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Chalikian TV, Liu L, Macgregor RB. Duplex-tetraplex equilibria in guanine- and cytosine-rich DNA. Biophys Chem 2020; 267:106473. [PMID: 33031980 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2020.106473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Noncanonical four-stranded DNA structures, including G-quadruplexes and i-motifs, have been discovered in the cell and are implicated in a variety of genomic regulatory functions. The tendency of a specific guanine- and cytosine-rich region of genomic DNA to adopt a four-stranded conformation depends on its ability to overcome the constraints of duplex base-pairing by undergoing consecutive duplex-to-coil and coil-to-tetraplex transitions. The latter ability is determined by the balance between the free energies of participating ordered and disordered structures. In this review, we present an overview of the literature on the stability of G-quadruplex and i-motif structures and discuss the extent of duplex-tetraplex competition as a function of the sequence context of the DNA and environmental conditions including temperature, pH, salt, molecular crowding, and the presence of G-quadruplex-binding ligands. We outline how the results of in vitro studies can be expanded to understanding duplex-tetraplex equilibria in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tigran V Chalikian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada.
| | - Lutan Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Robert B Macgregor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
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2
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Sabale PM, Tanpure AA, Srivatsan SG. Probing the competition between duplex and G-quadruplex/i-motif structures using a conformation-sensitive fluorescent nucleoside probe. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 16:4141-4150. [PMID: 29781489 PMCID: PMC6086326 DOI: 10.1039/c8ob00646f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Double-stranded segments of a genome that can potentially form G-quadruplex (GQ) and/or i-motif (iM) structures are considered to be important regulatory elements. Hence, the development of a common probe that can detect GQ and iM structures and also distinguish them from a duplex structure will be highly useful in understanding the propensity of such segments to adopt duplex or non-canonical four-stranded structures. Here, we describe the utility of a conformation-sensitive fluorescent nucleoside analog, which was originally developed as a GQ sensor, in detecting the iM structures of C-rich DNA oligonucleotides (ONs). The analog is based on a 5-(benzofuran-2-yl)uracil scaffold, which when incorporated into C-rich ONs (e.g., telomeric repeats) fluorescently distinguishes an iM from random coil and duplex structures. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques enabled the determination of transition pH for the transformation of a random coil to an iM structure. Furthermore, a qualitative understanding on the relative population of duplex and GQ/iM forms under physiological conditions could be gained by correlating the fluorescence, CD and thermal melting data. Taken together, this sensor could provide a general platform to profile double-stranded promoter regions in terms of their ability to adopt four-stranded structures, and also could support approaches to discover functional GQ and iM binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod M Sabale
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India.
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3
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Rigo R, Sissi C. Characterization of G4-G4 Crosstalk in the c-KIT Promoter Region. Biochemistry 2017; 56:4309-4312. [PMID: 28763217 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The proximal promoter of c-KIT contains a peculiar domain that consists of three short G-rich sequences that are close together and can fold into noncanonical DNA secondary structures called G-quadruplexes (G4). Here, we focused on a sequence containing two consecutive G4 (kit2 and kit*). By electrophoretic, surface plasmon resonance, and spectroscopic techniques, we demonstrated that they retain the ability to fold into G4 upon being inserted into the extended sequence. Here, we highlighted the occurrence of crosstalk between the two forming units. This previously unexplored G4-G4 interaction modulates both the conformation and the stability of the overall arrangement of the c-KIT promoter. It is not supported by stacking of single nucleotides but refers to a G4-G4 interaction surface surrounded by a two-nucleotides loop that might represent a reliable unprecedented target for anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Rigo
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova , Via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Claudia Sissi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova , Via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Mendoza O, Elezgaray J, Mergny JL. Kinetics of quadruplex to duplex conversion. Biochimie 2015; 118:225-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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5
