anti conformation increased stability without affecting the monomolecular chair-type topology. None of the DNA→RNA substitutions in loop positions affected the quadruplex topology; however, these substitutions varied widely in their stabilizing or destabilizing effects in an unpredictable manner. This analysis allowed us to design a chimeric DNA/RNA TBA construct that demonstrated substantially improved stability relative to the all-DNA construct. These results have implications for a variety of quadruplex-based applications including for the design of dynamic nanomachines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaina P. Boyle
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOH 43210USA
- Center for RNA BiologyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOH 43210USA
| | - Levan Lomidze
- Institute of BiophysicsIlia State UniversityTbilisi0162Republic of Georgia
| | - Karin Musier‐Forsyth
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOH 43210USA
- Center for RNA BiologyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOH 43210USA
| | - Besik Kankia
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOH 43210USA
- Center for RNA BiologyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOH 43210USA
- Institute of BiophysicsIlia State UniversityTbilisi0162Republic of Georgia
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19
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Fluorescent AgNCs Formed on Bifunctional DNA Template for Potassium Ion Detection. CHEMOSENSORS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors9120349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we examined properties of silver nanoclusters, which are AgNCs stabilized by DNA oligonucleotide scaffold containing G-quadruplex-forming sequences: human telomeric (Tel22) or thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA). Thus, we obtained two fluorescent probes abbreviated as Tel22C12-AgNCs and TBAC12-AgNCs, which were characterized using absorption, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. Both probes emit green and red fluorescence. The presence of silver nanoclusters did not destabilize the formed G-quadruplexes. The structural changes of probes upon binding K+ or Na+ ions cause quenching in their red emission. Green emission was slightly quenched only in the case of Tel22C12-AgNCs; on the contrary, for TBAC12-AgNC’s green emission, we observed an increasing fluorescence signal. Moreover, the Tel22C12-AgNCs system shows not only a higher binding preference for K+ over Na+, but it was able to monitor small changes in K+ concentrations in the buffer mimicking extracellular conditions (high content of Na+ ions). These results suggest that Tel22C12-AgNCs exhibit the potential to monitor transmembrane potassium transport.
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20
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Ozturk M, Nilsen-Hamilton M, Ilgu M. Aptamer Applications in Neuroscience. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1260. [PMID: 34959661 PMCID: PMC8709198 DOI: 10.3390/ph14121260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Being the predominant cause of disability, neurological diseases have received much attention from the global health community. Over a billion people suffer from one of the following neurological disorders: dementia, epilepsy, stroke, migraine, meningitis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, prion disease, or brain tumors. The diagnosis and treatment options are limited for many of these diseases. Aptamers, being small and non-immunogenic nucleic acid molecules that are easy to chemically modify, offer potential diagnostic and theragnostic applications to meet these needs. This review covers pioneering studies in applying aptamers, which shows promise for future diagnostics and treatments of neurological disorders that pose increasingly dire worldwide health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meric Ozturk
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; (M.O.); (M.N.-H.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Marit Nilsen-Hamilton
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; (M.O.); (M.N.-H.)
- Ames Laboratory, US DOE (United States Department of Energy), Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Aptalogic Inc., Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Muslum Ilgu
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; (M.O.); (M.N.-H.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
- Ames Laboratory, US DOE (United States Department of Energy), Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Aptalogic Inc., Ames, IA 50014, USA
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21
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22
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Saran R, Piccolo KA, He Y, Kang Y, Huang PJJ, Wei C, Chen D, Dieckmann T, Liu J. Thioflavin T fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy suggesting a non-G-quadruplex structure for a sodium binding aptamer embedded in DNAzymes. CAN J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjc-2021-0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Recently, a Na+-binding aptamer was reported to be embedded in a few RNA-cleaving DNAzymes, including NaA43, Ce13d, and NaH1. The Na+ aptamer consists of multiple GG stretches, which is a prerequisite for the formation of G-quadruplex (G4) structures. These DNAzymes require Na+ for activity but show no activity in the presence of K+ or other metal ions. Given that DNA can selectively bind K+ by forming a G4 structure, this work aims to answer whether this Na+ aptamer also uses a G4 to bind Na+. Through comparative ThT fluorescence spectrometry studies, while a control G4 DNA exhibited notable fluorescence enhancement up to 5 mM K+ with a Kd of 0.28 ± 0.06 mM, the Ce13d DNAzyme fluorescence was negligibly perturbed with similar concentrations of K+. Opposed to this, Ce13d displayed specific remarkable fluorescence decrease with low millimolar concentrations of Na+. NMR experiments at two different pH values suggest that Ce13d adopts a significantly different conformation or equilibrium of conformations in the presence of Na+ versus K+ and has a more stable structure in the presence of Na+. Additionally, absence of characteristic G4 peaks in one-dimensional 1H NMR suggest that G4 is not responsible for the Na+ binding. This hypothesis is confirmed by the absence of characteristic peaks in the CD spectra of this sequence. Therefore, we concluded that the aptamer must be selective for Na+ and that it binds Na+ using a structural element that does not contain G4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runjhun Saran
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Kyle A. Piccolo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Yanping He
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China
| | - Yongqiang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, P.R. China
| | - Po-Jung Jimmy Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Chunying Wei
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, P.R. China
| | - Da Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China
| | - Thorsten Dieckmann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Juewen Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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23
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Oliveira R, Pinho E, Sousa AL, DeStefano JJ, Azevedo NF, Almeida C. Improving aptamer performance with nucleic acid mimics: de novo and post-SELEX approaches. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:549-563. [PMID: 34756455 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aptamers are structural single-stranded oligonucleotides generated in vitro to bind to a specific target molecule. Aptamers' versatility can be enhanced with nucleic acid mimics (NAMs) during or after a selection process, also known as systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). We address advantages and limitations of the technologies used to generate NAM aptamers, especially the applicability of existing engineered polymerases to replicate NAMs and methodologies to improve aptamers after SELEX. We also discuss the limitations of existing methods for sequencing NAM sequences and bioinformatic tools to predict NAM aptamer structures. As a conclusion, we suggest that NAM aptamers might successfully compete with molecular tools based on proteins such as antibodies for future application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Oliveira
- INIAV - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, 4485-655 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal; LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eva Pinho
- INIAV - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, 4485-655 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Sousa
- INIAV - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, 4485-655 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal; LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Jeffrey J DeStefano
- Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Bioscience Research Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Nuno Filipe Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- INIAV - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, 4485-655 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal; LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
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24
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Beyond G-Quadruplexes-The Effect of Junction with Additional Structural Motifs on Aptamers Properties. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189948. [PMID: 34576112 PMCID: PMC8466185 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes constitute an important type of nucleic acid structure, which can be found in living cells and applied by cell machinery as pivotal regulatory elements. Importantly, robust development of SELEX technology and modern, nucleic acid-based therapeutic strategies targeted towards various molecules have also revealed a large group of potent aptamers whose structures are grounded in G-quadruplexes. In this review, we analyze further extension of tetraplexes by additional structural elements and investigate whether G-quadruplex junctions with duplex, hairpin, triplex, or second G-quadruplex motifs are favorable for aptamers stability and biological activity. Furthermore, we indicate the specific and pivotal role of the G-quadruplex domain and the additional structural elements in interactions with target molecules. Finally, we consider the potency of G-quadruplex junctions in future applications and indicate the emerging research area that is still waiting for development to obtain highly specific and effective nucleic acid-based molecular tools.
