1
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Gardasevic T, Noy A. The impact of sequence periodicity on DNA mechanics: investigating the origin of A-tract's curvature. NANOSCALE 2024. [PMID: 39247956 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr02571g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Periodic sequences in phase with DNA helical shape are prevalent in genomes due to their capacity to modulate DNA elasticity on a global scale. However, how this occurs is not well understood. We use all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on 40 bp DNA fragments to assess the effect of periodicity on bending, twisting, and stretch elasticity. We observe that DNA static curvature is the mechanical parameter most influenced by periodicity, with A-tract sequences having the greatest effect. A-tracts generate global curvature by bending in distinct directions (minor groove and backbones) that complement the bending of the rest of DNA, which predominantly is towards the major groove. Even if A-tracts are rigid at the local scale, these small bends integrate with the greater bends from the sequences between, producing an amplifying effect. As a result, our findings support a 'delocalized bend' model in which the A-tract operates as an 'adaptable mechanical part'. By understanding how global curvature emerges from local fluctuations, we reconcile previous contradictory theories and open an avenue for manipulating DNA mechanics through sequence design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Gardasevic
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Agnes Noy
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
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2
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Dong HL, Zhang C, Dai L, Zhang Y, Zhang XH, Tan ZJ. The origin of different bending stiffness between double-stranded RNA and DNA revealed by magnetic tweezers and simulations. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2519-2529. [PMID: 38321947 PMCID: PMC10954459 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae063] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The subtle differences in the chemical structures of double-stranded (ds) RNA and DNA lead to significant variations in their biological roles and medical implications, largely due to their distinct biophysical properties, such as bending stiffness. Although it is well known that A-form dsRNA is stiffer than B-form dsDNA under physiological salt conditions, the underlying cause of this difference remains unclear. In this study, we employ high-precision magnetic-tweezer experiments along with molecular dynamics simulations and reveal that the relative bending stiffness between dsRNA and dsDNA is primarily determined by the structure- and salt-concentration-dependent ion distribution around their helical structures. At near-physiological salt conditions, dsRNA shows a sparser ion distribution surrounding its phosphate groups compared to dsDNA, causing its greater stiffness. However, at very high monovalent salt concentrations, phosphate groups in both dsRNA and dsDNA become fully neutralized by excess ions, resulting in a similar intrinsic bending persistence length of approximately 39 nm. This similarity in intrinsic bending stiffness of dsRNA and dsDNA is coupled to the analogous fluctuations in their total groove widths and further coupled to the similar fluctuation of base-pair inclination, despite their distinct A-form and B-form helical structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Long Dong
- School of Physics and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Physics and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Liang Dai
- Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xing-Hua Zhang
- School of Physics and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Tan
- School of Physics and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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3
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Matoušková E, Dršata T, Pfeifferová L, Šponer J, Réblová K, Lankaš F. RNA kink-turns are highly anisotropic with respect to lateral displacement of the flanking stems. Biophys J 2022; 121:705-714. [PMID: 35122735 PMCID: PMC8943727 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Kink-turns are highly bent internal loop motifs commonly found in the ribosome and other RNA complexes. They frequently act as binding sites for proteins and mediate tertiary interactions in larger RNA structures. Kink-turns have been a topic of intense research, but their elastic properties in the folded state are still poorly understood. Here we use extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to parameterize a model of kink-turn in which the two flanking helical stems are represented by effective rigid bodies. Time series of the full set of six interhelical coordinates enable us to extract minimum energy shapes and harmonic stiffness constants for kink-turns from different RNA functional classes. The analysis suggests that kink-turns exhibit isotropic bending stiffness but are highly anisotropic with respect to lateral displacement of the stems. The most flexible lateral displacement mode is perpendicular to the plane of the static bend. These results may help understand the structural adaptation and mechanical signal transmission by kink-turns in complex natural and artificial RNA structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Matoušková
- Department of Informatics and Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Dršata
- Department of Informatics and Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Pfeifferová
- Department of Informatics and Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kamila Réblová
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Centre of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Filip Lankaš
- Department of Informatics and Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic.