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Byrd AK, Raney KD. A parallel quadruplex DNA is bound tightly but unfolded slowly by pif1 helicase. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:6482-94. [PMID: 25589786 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.630749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA sequences that can form intramolecular quadruplex structures are found in promoters of proto-oncogenes. Many of these sequences readily fold into parallel quadruplexes. Here we characterize the ability of yeast Pif1 to bind and unfold a parallel quadruplex DNA substrate. We found that Pif1 binds more tightly to the parallel quadruplex DNA than single-stranded DNA or tailed duplexes. However, Pif1 unwinding of duplexes occurs at a much faster rate than unfolding of a parallel intramolecular quadruplex. Pif1 readily unfolds a parallel quadruplex DNA substrate in a multiturnover reaction and also generates some product under single cycle conditions. The rate of ATP hydrolysis by Pif1 is reduced when bound to a parallel quadruplex compared with single-stranded DNA. ATP hydrolysis occurs at a faster rate than quadruplex unfolding, indicating that some ATP hydrolysis events are non-productive during unfolding of intramolecular parallel quadruplex DNA. However, product eventually accumulates at a slow rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia K Byrd
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Kevin D Raney
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
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6
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Frees S, Menendez C, Crum M, Bagga PS. QGRS-Conserve: a computational method for discovering evolutionarily conserved G-quadruplex motifs. Hum Genomics 2014; 8:8. [PMID: 24885782 PMCID: PMC4017754 DOI: 10.1186/1479-7364-8-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nucleic acids containing guanine tracts can form quadruplex structures via non-Watson-Crick base pairing. Formation of G-quadruplexes is associated with the regulation of important biological functions such as transcription, genetic instability, DNA repair, DNA replication, epigenetic mechanisms, regulation of translation, and alternative splicing. G-quadruplexes play important roles in human diseases and are being considered as targets for a variety of therapies. Identification of functional G-quadruplexes and the study of their overall distribution in genomes and transcriptomes is an important pursuit. Traditional computational methods map sequence motifs capable of forming G-quadruplexes but have difficulty in distinguishing motifs that occur by chance from ones which fold into G-quadruplexes. RESULTS We present Quadruplex forming 'G'-rich sequences (QGRS)-Conserve, a computational method for calculating motif conservation across exomes and supports filtering to provide researchers with more precise methods of studying G-quadruplex distribution patterns. Our method quantitatively evaluates conservation between quadruplexes found in homologous nucleotide sequences based on several motif structural characteristics. QGRS-Conserve also efficiently manages overlapping G-quadruplex sequences such that the resulting datasets can be analyzed effectively. CONCLUSIONS We have applied QGRS-Conserve to identify a large number of G-quadruplex motifs in the human exome conserved across several mammalian and non-mammalian species. We have successfully identified multiple homologs of many previously published G-quadruplexes that play post-transcriptional regulatory roles in human genes. Preliminary large-scale analysis identified many homologous G-quadruplexes in the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions of mammalian species. An expectedly smaller set of G-quadruplex motifs was found to be conserved across larger phylogenetic distances. QGRS-Conserve provides means to build datasets that can be filtered and categorized in a variety of biological dimensions for more targeted studies in order to better understand the roles that G-quadruplexes play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Frees
- Department of Computer Science, Ramapo College of New Jersey, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 08807, USA
| | - Camille Menendez
- Department of Bioinformatics, Ramapo College of New Jersey, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 08807, USA
| | - Matt Crum
- Department of Bioinformatics, Ramapo College of New Jersey, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 08807, USA
| | - Paramjeet S Bagga
- Department of Bioinformatics, Ramapo College of New Jersey, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 08807, USA
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7
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Eddy S, Ketkar A, Zafar MK, Maddukuri L, Choi JY, Eoff RL. Human Rev1 polymerase disrupts G-quadruplex DNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:3272-85. [PMID: 24366879 PMCID: PMC3950705 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Y-family DNA polymerase Rev1 is required for successful replication of G-quadruplex DNA (G4 DNA) in higher eukaryotes. Here we show that human Rev1 (hRev1) disrupts G4 DNA structures and prevents refolding in vitro. Nucleotidyl transfer by hRev1 is not necessary for mechanical unfolding to occur. hRev1 binds G4 DNA substrates with Kd,DNA values that are 4–15-fold lower than those of non-G4 DNA substrates. The pre-steady-state rate constant of deoxycytidine monophosphate (dCMP) insertion opposite the first tetrad-guanine by hRev1 is ∼56% as fast as that observed for non-G4 DNA substrates. Thus, hRev1 can promote fork progression by either dislodging tetrad guanines to unfold the G4 DNA, which could assist in extension by other DNA polymerases, or hRev1 can prevent refolding of G4 DNA structures. The hRev1 mechanism of action against G-quadruplexes helps explain why replication progress is impeded at G4 DNA sites in Rev1-deficient cells and illustrates another unique feature of this enzyme with important implications for genome maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Eddy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199, USA and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 440-746, Republic of Korea
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8