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25
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Identification and Engineering of Aptamers for Theranostic Application in Human Health and Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189661. [PMID: 34575825 PMCID: PMC8469434 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An aptamer is a short sequence of synthetic oligonucleotides which bind to their cognate target, specifically while maintaining similar or higher sensitivity compared to an antibody. The in-vitro selection of an aptamer, applying a conjoining approach of chemistry and molecular biology, is referred as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment (SELEX). These initial products of SELEX are further modified chemically in an attempt to make them stable in biofluid, avoiding nuclease digestion and renal clearance. While the modification is incorporated, enough care should be taken to maintain its sensitivity and specificity. These modifications and several improvisations have widened the window frame of aptamer applications that are currently not only restricted to in-vitro systems, but have also been used in molecular imaging for disease pathology and treatment. In the food industry, it has been used as sensor for detection of different diseases and fungal infections. In this review, we have discussed a brief history of its journey, along with applications where its role as a therapeutic plus diagnostic (theranostic) tool has been demonstrated. We have also highlighted the potential aptamer-mediated strategies for molecular targeting of COVID-19. Finally, the review focused on its future prospective in immunotherapy, as well as in identification of novel biomarkers in stem cells and also in single cell proteomics (scProteomics) to study intra or inter-tumor heterogeneity at the protein level. Small size, chemical synthesis, low batch variation, cost effectiveness, long shelf life and low immunogenicity provide advantages to the aptamer over the antibody. These physical and chemical properties of aptamers render them as a strong biomedical tool for theranostic purposes over the existing ones. The significance of aptamers in human health was the key finding of this review.
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26
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Kejnovská I, Stadlbauer P, Trantírek L, Renčiuk D, Gajarský M, Krafčík D, Palacký J, Bednářová K, Šponer J, Mergny JL, Vorlíčková M. G-Quadruplex Formation by DNA Sequences Deficient in Guanines: Two Tetrad Parallel Quadruplexes Do Not Fold Intramolecularly. Chemistry 2021; 27:12115-12125. [PMID: 34145655 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202100895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Guanine quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical forms of nucleic acids that are frequently found in genomes. The stability of G4s depends, among other factors, on the number of G-tetrads. Three- or four-tetrad G4s and antiparallel two-tetrad G4s have been characterized experimentally; however, the existence of an intramolecular (i. e., not dimeric or multimeric) two-tetrad parallel-stranded DNA G4 has never been experimentally observed. Many sequences compatible with two-tetrad G4 can be found in important genomic regions, such as promoters, for which parallel G4s predominate. Using experimental and theoretical approaches, the propensity of the model sequence AATGGGTGGGTTTGGGTGGGTAA to form an intramolecular parallel-stranded G4 upon increasing the number of GGG-to-GG substitutions has been studied. Deletion of a single G leads to the formation of intramolecular G4s with a stacked G-triad, whose topology depends on the location of the deletion. Removal of another guanine from another G-tract leads to di- or multimeric G4s. Further deletions mostly prevent the formation of any stable G4. Thus, a solitary two-tetrad parallel DNA G4 is not thermodynamically stable and requires additional interactions through capping residues. However, transiently populated metastable two-tetrad species can associate to form stable dimers, the dynamic formation of which might play additional delicate roles in gene regulation. These findings provide essential information for bioinformatics studies searching for potential G4s in genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Kejnovská
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Stadlbauer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Trantírek
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/3, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Renčiuk
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Gajarský
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/3, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Krafčík
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/3, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Palacký
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Klára Bednářová
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Vorlíčková
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65, Brno, Czech Republic
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27
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Su Y, Bayarjargal M, Hale TK, Filichev VV. DNA with zwitterionic and negatively charged phosphate modifications: Formation of DNA triplexes, duplexes and cell uptake studies. Beilstein J Org Chem 2021; 17:749-761. [PMID: 33828619 PMCID: PMC8022206 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.17.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Two phosphate modifications were introduced into the DNA backbone using the Staudinger reaction between the 3’,5’-dinucleoside β-cyanoethyl phosphite triester formed during DNA synthesis and sulfonyl azides, 4-(azidosulfonyl)-N,N,N-trimethylbutan-1-aminium iodide (N+ azide) or p-toluenesulfonyl (tosyl or Ts) azide, to provide either a zwitterionic phosphoramidate with N+ modification or a negatively charged phosphoramidate for Ts modification in the DNA sequence. The incorporation of these N+ and Ts modifications led to the formation of thermally stable parallel DNA triplexes, regardless of the number of modifications incorporated into the oligodeoxynucleotides (ONs). For both N+ and Ts-modified ONs, the antiparallel duplexes formed with complementary RNA were more stable than those formed with complementary DNA (except for ONs with modification in the middle of the sequence). Additionally, the incorporation of N+ modifications led to the formation of duplexes with a thermal stability that was less dependent on the ionic strength than native DNA duplexes. The thermodynamic analysis of the melting curves revealed that it is the reduction in unfavourable entropy, despite the decrease in favourable enthalpy, which is responsible for the stabilisation of duplexes with N+ modification. N+ONs also demonstrated greater resistance to nuclease digestion by snake venom phosphodiesterase I than the corresponding Ts-ONs. Cell uptake studies showed that Ts-ONs can enter the nucleus of mouse fibroblast NIH3T3 cells without any transfection reagent, whereas, N+ONs remain concentrated in vesicles within the cytoplasm. These results indicate that both N+ and Ts-modified ONs are promising for various in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongdong Su
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, 4442 Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Maitsetseg Bayarjargal
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, 4442 Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Tracy K Hale
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, 4442 Palmerston North, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Vyacheslav V Filichev