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Lane AN. The stability of intramolecular DNA G-quadruplexes compared with other macromolecules. Biochimie 2011; 94:277-86. [PMID: 21854828 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2011.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
DNA quadruplexes are often conceived as very stable structures. However, most of the free energy of stabilization derives from specific ion binding via inner sphere coordination of the GO6 of the guanine residues comprising the basic quartet. When compared with other nucleic acid structures such as DNA or RNA duplexes and hairpins, or proteins of the same number of atoms, metal-coordinated intramolecular quadruplexes are found to be of comparable or lower thermodynamic stability under similar solution conditions. Furthermore, intramolecular quadruplexes are actually less stable kinetically, than DNA duplexes or hairpins of the same size. Although the literature is incomplete, it is clear that polyelectrolyte ion effects, the influence of solvation and steric crowding on stability are qualitatively different between intramolecular quadruplexes and DNA duplexes. For example, decreasing water activity destabilizes DNA duplexes, whereas quadruplexes are stabilized. The variety of folded conformations accessible to a single sequence further implies strong sensitivity of the conformational ensemble to the solution conditions, compared with DNA duplexes or small single domain proteins. These considerations may have relevance to the conditions prevailing inside cell nuclei and therefore the structures that potentially might form in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N Lane
- JG Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 505 S. Hancock St., Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
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9
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Kendrick S, Hurley LH. The role of G-quadruplex/i-motif secondary structures as cis-acting regulatory elements. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 82:1609-1621. [PMID: 21796223 DOI: 10.1351/pac-con-09-09-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The nature of DNA has captivated scientists for more than fifty years. The discovery of the double-helix model of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953 not only established the primary structure of DNA, but also provided the mechanism behind DNA function. Since then, researchers have continued to further the understanding of DNA structure and its pivotal role in transcription. The demonstration of DNA secondary structure formation has allowed for the proposal that the dynamics of DNA itself can function to modulate transcription. This review presents evidence that DNA can exist in a dynamic equilibrium between duplex and secondary conformations. In addition, data demonstrating that intracellular proteins as well as small molecules can shift this equilibrium in either direction to alter gene transcription will be discussed, with a focus on the modulation of proto-oncogene expression.
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10
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Kendrick S, Akiyama Y, Hecht SM, Hurley LH. The i-motif in the bcl-2 P1 promoter forms an unexpectedly stable structure with a unique 8:5:7 loop folding pattern. J Am Chem Soc 2010; 131:17667-76. [PMID: 19908860 DOI: 10.1021/ja9076292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation of the bcl-2 proto-oncogene is highly complex, with the majority of transcription driven by the P1 promoter site and the interaction of multiple regulatory proteins. A guanine- and cytosine-rich (GC-rich) region directly upstream of the P1 site has been shown to be integral to bcl-2 promoter activity, as deletion or mutation of this region significantly increases transcription. This GC-rich element consists of six contiguous runs of guanines and cytosines that have the potential to adopt DNA secondary structures, the G-quadruplex and i-motif, respectively. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that the polypurine-rich strand of the bcl-2 promoter can form a mixture of three different G-quadruplex structures. In this current study, we demonstrate that the complementary polypyrimidine-rich strand is capable of forming one major intramolecular i-motif DNA secondary structure with a transition pH of 6.6. Characterization of the i-motif folding pattern using mutational studies coupled with circular dichroic spectra and thermal stability analyses revealed an 8:5:7 loop conformation as the predominant structure at pH 6.1. The folding pattern was further supported by chemical footprinting with bromine. In addition, a novel assay involving the sequential incorporation of a fluorescent thymine analog at each thymine position provided evidence of a capping structure within the top loop region of the i-motif. The potential of the GC-rich element within the bcl-2 promoter region to form DNA secondary structures suggests that the transition from the B-DNA to non-B-DNA conformation may play an important role in bcl-2 transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, the two adjacent large lateral loops in the i-motif structure provide an unexpected opportunity for protein and small molecule recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Kendrick
- Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA
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11