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, 4442 Palmerston North, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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28
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Jing H, Fu W, Hu W, Xu S, Xu X, He M, Liu Y, Zhang N. NMR structural study on the self-trimerization of d(GTTAGG) into a dynamic trimolecular G-quadruplex assembly preferentially in Na+ solution with a moderate K+ tolerance. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:2306-2316. [PMID: 33524157 PMCID: PMC7913680 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vast G-quadruplexes (GQs) are primarily folded by one, two, or four G-rich oligomers, rarely with an exception. Here, we present the first NMR solution structure of a trimolecular GQ (tri-GQ) that is solely assembled by the self-trimerization of d(GTTAGG), preferentially in Na+ solution tolerant to an equal amount of K+ cation. Eight guanines from three asymmetrically folded strands of d(GTTAGG) are organized into a two-tetrad core, which features a broken G-column and two width-irregular grooves. Fast strand exchanges on a timescale of second at 17°C spontaneously occur between folded tri-GQ and unfolded single-strand of d(GTTAGG) that both species coexist in dynamic equilibrium. Thus, this tri-GQ is not just simply a static assembly but rather a dynamic assembly. Moreover, another minor tetra-GQ that has putatively tetrameric (2+2) antiparallel topology becomes noticeable only at an extremely high strand concentration above 18 mM. The major tri-GQ and minor tetra-GQ are considered to be mutually related, and their reversible interconversion pathways are proposed accordingly. The sequence d(GTTAGG) could be regarded as either a reading frame shifted single repeat of human telomeric DNA or a 1.5 repeat of Bombyx mori telomeric DNA. Overall, our findings provide new insight into GQs and expect more functional applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Jing
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wenqiang Fu
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wenxuan Hu
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Suping Xu
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Xiaojuan Xu
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Miao He
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yangzhong Liu
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Na Zhang
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.,Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.,Key Laboratory of Anhui Province for High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Hefei 230031, China.,High Magnetic Field Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei 230031, China
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29
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Tuning G-Quadruplex Nanostructures with Lipids. Towards Designing Hybrid Scaffolds for Oligonucleotide Delivery. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010121. [PMID: 33374392 PMCID: PMC7796380 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Two G-quadruplex forming oligonucleotides [d(TG4T)4 and d(TG6T)4] were selected as two tetramolecular quadruplex nanostructures because of their demonstrated ability to be modified with hydrophobic molecules. This allowed us to synthesize two series of G-quadruplex conjugates that differed in the number of G-tetrads, as well as in the terminal position of the lipid modification. Both solution and solid-phase syntheses were carried out to yield the corresponding lipid oligonucleotide conjugates modified at their 3′- and 5′-termini, respectively. Biophysical studies confirmed that the presence of saturated alkyl chains with different lengths did not affect the G-quadruplex integrity, but increased the stability. Next, the G-quadruplex domain was added to an 18-mer antisense oligonucleotide. Gene silencing studies confirmed the ability of such G-rich oligonucleotides to facilitate the inhibition of target Renilla luciferase without showing signs of toxicity in tumor cell lines.
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30
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Al-Sudani B, Ragazzon-Smith AH, Aziz A, Alansari R, Ferry N, Krstic-Demonacos M, Ragazzon PA. Circular and linear: a tale of aptamer selection for the activation of SIRT1 to induce death in cancer cells. RSC Adv 2020; 10:45008-45018. [PMID: 35516259 PMCID: PMC9058605 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra07857c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It is a challenge to select the right target to treat conditions without affecting non-diseased cells. Cancer belongs to the top 10 causes of death in the world and it remains difficult to treat. Amongst cancer emerging targets, silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) - a histone deacetylase - has shown many roles in cancer, ageing and metabolism. Here we report novel SIRT1 ligands that bind and modulate the activity of SIRT1 within cells and enhance its enzymatic activity. We developed a modified aptamer capable of binding to and forming a complex with SIRT1. Our ligands are aptamers, they can be made of DNA or RNA oligonucleotides, their binding domain can recognise a target with very high affinity and specificity. We used the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) technique to develop circular and linear aptamers selectively binding to SIRT1. Cellular consequences of the interaction were monitored by fluorescence microscopy, cell viability assay, stability and enzymatic assays. Our results indicate that from our pool of aptamers, circular AC3 penetrates cancerous cells and is recruited to modulate the SIRT1 activity. This modulation of SIRT1 resulted in anticancer activity on different cancer cell lines. Furthermore, this modified aptamer showed no toxicity on one non-cancerous cell line and was stable in human plasma. We have demonstrated that aptamers are efficient tools for localisation of internal cell targets, and in this particular case, anticancer activity through modulation of SIRT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma Al-Sudani
- College of Pharmacy, Branch of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Mustansiriya UK
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford UK
| | | | - Athar Aziz
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford UK
| | - Rania Alansari
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University Hornbeam Building (2.26) Keele ST5 5BG UK
| | - Natalie Ferry
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford UK
| | - Marija Krstic-Demonacos
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford UK
| | - Patricia A Ragazzon
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University Hornbeam Building (2.26) Keele ST5 5BG UK
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31
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Kharel P, Becker G, Tsvetkov V, Ivanov P. Properties and biological impact of RNA G-quadruplexes: from order to turmoil and back. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:12534-12555. [PMID: 33264409 PMCID: PMC7736831 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanine-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-canonical four-stranded structures that can be formed in guanine (G) rich nucleic acid sequences. A great number of G-rich sequences capable of forming G4 structures have been described based on in vitro analysis, and evidence supporting their formation in live cells continues to accumulate. While formation of DNA G4s (dG4s) within chromatin in vivo has been supported by different chemical, imaging and genomic approaches, formation of RNA G4s (rG4s) in vivo remains a matter of discussion. Recent data support the dynamic nature of G4 formation in the transcriptome. Such dynamic fluctuation of rG4 folding-unfolding underpins the biological significance of these structures in the regulation of RNA metabolism. Moreover, rG4-mediated functions may ultimately be connected to mechanisms underlying disease pathologies and, potentially, provide novel options for therapeutics. In this framework, we will review the landscape of rG4s within the transcriptome, focus on their potential impact on biological processes, and consider an emerging connection of these functions in human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kharel
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gertraud Becker
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vladimir Tsvetkov
- Computational Oncology Group, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119146, Russia
- Federal Research and Clinical Center for Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia
- A. V. Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117912, Russia
| | - Pavel Ivanov
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Initiative for RNA Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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32
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Bao HL, Ishizuka T, Yamashita A, Furukoji E, Asada Y, Xu Y. Improving Thermodynamic Stability and Anticoagulant Activity of a Thrombin Binding Aptamer by Incorporation of 8-trifluoromethyl-2'-deoxyguanosine. J Med Chem 2020; 64:711-718. [PMID: 33289557 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we incorporated 8-trifluoromethyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (FG) into a thrombin binding aptamer (TBA). Circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electrophoresis, and prothrombin time (PT) assay were performed to investigate the structure, thermodynamic stability, biological stability, and anticoagulant activity of the FG-modified TBA sequences. We found that the replacement of FG into TBA sequences led to a remarkable improvement in the melting temperature up to 30 °C compared with the native sequence. The trifluoromethyl group allowed us to investigate the TBA G-quadruplex structure by 19F NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, PT assays showed that the modified sequences can significantly improve the anticoagulant activity in comparison with the native TBA. Finally, we demonstrated that the trifluoromethyl-modified TBA sequence could function as an anticoagulant reagent in live rats. Our results strongly suggested that FG is a powerful nucleoside derivative to increase the thermodynamic stability and anticoagulant activity of TBA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Liang Bao
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Takumi Ishizuka
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Atsushi Yamashita
- Department of Pathology, Division of Pathophysiology, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Eiji Furukoji
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Yujiro Asada
- Department of Pathology, Division of Pathophysiology, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Yan Xu
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
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33
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Calzada V. Aptamers in Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging Applications. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 174:141-160. [PMID: 31848635 DOI: 10.1007/10_2019_115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The origin of the term diagnostic comes from the Greek word gnosis, meaning "to know." In medicine, a diagnostic can predict the pathology risk, disease status, treatment, and prognosis, even following therapy. An early and correct diagnosis is necessary for an efficient treatment. Moreover, it is possible to predict if and why a therapy will be successful or fail, enabling the timely application of alternative therapeutic strategies. Available diagnostics are due to the advances in biotechnology; however, more sensitive, low-cost, and noninvasive methodologies are still a challenge. Knowledge about molecular characteristics provide personalized information, which is the goal of future medicine. Today, multiple diagnostic techniques have emerged, with which it is possible to distinguish molecular patterns.In this way, aptamers are the perfect tools to recognize molecular targets and can be easily modified to confer additional functions. Their versatile characteristics and low cost make aptamers ideal for diagnostic applications.This chapter is a review of aptamer-based diagnostics in biomedicine, with a special focus on probe design and molecular imaging. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Calzada
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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34
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Riccardi C, Napolitano E, Platella C, Musumeci D, Montesarchio D. G-quadruplex-based aptamers targeting human thrombin: Discovery, chemical modifications and antithrombotic effects. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 217:107649. [PMID: 32777331 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
First studies on thrombin-inhibiting DNA aptamers were reported in 1992, and since then a large number of anticoagulant aptamers has been discovered. TBA - also named HD1, a 15-mer G-quadruplex (G4)-forming oligonucleotide - is the best characterized thrombin binding aptamer, able to specifically recognize the protein exosite I, thus inhibiting the conversion of soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin strands. Unmodified nucleic acid-based aptamers, in general, and TBA in particular, exhibit limited pharmacokinetic properties and are rapidly degraded in vivo by nucleases. In order to improve the biological performance of aptamers, a widely investigated strategy is the introduction of chemical modifications in their backbone at the level of the nucleobases, sugar moieties or phosphodiester linkages. Besides TBA, also other thrombin binding aptamers, able to adopt a well-defined G4 structure, e.g. mixed duplex/quadruplex sequences, as well as homo- and hetero-bivalent constructs, have been identified and optimized. Considering the growing need of new efficient anticoagulant agents associated with the strong therapeutic potential of these thrombin inhibitors, the research on thrombin binding aptamers is still a very hot and intriguing field. Herein, we comprehensively described the state-of-the-art knowledge on the DNA-based aptamers targeting thrombin, especially focusing on the optimized analogues obtained by chemically modifying the oligonucleotide backbone, and their biological performances in therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Riccardi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia 21, I-80126 Naples, Italy; Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, 2(nd) Division of Neurology, Center for Rare Diseases and InterUniversity Center for Research in Neurosciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, via Sergio Pansini, 5, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Ettore Napolitano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia 21, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Chiara Platella
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia 21, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Domenica Musumeci
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia 21, I-80126 Naples, Italy; Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Naples, Italy.