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Shen W, Gao L, Balakrishnan M, Bambara RA. A recombination hot spot in HIV-1 contains guanosine runs that can form a G-quartet structure and promote strand transfer in vitro. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:33883-93. [PMID: 19822521 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.055368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The co-packaged RNA genomes of human immunodeficiency virus-1 recombine at a high rate. Recombination can mix mutations to generate viruses that escape immune response. A cell-culture-based system was designed previously to map recombination events in a 459-bp region spanning the primer binding site through a portion of the gag protein coding region. Strikingly, a strong preferential site for recombination in vivo was identified within a 112-nucleotide-long region near the beginning of gag. Strand transfer assays in vitro revealed that three pause bands in the gag hot spot each corresponded to a run of guanosine (G) residues. Pausing of reverse transcriptase is known to promote recombination by strand transfer both in vivo and in vitro. To assess the significance of the G runs, we altered them by base substitutions. Disruption of the G runs eliminated both the associated pausing and strand transfer. Some G-rich sequences can develop G-quartet structures, which were first proposed to form in telomeric DNA. G-quartet structure formation is highly dependent on the presence of specific cations. Incubation in cations discouraging G-quartets altered gel mobility of the gag template consistent with breakdown of G-quartet structure. The same cations faded G-run pauses but did not affect pauses caused by hairpins, indicating that quartet structure causes pausing. Moreover, gel analysis with cations favoring G-quartet structure indicated no structure in mutated templates. Overall, results point to reverse transcriptase pausing at G runs that can form quartets as a unique feature of the gag recombination hot spot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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12
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Cheng X, Liu X, Bing T, Zhao R, Xiong S, Shangguan D. Specific DNA G-quadruplexes bind to ethanolamines. Biopolymers 2009; 91:874-83. [PMID: 19582835 DOI: 10.1002/bip.21272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A significant number of G-quadruplex-forming sequences have been revealed in human genome by bioinformatic searches, implying that G-quadruplexes may be involved in important biological processes and may be new chemotherapeutic targets. Therefore, it is important to discover the potential interactions of G-quadruplexes with other molecules or groups. Here we describe a class of G-quadruplexes, which can bind to ethanolamine groups that widely exist in biomolecules and drug molecules. The specific interaction of these G-quadruplexes with ethanolamine groups was identified by high performance affinity chromatography (HPAC) using immobilized ethanolamine and diethanolamine as stationary phase reagents. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) show that these ethanolamine binding quadruplexes adopt an intramolecularly parallel structure. The relationship of ethanolamine binding and G-quadruplexe structure provides new clues for the G-quadruplex-related studies as well as for the molecular designs of therapeutic reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Cheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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13
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Verma A, Yadav VK, Basundra R, Kumar A, Chowdhury S. Evidence of genome-wide G4 DNA-mediated gene expression in human cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2009; 37:4194-204. [PMID: 19211664 PMCID: PMC2715224 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkn1076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanine-rich DNA of a particular sequence adopts four-stranded structural forms known as G-quadruplex or G4 DNA. Though in vitro formation of G4 DNA is known for several years, in vivo presence of G4 DNA was only recently noted in eukaryote telomeres. Recent bioinformatics analyses showing prevalence of G4 DNA within promoters of human and related species seems to implicate G4 DNA in a genome-wide cis-regulatory role. Herein we demonstrate that G4 DNA may present regulatory sites on a genome-wide scale by showing widespread effect on gene expression in response to the established intracellular G4 DNA-binding ligands. This is particularly relevant to genes that harbor conserved potential G4 DNA (PG4 DNA) forming sequence across human, mouse and rat promoters of orthologous genes. Genes with conserved PG4 DNA in promoters show co-regulated expression in 79 human and 61 mouse normal tissues (z-score > 3.5; P < 0.0001). Conservation of G4 DNA across related species also emphasizes the biological importance of G4 DNA and its role in transcriptional regulation of genes; shedding light on a relatively novel mechanism of regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Verma
- Proteomics and Structural Biology Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, CSIR, Delhi 110 007, India
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14
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Mani P, Yadav VK, Das SK, Chowdhury S. Genome-wide analyses of recombination prone regions predict role of DNA structural motif in recombination. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4399. [PMID: 19198658 PMCID: PMC2635932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2008] [Accepted: 12/17/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
HapMap findings reveal surprisingly asymmetric distribution of recombinogenic regions. Short recombinogenic regions (hotspots) are interspersed between large relatively non-recombinogenic regions. This raises the interesting possibility of DNA sequence and/or other cis- elements as determinants of recombination. We hypothesized the involvement of non-canonical sequences that can result in local non-B DNA structures and tested this using the G-quadruplex DNA as a model. G-quadruplex or G4 DNA is a unique form of four-stranded non-B DNA structure that engages certain G-rich sequences, presence of such motifs has been noted within telomeres. In support of this hypothesis, genome-wide computational analyses presented here reveal enrichment of potential G4 (PG4) DNA forming sequences within 25618 human hotspots relative to 9290 coldspots (p<0.0001). Furthermore, co-occurrence of PG4 DNA within several short sequence elements that are associated with recombinogenic regions was found to be significantly more than randomly expected. Interestingly, analyses of more than 50 DNA binding factors revealed that co-occurrence of PG4 DNA with target DNA binding sites of transcription factors c-Rel, NF-kappa B (p50 and p65) and Evi-1 was significantly enriched in recombination-prone regions. These observations support involvement of G4 DNA in recombination, predicting a functional model that is consistent with duplex-strand separation induced by formation of G4 motifs in supercoiled DNA and/or when assisted by other cellular factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prithvi Mani
- G. N. Ramachandran Knowledge Centre for Genome Informatics, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, CSIR, Delhi, India
| | - Vinod Kumar Yadav
- G. N. Ramachandran Knowledge Centre for Genome Informatics, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, CSIR, Delhi, India
| | - Swapan Kumar Das
- Functional Genomics Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, CSIR, Delhi, India
| | - Shantanu Chowdhury
- G. N. Ramachandran Knowledge Centre for Genome Informatics, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, CSIR, Delhi, India
- Proteomics and Structural Biology Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, CSIR, Delhi, India
- * E-mail:
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15
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Kumar N, Patowary A, Sivasubbu S, Petersen M, Maiti S. Silencing c-MYC expression by targeting quadruplex in P1 promoter using locked nucleic acid trap. Biochemistry 2009; 47:13179-88. [PMID: 19053274 DOI: 10.1021/bi801064j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The nuclease hypersensitive element of P1 promoter in c-MYC gene harbors a potential of unusual structure called quadruplex, which is involved in molecular recognition and function. This Hoogsteen bonded structure is in dynamic equilibrium with the usual Watson-Crick duplex structure, and these competing secondary structures undergo interconversion for execution of their respective biological roles. Herein, we investigate the sensitivity of the c-MYC quadruplex-duplex equilibrium by employing a locked nucleic acid (LNA) modified complementary strand as a pharmacological agent. Our biophysical experiments indicate that the c-MYC quadruplex under physiological conditions is stable and dominates the quadruplex-WC duplex equilibrium in both sodium and potassium buffers. This equilibrium is perturbed upon introducing the LNA modified complementary strand, which demonstrates efficient invasion of stable c-MYC quadruplex and duplex formation in contrast to the unmodified complementary strand. Our data indicate that LNA modifications confer increased thermodynamic stability to the duplex and thus favor the predominance of the duplex population over that of the quadruplex. Further, we demonstrate that this perturbation of equilibrium by a pharmacological agent results in altered gene expression. Our in vivo experiment performed using the LNA modified complementary strand suggests the influence of the quadruplex-duplex structural switch in the modulation of gene expression. We believe that this exploratory approach utilizing the selectivity and specificity of Watson-Crick base pairing of LNA bases would allow the modulation of quadruplex regulated gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niti Kumar
- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, CSIR, Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India
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16
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Chu B, Yuan G, Zhou J, Ou Y, Zhu P. A new telomerase inhibitor and apoptosis-inducing agent in leukemia: perylene derivative G-quadruplex ligand Tel03. Drug Dev Res 2008. [DOI: 10.1002/ddr.20248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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17
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18
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Redman JE. Surface plasmon resonance for probing quadruplex folding and interactions with proteins and small molecules. Methods 2007; 43:302-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2007.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2007] [Accepted: 05/21/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Kikin O, Zappala Z, D'Antonio L, Bagga PS. GRSDB2 and GRS_UTRdb: databases of quadruplex forming G-rich sequences in pre-mRNAs and mRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2007; 36:D141-8. [PMID: 18045785 PMCID: PMC2238929 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkm982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex motifs in the RNA play significant roles in key cellular processes and human disease. While sequences capable of forming G-quadruplexes in the pre-mRNA are involved in regulation of polyadenylation and splicing events in mammalian transcripts, the G-quadruplex motifs in the UTRs may help regulate mRNA expression. GRSDB2 is a second-generation database containing information on the composition and distribution of putative Quadruplex-forming G-Rich Sequences (QGRS) mapped in ∼29 000 eukaryotic pre-mRNA sequences, many of which are alternatively processed. The data stored in the GRSDB2 is based on computational analysis of NCBI Entrez Gene entries with the help of an improved version of the QGRS Mapper program. The database allows complex queries with a wide variety of parameters, including Gene Ontology terms. The data is displayed in a variety of formats with several additional computational capabilities. We have also developed a new database, GRS_UTRdb, containing information on the composition and distribution patterns of putative QGRS in the 5′- and 3′-UTRs of eukaryotic mRNA sequences. The goal of these experiments has been to build freely accessible resources for exploring the role of G-quadruplex structure in regulation of gene expression at post-transcriptional level. The databases can be accessed at the G-Quadruplex Resource Site at: http://bioinformatics.ramapo.edu/GQRS/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Kikin