| | - Daniela Montesarchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia 21, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
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35
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De Fenza M, Eremeeva E, Troisi R, Yang H, Esposito A, Sica F, Herdewijn P, D'Alonzo D, Guaragna A. Structure-Activity Relationship Study of a Potent α-Thrombin Binding Aptamer Incorporating Hexitol Nucleotides. Chemistry 2020; 26:9589-9597. [PMID: 32363791 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202001504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The replacement of one or more nucleotide residues in the potent α-thrombin-binding aptamer NU172 with hexitol-based nucleotides has been devised to study the effect of these substitutions on the physicochemical and functional properties of the anticoagulant agent. The incorporation of single hexitol nucleotides at the T9 and G18 positions of NU172 substantially retained the physicochemical features of the parent oligonucleotide, as a result of the biomimetic properties of the hexitol backbone. Importantly, the NU172-TH 9 mutant exhibited a higher binding affinity toward human α-thrombin than the native aptamer and an improved stability even after 24 h in 90 % human serum, with a significant increase in the estimated half-life. The anticoagulant activity of the modified oligonucleotide was also found to be slightly preferable to NU172. Overall, these results confirm the potential of hexitol nucleotides as biomimetic agents, while laying the foundations for the development of NU172-inspired α-thrombin-binding aptamers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Fenza
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Elena Eremeeva
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Herestraat 49-box 1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Romualdo Troisi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Hui Yang
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Herestraat 49-box 1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anna Esposito
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Filomena Sica
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Herestraat 49-box 1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daniele D'Alonzo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Annalisa Guaragna
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
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36
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Kovačič M, Podbevšek P, Tateishi-Karimata H, Takahashi S, Sugimoto N, Plavec J. Thrombin binding aptamer G-quadruplex stabilized by pyrene-modified nucleotides. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:3975-3986. [PMID: 32095808 PMCID: PMC7144916 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanine-rich regions of the human genome can adopt non-canonical secondary structures. Their role in regulating gene expression has turned them into promising targets for therapeutic intervention. Ligands based on polyaromatic moieties are especially suitable for targeting G-quadruplexes utilizing their size complementarity to interact with the large exposed surface area of four guanine bases. A predictable way of (de)stabilizing specific G-quadruplex structures through efficient base stacking of polyaromatic functional groups could become a valuable tool in our therapeutic arsenal. We have investigated the effect of pyrene-modified uridine nucleotides incorporated at several positions of the thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) as a model system. Characterization using spectroscopic and biophysical methods provided important insights into modes of interaction between pyrene groups and the G-quadruplex core as well as (de)stabilization by enthalpic and entropic contributions. NMR data demonstrated that incorporation of pyrene group into G-rich oligonucleotide such as TBA may result in significant changes in 3D structure such as formation of novel dimeric topology. Site specific structural changes induced by stacking of the pyrene moiety on nearby nucleobases corelate with distinct thrombin binding affinities and increased resistance against nuclease degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matic Kovačič
- Slovenian NMR Center, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Peter Podbevšek
- Slovenian NMR Center, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,EN-FIST Centre of Excellence, Trg OF 13, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Hisae Tateishi-Karimata
- Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Takahashi
- Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Naoki Sugimoto
- Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.,Graduate School of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Janez Plavec
- Slovenian NMR Center, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,EN-FIST Centre of Excellence, Trg OF 13, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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37
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Reina C, Cavalieri V. Epigenetic Modulation of Chromatin States and Gene Expression by G-Quadruplex Structures. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4172. [PMID: 32545267 PMCID: PMC7312119 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes are four-stranded helical nucleic acid structures formed by guanine-rich sequences. A considerable number of studies have revealed that these noncanonical structural motifs are widespread throughout the genome and transcriptome of numerous organisms, including humans. In particular, G-quadruplexes occupy strategic locations in genomic DNA and both coding and noncoding RNA molecules, being involved in many essential cellular and organismal functions. In this review, we first outline the fundamental structural features of G-quadruplexes and then focus on the concept that these DNA and RNA structures convey a distinctive layer of epigenetic information that is critical for the complex regulation, either positive or negative, of biological activities in different contexts. In this framework, we summarize and discuss the proposed mechanisms underlying the functions of G-quadruplexes and their interacting factors. Furthermore, we give special emphasis to the interplay between G-quadruplex formation/disruption and other epigenetic marks, including biochemical modifications of DNA bases and histones, nucleosome positioning, and three-dimensional organization of chromatin. Finally, epigenetic roles of RNA G-quadruplexes in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression are also discussed. Undoubtedly, the issues addressed in this review take on particular importance in the field of comparative epigenetics, as well as in translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Reina
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo Cavalieri
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
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38
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Su Y, Edwards PJB, Stetsenko DA, Filichev VV. The Importance of Phosphates for DNA G-Quadruplex Formation: Evaluation of Zwitterionic G-Rich Oligodeoxynucleotides. Chembiochem 2020; 21:2455-2466. [PMID: 32281223 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A quaternary ammonium butylsulfonyl phosphoramidate group (N+) was designed to replace all the phosphates in a G-rich oligodeoxynucleotide d(TG4 T), resulting in a formally charge-neutral zwitterionic N+TG4 T sequence. We evaluated the effects of N+phosphate modifications on the structural, thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the parallel G-quadruplexes (G4) formed by TG4 T and compared them to the properties of the recently published phosphoryl guanidine d(TG4 T) (PG-TG4 T). Using size-exclusion chromatography, we established that, unlike PG-TG4 T, which exists as a mixture of complexes of different molecularity in solution, N+TG4 T forms an individual tetramolecular complex. In contrast to PG modifications that destabilized G4s, the presence of N+ modifications increased thermal stability relative to unmodified [d(TG4 T)]4 . The initial stage of assembly of N+TG4 T proceeded faster in the presence of Na+ than K+ ions and, similarly to PG-TG4 T, was independent of the salt concentration. However, after complex formation exceeded 75 %, N+TG4 T in solution with Na+ showed slower association than with K+ . N+TG4 T could also form G4s in solution with Li+ ions at a very low strand concentration (10 μM); something that has never been reported for the native d(TG4 T). Charge-neutral PG-G4s can invade preformed native G4s, whereas no invasion was observed between N+and native G4s, possibly due to the increased thermal stability of [N+TG4 T]4 . The N+ modification makes d(TG4 T) fully resistant to enzymatic digestion, which could be useful for intracellular application of N+-modified DNA or RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongdong Su