- Bergen County Academies, Hackensack and Bioinformatics, School of Theoretical and Applied Science, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, NJ, USA
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Kumar N, Maiti S. Role of locked nucleic acid modified complementary strand in quadruplex/Watson-Crick duplex equilibrium. J Phys Chem B 2007; 111:12328-37. [PMID: 17914789 DOI: 10.1021/jp072705u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the human genome, the G-rich sequences that form quadruplexes are present along with their C-rich complementary strands; this suggests the existence of equilibrium between a quadruplex and a Watson-Crick duplex which allows the execution of their respective biological functions. We have investigated the sensitivity of this equilibrium to pharmacological agents by employing locked nucleic acid (LNA) modified complementary strands, and demonstrated successful invasion of the stable telomeric quadruplex d[(G(3)TTA)(3)G(3)]. Fluorescence, UV, ITC, and SPR studies were performed to understand the binding process involving the preformed quadruplex and LNA-modified complementary strands compared with that involving the unmodified complementary strand. Our data indicate that LNA modifications in the complementary strand shift the equilibrium toward the duplex state. These modifications confer increased thermodynamic stability to the duplex and increase the magnitude of relative free energy (DeltaDeltaG degrees) difference between duplex and quadruplex, thus favoring the predominance of duplex population over quadruplex. This superior ability of LNA-modified complementary strand can be exploited to pave an exploratory approach in which it hybridizes to a telomeric quadruplex and drives duplex formation, and inhibits the recognition of 3' G-rich overhang by RNA template of telomerase which guides telomere extension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niti Kumar
- Proteomics and Structural Biology Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, CSIR, Mall Road, New Delhi 110 007, India
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21
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Evans SE, Mendez MA, Turner KB, Keating LR, Grimes RT, Melchoir S, Szalai VA. End-stacking of copper cationic porphyrins on parallel-stranded guanine quadruplexes. J Biol Inorg Chem 2007; 12:1235-49. [PMID: 17786488 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-007-0292-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2007] [Accepted: 08/12/2007] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids that contain multiple sequential guanines assemble into guanine quadruplexes (G-quadruplexes). Drugs that induce or stabilize G-quadruplexes are of interest because of their potential use as therapeutics. Previously, we reported on the interaction of the Cu(2+) derivative of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)-21H,23H-porphine (CuTMpyP4), with the parallel-stranded G-quadruplexes formed by d(T(4)G( n )T(4)) (n = 4 or 8) (Keating and Szalai in Biochemistry 43:15891-15900, 2004). Here we present further characterization of this system using a series of guanine-rich oligonucleotides: d(T(4)G( n )T(4)) (n = 5-10). Absorption titrations of CuTMpyP4 with all d(T(4)G( n )G(4)) quadruplexes produce approximately the same bathochromicity (8.3 +/- 2 nm) and hypochromicity (46.2-48.6%) of the porphyrin Soret band. Induced emission spectra of CuTMpyP4 with d(T(4)G( n )T(4))(4) quadruplexes indicate that the porphyrin is protected from solvent. Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry revealed a maximum porphyrin to quadruplex stoichiometry of 2:1 for the shortest (n = 4) and longest (n = 10) quadruplexes. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy shows that bound CuTMpyP4 occupies magnetically noninteracting sites on the quadruplexes. Consistent with our previous model for d(T(4)G(4)T(4)), we propose that two CuTMpyP4 molecules are externally stacked at each end of the run of guanines in all d(T(4)G( n )T(4)) (n = 4-10) quadruplexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Evans
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
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22
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Liu JN, Deng R, Guo JF, Zhou JM, Feng GK, Huang ZS, Gu LQ, Zeng YX, Zhu XF. Inhibition of myc promoter and telomerase activity and induction of delayed apoptosis by SYUIQ-5, a novel G-quadruplex interactive agent in leukemia cells. Leukemia 2007; 21:1300-2. [PMID: 17392822 DOI: 10.1038/sj.leu.2404652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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23
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Yin F, Liu J, Deng X, Wang J. Effects of Triethylene Tetraamine on the G-quadruplex Structure in the Human c-myc Promoter. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 141:669-74. [PMID: 17339229 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvm069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The increasing data show that a parallel G-quadruplex structure formed by the element of nuclease-hypersensitivity element III(1) (NHE III(1)) in the P1 promoter of c-myc functions as a transcriptional repressor. Triethylene tetraamine has exhibited interesting properties of stabilizing both inter- and intra-molecular G-quadruplex structures and telomerase-inhibitory potency. Here, we present evidences showing that triethylene tetraamine facilitates the formation of G-quadruplex structure by the NHE III(1) element, and inhibits the expression of c-myc in HeLa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yin
- Research Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Chemobiology, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
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24
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Kikin O, D'Antonio L, Bagga PS. QGRS Mapper: a web-based server for predicting G-quadruplexes in nucleotide sequences. Nucleic Acids Res 2006; 34:W676-82. [PMID: 16845096 PMCID: PMC1538864 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkl253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 669] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The quadruplex structures formed by guanine-rich nucleic acid sequences have received significant attention recently because of growing evidence for their role in important biological processes and as therapeutic targets. G-quadruplex DNA has been suggested to regulate DNA replication and may control cellular proliferation. Sequences capable of forming G-quadruplexes in the RNA have been shown to play significant roles in regulation of polyadenylation and splicing events in mammalian transcripts. Whether quadruplex structure directly plays a role in regulating RNA processing requires investigation. Computational approaches to study G-quadruplexes allow detailed analysis of mammalian genomes. There are no known easily accessible user-friendly tools that can compute G-quadruplexes in the nucleotide sequences. We have developed a web-based server, QGRS Mapper, that predicts quadruplex forming G-rich sequences (QGRS) in nucleotide sequences. It is a user-friendly application that provides many options for defining and studying G-quadruplexes. It performs analysis of the user provided genomic sequences, e.g. promoter and telomeric regions, as well as RNA sequences. It is also useful for predicting G-quadruplex structures in oligonucleotides. The program provides options to search and retrieve desired gene/nucleotide sequence entries from NCBI databases for mapping G-quadruplexes in the context of RNA processing sites. This feature is very useful for investigating the functional relevance of G-quadruplex structure, in particular its role in regulating the gene expression by alternative processing. In addition to providing data on composition and locations of QGRS relative to the processing sites in the pre-mRNA sequence, QGRS Mapper features interactive graphic representation of the data. The user can also use the graphics module to visualize QGRS distribution patterns among all the alternative RNA products of a gene simultaneously on a single screen. QGRS Mapper can be accessed at .
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paramjeet S Bagga
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 201 684 7722; Fax: +1 201 684 7637;
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25
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Gao Y, Wolf LK, Georgiadis RM. Secondary structure effects on DNA hybridization kinetics: a solution versus surface comparison. Nucleic Acids Res 2006; 34:3370-7. [PMID: 16822858 PMCID: PMC1488884 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkl422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The hybridization kinetics for a series of designed 25mer probe–target pairs having varying degrees of secondary structure have been measured by UV absorbance and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy in solution and on the surface, respectively. Kinetic rate constants derived from the resultant data decrease with increasing probe and target secondary structure similarly in both solution and surface environments. Specifically, addition of three intramolecular base pairs in the probe and target structure slow hybridization by a factor of two. For individual strands containing four or more intramolecular base pairs, hybridization cannot be described by a traditional two-state model in solution-phase nor on the surface. Surface hybridization rates are also 20- to 40-fold slower than solution-phase rates for identical sequences and conditions. These quantitative findings may have implications for the design of better biosensors, particularly those using probes with deliberate secondary structure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rosina M. Georgiadis
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 617 353 2500; Fax: +1 617 353 6466;
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26
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Rawal P, Kummarasetti VBR, Ravindran J, Kumar N, Halder K, Sharma R, Mukerji M, Das SK, Chowdhury S. Genome-wide prediction of G4 DNA as regulatory motifs: role in Escherichia coli global regulation. Genome Res 2006; 16:644-55. [PMID: 16651665 PMCID: PMC1457047 DOI: 10.1101/gr.4508806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The role of nonlinear DNA in replication, recombination, and transcription has become evident in recent years. Although several studies have predicted and characterized regulatory elements at the sequence level, very few have investigated DNA structure as regulatory motifs. Here, using G-quadruplex or G4 DNA motifs as a model, we have researched the role of DNA structure in transcription on a genome-wide scale. Analyses of >61,000 open reading frames (ORFs) across 18 prokaryotes show enrichment of G4 motifs in regulatory regions and indicate its predominance within promoters of genes pertaining to transcription, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and signal transduction. Based on this, we predict that G4 DNA may present regulatory signals. This is supported by conserved G4 motifs in promoters of orthologous genes across phylogenetically distant organisms. We hypothesized a regulatory role of G4 DNA during supercoiling stress, when duplex destabilization may result in G4 formation. This is in line with our observations from target site analysis for 55 DNA-binding proteins in Escherichia coli, which reveals significant (P<0.001) association of G4 motifs with target sites of global regulators FIS and Lrp and the sigma factor RpoD (sigma70). These factors together control >1000 genes in the early growth phase and are believed to be induced by supercoiled DNA. We also predict G4 motif-induced supercoiling sensitivity for >30 operons in E. coli, and our findings implicate G4 DNA in DNA-topology-mediated global gene regulation in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Rawal