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, 4442, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Patrick J B Edwards
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, 4442, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Dmitry A Stetsenko
- Novosibirsk State University, 2 Pirogov Street, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.,Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Vyacheslav V Filichev
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, 4442, Palmerston North, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
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Thevendran R, Sarah S, Tang TH, Citartan M. Strategies to bioengineer aptamer-driven nanovehicles as exceptional molecular tools for targeted therapeutics: A review. J Control Release 2020; 323:530-548. [PMID: 32380206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.04.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers are a class of folded nucleic acid strands capable of binding to different target molecules with high affinity and selectivity. Over the years, they have gained a substantial amount of interest as promising molecular tools for numerous medical applications, particularly in targeted therapeutics. However, only the different treatment approaches and current developments of aptamer-drug therapies have been discussed so far, ignoring the crucial technical and functional aspects of constructing a therapeutically effective aptamer-driven drug delivery system that translates to improved in-vivo performance. Hence, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the strategies used to improve the therapeutic performance of aptamer-guided delivery systems. We focus on the different functional features such as drug deployment, payload capacity, in-vivo stability and targeting efficiency to further our knowledge in enhancing the cell-specific delivery of aptamer-drug conjugates. Each reported strategy is critically discussed to emphasize both the benefits provided in comparison with other similar techniques and to outline their potential drawbacks with respect to the molecular properties of the aptamers, the drug and the system to be designed. The molecular architecture and design considerations for an efficient aptamer-based delivery system are also briefly elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Thevendran
- Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
| | - Shigdar Sarah
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Thean-Hock Tang
- Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
| | - Marimuthu Citartan
- Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
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40
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Islam B, Stadlbauer P, Vorlíčková M, Mergny JL, Otyepka M, Šponer J. Stability of Two-Quartet G-Quadruplexes and Their Dimers in Atomistic Simulations. J Chem Theory Comput 2020; 16:3447-3463. [PMID: 32163706 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.9b01068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (GQs) are four-stranded noncanonical DNA and RNA architectures that can be formed by guanine-rich sequences. The stability of GQs increases with the number of G-quartets, and three G-quartets generally form stable GQs. However, the stability of two-quartet GQs is an open issue. To understand the intrinsic stability of two-quartet GQ stems, we have carried out a series of unbiased molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (505 μs in total) of two- and four-quartet DNA and RNA GQs, with attention paid mainly to parallel-stranded arrangements. We used AMBER DNA parmOL15 and RNA parmOL3 force fields and tested different ion and water models. Two-quartet parallel-stranded DNA GQs unfolded in all the simulations, while the equivalent RNA GQ was stable in most of the simulations. GQs composed of two stacked units of two-quartet GQs were stable for both DNA and RNA. The simulations suggest that a minimum of three quartets are needed to form an intrinsically stable all-anti parallel-stranded DNA GQ. Parallel two-quartet DNA GQ may exist if substantially stabilized by another molecule or structural element, including multimerization. On the other hand, we predict that isolated RNA two-quartet parallel GQs may form, albeit being weakly stable. We also show that ionic parameters and water models should be chosen with caution because some parameter combinations can cause spurious instability of GQ stems. Some in-so-far unnoticed limitations of force-field description of multiple ions inside the GQs are discussed, which compromise the capability of simulations to fully capture the effect of increase in the number of quartets on the GQ stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barira Islam
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Stadlbauer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, tř. 17 listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Vorlíčková
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Otyepka
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, tř. 17 listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, tř. 17 listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
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41
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Le TT, Bruckbauer A, Tahirbegi B, Magness AJ, Ying L, Ellington AD, Cass AEG. A highly stable RNA aptamer probe for the retinoblastoma protein in live cells. Chem Sci 2020; 11:4467-4474. [PMID: 34122904 PMCID: PMC8159449 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc01613f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although RNA aptamers can show comparable or better specificity and affinity to antibodies and have the advantage of being able to access different live cell compartments, they are often much less stable in vivo. We report here the first aptamer that binds human retinoblastoma protein (RB) and is stable in live cells. RB is both a key protein in cell cycle control and also a tumour suppressor. The aptamer was selected from an RNA library against a unique 12-residue helical peptide derived from RB rather than the whole protein molecule. It binds RB with high affinity (K d = 5.1 ± 0.1 nM) and is a putative RNA G-quadruplex structure formed by an 18-nucleotide sequence (18E16 - GGA GGG UGG AGG GAA GGG), which may account for its high stability. Confocal fluorescence microscopy of live cells transfected with the aptamer shows it is stable intracellularly and efficient in entering the nucleus where an analogous antibody was inaccessible. The findings demonstrate this aptamer is an advanced probe for RB in live cell applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao T Le
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London 80 Wood Lane W12 0BZ UK
| | | | - Bogachan Tahirbegi
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London 80 Wood Lane W12 0BZ UK
| | | | - Liming Ying
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London SW7 2AZ UK
| | - Andrew D Ellington
- Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin Texas 78712 USA
| | - Anthony E G Cass
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London 80 Wood Lane W12 0BZ UK
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42
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Roach RJ, Garavís M, González C, Jameson GB, Filichev VV, Hale TK. Heterochromatin protein 1α interacts with parallel RNA and DNA G-quadruplexes. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:682-693. [PMID: 31799602 PMCID: PMC6954420 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The eukaryotic genome is functionally organized into domains of transcriptionally active euchromatin and domains of highly compact transcriptionally silent heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is constitutively assembled at repetitive elements that include the telomeres and centromeres. The histone code model proposes that HP1α forms and maintains these domains of heterochromatin through the interaction of its chromodomain with trimethylated lysine 9 of histone 3, although this interaction is not the sole determinant. We show here that the unstructured hinge domain, necessary for the targeting of HP1α to constitutive heterochromatin, recognizes parallel G-quadruplex (G4) assemblies formed by the TElomeric Repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) transcribed from the telomere. This provides a mechanism by which TERRA can lead to the enrichment of HP1α at telomeres to maintain heterochromatin. Furthermore, we show that HP1α binds with a faster association rate to DNA G4s of parallel topology compared to antiparallel G4s that bind slowly or not at all. Such G4–DNAs are found in the regulatory regions of several oncogenes. This implicates specific non-canonical nucleic acid structures as determinants of HP1α function and thus RNA and DNA G4s need to be considered as contributors to chromatin domain organization and the epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby J Roach
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Miguel Garavís
- Instituto de Química Física 'Rocasolano', CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos González
- Instituto de Química Física 'Rocasolano', CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Geoffrey B Jameson
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Vyacheslav V Filichev
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tracy K Hale
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
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Peng S, Bie B, Jia H, Tang H, Zhang X, Sun Y, Wei Q, Wu F, Yuan Y, Deng H, Zhou X. Efficient Separation of Nucleic Acids with Different Secondary Structures by Metal-Organic Frameworks. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:5049-5059. [PMID: 32069054 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b10936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We report the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the selective separation of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) with different secondary structures through size, shape, length, and capability of conformational transition. Three MOFs with precisely controlled pore environments, Co-IRMOF-74-II, -III, and -IV, composed of Co2+ and organic linkers (II, III, and IV), respectively, were used for the inclusion of nucleic acid into their pores from the solution. This was proven to be a spontaneous process from disordered free state to restricted ordered state via circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Three critical factors were identified for their inclusion: (1) size selection induced by steric hindrance, (2) conformation transition energy selection induced by stability, and (3) molecular weight selection. These selection rules were used to extract nucleic acids with flexible and unstable secondary structures from complex mixtures of multiple nucleic acids, leaving those with rigid and stable secondary structures in the mother liquor. This provides the possibility to separate and enrich nucleic acids in bulk through their different structure feature, which is highly desirable in genome-wide structural measurement of nucleic acids. Unlike methods that rely on specific binding antibodies or ligand, this MOF method is capable of selecting all kinds of nucleic acids with similar secondary structure features; therefore, it is suitable for the handling of a large variety and quantity of nucleic acids at the same time. This method also has the potential to gather information about the folding stability of biomolecules with secondary structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Peng
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Binglin Bie
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.,The Institute of Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hongnan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.,The Institute of Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Heng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuqing Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Qi Wei
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yushu Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hexiang Deng
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.,The Institute of Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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Odeh F, Nsairat H, Alshaer W, Ismail MA, Esawi E, Qaqish B, Bawab AA, Ismail SI. Aptamers Chemistry: Chemical Modifications and Conjugation Strategies. Molecules 2019; 25:E3. [PMID: 31861277 PMCID: PMC6982925 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Soon after they were first described in 1990, aptamers were largely recognized as a new class of biological ligands that can rival antibodies in various analytical, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. Aptamers are short single-stranded RNA or DNA oligonucleotides capable of folding into complex 3D structures, enabling them to bind to a large variety of targets ranging from small ions to an entire organism. Their high binding specificity and affinity make them comparable to antibodies, but they are superior regarding a longer shelf life, simple production and chemical modification, in addition to low toxicity and immunogenicity. In the past three decades, aptamers have been used in a plethora of therapeutics and drug delivery systems that involve innovative delivery mechanisms and carrying various types of drug cargos. However, the successful translation of aptamer research from bench to bedside has been challenged by several limitations that slow down the realization of promising aptamer applications as therapeutics at the clinical level. The main limitations include the susceptibility to degradation by nucleases, fast renal clearance, low thermal stability, and the limited functional group diversity. The solution to overcome such limitations lies in the chemistry of aptamers. The current review will focus on the recent arts of aptamer chemistry that have been evolved to refine the pharmacological properties of aptamers. Moreover, this review will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of such chemical modifications and how they impact the pharmacological properties of aptamers. Finally, this review will summarize the conjugation strategies of aptamers to nanocarriers for developing targeted drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadwa Odeh
- Faculty of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.O.); (H.N.); (A.A.B.)
- Hamdi Mango Center for Scientific Research, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Hamdi Nsairat
- Faculty of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.O.); (H.N.); (A.A.B.)
| | - Walhan Alshaer
- Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Mohammad A. Ismail
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (M.A.I.); (E.E.); (B.Q.); (S.I.I.)
| | - Ezaldeen Esawi
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (M.A.I.); (E.E.); (B.Q.); (S.I.I.)
| | - Baraa Qaqish
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (M.A.I.); (E.E.); (B.Q.); (S.I.I.)
| | - Abeer Al Bawab
- Faculty of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.O.); (H.N.); (A.A.B.)
- Hamdi Mango Center for Scientific Research, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Said I. Ismail
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (M.A.I.); (E.E.); (B.Q.); (S.I.I.)
- Qatar Genome Project, Qatar Foundation, Doha 5825, Qatar
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45
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Riccardi C, Meyer A, Vasseur JJ, Russo Krauss I, Paduano L, Morvan F, Montesarchio D. Fine-tuning the properties of the thrombin binding aptamer through cyclization: Effect of the 5'-3' connecting linker on the aptamer stability and anticoagulant activity. Bioorg Chem 2019; 94:103379. [PMID: 31699393 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.103379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A small library of cyclic TBA analogues (named cycTBA I-IV), obtained by covalently connecting its 5'- and 3'-ends with flexible linkers, has been synthesized with the aim of improving its chemical and enzymatic stability, as well as its anticoagulant properties. Two chemical procedures have been exploited to achieve the desired cyclization, based on the oxime ligation method (providing cycTBA I and II) or on Cu(I)-assisted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) protocols (for cycTBA III and IV), leading to analogues containing circularizing linkers with different chemical nature and length, overall spanning from 22 to 48 atoms. The resulting cyclic TBAs have been characterized using a variety of biophysical methods (UV, CD, gel electrophoresis, SE-HPLC analyses) and then tested for their serum resistance and anticoagulant activity under in vitro experiments. A fine-tuning of the length and flexibility of the linker allowed identifying a cyclic analogue, cycTBA II, with improved anticoagulant activity, associated with a dramatically stabilized G-quadruplex structure (ΔTm = +17 °C) and a 6.6-fold higher enzymatic resistance in serum compared to unmodified TBA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Riccardi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Albert Meyer
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Jacques Vasseur
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Irene Russo Krauss
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, I-80126 Napoli, Italy; CSGI - Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Fi), Italy
| | - Luigi Paduano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, I-80126 Napoli, Italy; CSGI - Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Fi), Italy
| | - François Morvan
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France.
| | - Daniela Montesarchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, I-80126 Napoli, Italy.