- G.N. Ramachandran Knowledge Centre for Genome Informatics
| | | | | | - Nirmal Kumar
- G.N. Ramachandran Knowledge Centre for Genome Informatics
| | | | - Rakesh Sharma
- G.N. Ramachandran Knowledge Centre for Genome Informatics
- Environmental Biotechnology Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, CSIR, Delhi 110 007, India
| | - Mitali Mukerji
- G.N. Ramachandran Knowledge Centre for Genome Informatics
- Functional Genomics Unit
| | | | - Shantanu Chowdhury
- G.N. Ramachandran Knowledge Centre for Genome Informatics
- Proteomics and Structural Biology Unit
- Corresponding author.E-mail ; fax 91-11-2766-7471
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Phan AT, Kuryavyi V, Patel DJ. DNA architecture: from G to Z. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2006; 16:288-98. [PMID: 16714104 PMCID: PMC4689308 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2006.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2006] [Revised: 04/10/2006] [Accepted: 05/10/2006] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes and Z-DNA are two important non-B forms of DNA architecture. Results on novel structural elements, folding and unfolding kinetics, and interactions with small molecules and proteins have been reported recently for these forms. These results will enhance our understanding of the biology of these structures and provide a platform for drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh Tuân Phan
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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28
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Kostadinov R, Malhotra N, Viotti M, Shine R, D'Antonio L, Bagga P. GRSDB: a database of quadruplex forming G-rich sequences in alternatively processed mammalian pre-mRNA sequences. Nucleic Acids Res 2006; 34:D119-24. [PMID: 16381828 PMCID: PMC1347436 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkj073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Guanine-rich nucleic acids are known to form highly stable G-quadruplex structures, also known as G-quartets. Recently, there has been a tremendous amount of interest in studying G-quadruplexes owing to the realization of their biological importance. G-rich sequences (GRSs) capable of forming G-quadruplexes are found in the vicinity of polyadenylation regions and are involved in regulating 3′ end processing of mammalian pre-mRNAs. G-rich motifs are also known to play an important role in alternative, tissue-specific splicing by interacting with hnRNP H protein subfamily. Whether quadruplex structure directly plays a role in regulating RNA processing events requires further investigation. To date there has not been a comprehensive effort to study G-quadruplexes near RNA processing sites. We have applied a computational approach to map putative Quadruplex forming GRSs within the transcribed regions of a large number of alternatively processed human and mouse gene sequences that were obtained as fully annotated entries from GenBank and RefSeq. We have used the computed data to build the GRSDB database that provides a unique avenue for studying G-quadruplexes in the context of RNA processing sites. GRSDB website offers visual comparison of G-quadruplex distribution patterns among all the alternative RNA products of a gene with the help of dynamic graphics. At present, GRSDB contains data from 1310 human and mouse genes, of which 1188 are alternatively processed. It has a total of 379 223 predicted G-quadruplexes, of which 54 252 are near RNA processing sites. GRSDB is a good resource for researchers interested in investigating the functional relevance of G-quadruplexes, especially in the context of alternative RNA processing. It can be accessed at .
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Paramjeet Bagga
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 201 684 7722; Fax: +1 201 684 7637;
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29
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Abstract
We identified 1113 articles (103 reviews, 1010 primary research articles) published in 2005 that describe experiments performed using commercially available optical biosensors. While this number of publications is impressive, we find that the quality of the biosensor work in these articles is often pretty poor. It is a little disappointing that there appears to be only a small set of researchers who know how to properly perform, analyze, and present biosensor data. To help focus the field, we spotlight work published by 10 research groups that exemplify the quality of data one should expect to see from a biosensor experiment. Also, in an effort to raise awareness of the common problems in the biosensor field, we provide side-by-side examples of good and bad data sets from the 2005 literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Rich
- Center for Biomolecular Interaction Analysis, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
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