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46
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Zheng J, Du Y, Wang H, Peng P, Shi L, Li T. Ultrastable Bimolecular G-Quadruplexes Programmed DNA Nanoassemblies for Reconfigurable Biomimetic DNAzymes. ACS NANO 2019; 13:11947-11954. [PMID: 31589020 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b06029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The relatively low stability and polymorphism of bimolecular G-quadruplexes (bi-G4s) are big difficulties that are faced in employing them to guide DNA assembly, as they are usually subject to a transformation into more stable tetramolecular or G-wire structures favored by K+ or Mg2+. Although bi-G4s benefit by additional duplex handles, a challenge remains in tailoring their intrinsic properties to resolve the above difficulties. Toward this challenge, here we engineer several ultrastable bi-G4s via replacing their nucleotide loops with special mini-hairpins, which consist of a GAA loop and a short GC-paired stem. Such a structural alteration favors the formation of G:C:G:C tetrads in the head-to-head folding topologies of bi-G4s and improves their thermal stability, with an increase in the melting temperature by up to 25 °C. It dramatically reduces their structural conversion into G-wires, verified by atomic force microscopy. These features enable the utilization of two well-chosen bi-G4s to shape a DNA nanotriangle into the desired framework nucleic acid (FNA) architectures such as "bowknot" and "butterfly" that are reversibly switched by the bi-G4s. On this basis, we further build a reconfigurable DNAzyme device to mimic the activation of human telomerase that is modulated by the G4 dimerization. Our designed ultrastable bi-G4s will offer a promising tool for dynamically manipulating intracellular DNA nanoassemblies with endogenous K+ and exploring the relationship between dimerization and function in some physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Zheng
- Department of Chemistry , University of Science and Technology of China , 96 Jinzhai Road , Hefei , Anhui 230026 , China
| | - Yi Du
- Department of Chemistry , University of Science and Technology of China , 96 Jinzhai Road , Hefei , Anhui 230026 , China
| | - Huihui Wang
- Department of Chemistry , University of Science and Technology of China , 96 Jinzhai Road , Hefei , Anhui 230026 , China
| | - Pai Peng
- Department of Chemistry , University of Science and Technology of China , 96 Jinzhai Road , Hefei , Anhui 230026 , China
| | - Lili Shi
- Department of Chemistry , University of Science and Technology of China , 96 Jinzhai Road , Hefei , Anhui 230026 , China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Chemistry , University of Science and Technology of China , 96 Jinzhai Road , Hefei , Anhui 230026 , China
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47
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Wagh AA, Fernandes M. 2′‐5′‐Isomerically Linked Thrombin‐Binding Aptamer (isoTBA) Forms a Stable Unimolecular Parallel G‐Quadruplex in the Presence of Sr
2+
Ions. ChemistrySelect 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201902005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Atish A. Wagh
- Organic Chemistry DivisionCSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) Dr. Homi Bhabha Road Pune 411008 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad 201002 India
| | - Moneesha Fernandes
- Organic Chemistry DivisionCSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) Dr. Homi Bhabha Road Pune 411008 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad 201002 India
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48
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Kharel P, Balaratnam S, Beals N, Basu S. The role of RNA G-quadruplexes in human diseases and therapeutic strategies. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2019; 11:e1568. [PMID: 31514263 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (GQs) are four-stranded secondary structures formed by G-rich nucleic acid sequence(s). DNA GQs are present abundantly in the genome and affect a wide range of processes associated with DNA. Recent studies show that RNA GQs are present in different transcripts, including coding and noncoding areas of mRNA, telomeric RNA as well as in other premature and mature noncoding RNAs. When present at specific locations within the RNAs, GQs play important roles in key biological functions, including the regulation of gene expression and telomere homeostasis. RNA GQs regulate pre-mRNA processing, such as splicing and polyadenylation. Evidently, among other processes, RNA GQs also control mRNA translation, miRNA and piRNA biogenesis, and RNA localization. The regulatory mechanisms controlled by RNA GQs mainly involve binding to RNA binding protein that modulate GQ conformation or serve as an entity in recruiting additional protein regulators to act as a block element to the processing machinery. Here we provide an overview of the ever-increasing number of discoveries revealing the role of RNA GQs in biology and their relevance in human diseases and therapeutics. This article is categorized under: RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kharel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.,Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sumirtha Balaratnam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.,Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Nathan Beals
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Soumitra Basu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
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Unveiling the druggable RNA targets and small molecule therapeutics. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:2149-2165. [PMID: 30981606 PMCID: PMC7126819 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The increasing appreciation for the crucial roles of RNAs in infectious and non-infectious human diseases makes them attractive therapeutic targets. Coding and non-coding RNAs frequently fold into complex conformations which, if effectively targeted, offer opportunities to therapeutically modulate numerous cellular processes, including those linked to undruggable protein targets. Despite the considerable skepticism as to whether RNAs can be targeted with small molecule therapeutics, overwhelming evidence suggests the challenges we are currently facing are not outside the realm of possibility. In this review, we highlight the most recent advances in molecular techniques that have sparked a revolution in understanding the RNA structure-to-function relationship. We bring attention to the application of these modern techniques to identify druggable RNA targets and to assess small molecule binding specificity. Finally, we discuss novel screening methodologies that support RNA drug discovery and present examples of therapeutically valuable RNA targets.
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50
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Qi Q, Yang C, Xia Y, Guo S, Song D, Su H. Preferential Binding of π-Ligand Porphyrin Targeting 5'-5' Stacking Interface of Human Telomeric RNA G-Quadruplex Dimer. J Phys Chem Lett 2019; 10:2143-2150. [PMID: 30995046 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b00637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Human telomeric RNA (TERRA) containing thousands of G-rich repeats has the propensity to form parallel-stranded G-quadruplexes. The emerging crucial roles of TERRA G-quadruplexes in RNA biology fuel increasing attention for studying anticancer ligand binding with such structures, which, however, remains scarce. Here we utilized multiple steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy analyses in conjunction with NMR methods and investigated thoroughly the binding behavior of TMPyP4 to a TERRA G-quadruplex dimer formed by the 10-nucleotide sequence r(GGGUUAGGGU). It is clearly identified that TMPyP4 intercalates into the 5'-5' stacking interface of two G-quadruplex blocks with a binding stoichiometry of 1:1 and binding constant of 1.92 × 106 M-1. This is consistent with the unique TERRA structural features of the enlarged π-π stacking plane of the A·(G·G·G·G)·A hexad at 5'-ends of each G-quadruplex block. The preferential binding of π-ligand porphyrin to the 5'-5' stacking interface of the native TERRA G-quadruplex dimer is first ascertained by the combination of dynamics and structural characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qige Qi
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Institute of Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Science , Beijing 100190 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Science , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Chunfan Yang
- College of Chemistry , Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875 , China
| | - Ye Xia
- College of Chemistry , Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875 , China
| | - Shaoshi Guo
- College of Chemistry , Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875 , China
| | - Di Song
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Institute of Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Science , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Hongmei Su
- College of Chemistry , Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875 , China
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