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4
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Abstract
Mismatched base pairs alter the flexibility and intrinsic curvature of DNA. The role of such DNA features is not fully understood in the mismatch repair pathway. MutS/DNA complexes exhibit DNA bending, PHE intercalation, and changes of base-pair parameters near the mismatch. Recently, we have shown that base-pair opening in the absence of MutS can discriminate mismatches from canonical base pairs better than DNA bending. However, DNA bending in the absence of MutS was found to be rather challenging to describe correctly. Here, we present a computational study on the DNA bending of canonical and G/T mismatched DNAs. Five types of geometric parameters covering template-based bending toward the experimental DNA structure, global, and local geometry parameters were employed in biased molecular dynamics in the absence of MutS. None of these parameters showed higher discrimination than the base-pair opening. Only roll could induce a sharply localized bending of DNA as observed in the experimental MutS/DNA structure. Further, we demonstrated that the intercalation of benzene mimicking PHE decreases the energetic cost of DNA bending without any effect on mismatch discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Bouchal
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC─Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Durník
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC─Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kulhánek
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC─Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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5
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Desai PR, Brahmachari S, Marko JF, Das S, Neuman KC. Coarse-grained modelling of DNA plectoneme pinning in the presence of base-pair mismatches. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:10713-10725. [PMID: 33045724 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Damaged or mismatched DNA bases result in the formation of physical defects in double-stranded DNA. In vivo, defects in DNA must be rapidly and efficiently repaired to maintain cellular function and integrity. Defects can also alter the mechanical response of DNA to bending and twisting constraints, both of which are important in defining the mechanics of DNA supercoiling. Here, we use coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and supporting statistical-mechanical theory to study the effect of mismatched base pairs on DNA supercoiling. Our simulations show that plectoneme pinning at the mismatch site is deterministic under conditions of relatively high force (>2 pN) and high salt concentration (>0.5 M NaCl). Under physiologically relevant conditions of lower force (0.3 pN) and lower salt concentration (0.2 M NaCl), we find that plectoneme pinning becomes probabilistic and the pinning probability increases with the mismatch size. These findings are in line with experimental observations. The simulation framework, validated with experimental results and supported by the theoretical predictions, provides a way to study the effect of defects on DNA supercoiling and the dynamics of supercoiling in molecular detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parth Rakesh Desai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.,Laboratory of Single Molecule Biophysics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - John F Marko
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Siddhartha Das
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Keir C Neuman
- Laboratory of Single Molecule Biophysics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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6
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Bouchal T, Durník I, Illík V, Réblová K, Kulhánek P. Importance of base-pair opening for mismatch recognition. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:11322-11334. [PMID: 33080020 PMCID: PMC7672436 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mismatch repair is a highly conserved cellular pathway responsible for repairing mismatched dsDNA. Errors are detected by the MutS enzyme, which most likely senses altered mechanical property of damaged dsDNA rather than a specific molecular pattern. While the curved shape of dsDNA in crystallographic MutS/DNA structures suggests the role of DNA bending, the theoretical support is not fully convincing. Here, we present a computational study focused on a base-pair opening into the minor groove, a specific base-pair motion observed upon interaction with MutS. Propensities for the opening were evaluated in terms of two base-pair parameters: Opening and Shear. We tested all possible base pairs in anti/anti, anti/syn and syn/anti orientations and found clear discrimination between mismatches and canonical base-pairs only for the opening into the minor groove. Besides, the discrimination gap was also confirmed in hotspot and coldspot sequences, indicating that the opening could play a more significant role in the mismatch recognition than previously recognized. Our findings can be helpful for a better understanding of sequence-dependent mutability. Further, detailed structural characterization of mismatches can serve for designing anti-cancer drugs targeting mismatched base pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Bouchal
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Durník
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Illík
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kamila Réblová
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kulhánek
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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7
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Růžička M, Souček P, Kulhánek P, Radová L, Fajkusová L, Réblová K. Bending of DNA duplexes with mutation motifs. DNA Res 2019; 26:341-352. [PMID: 31230075 PMCID: PMC6704406 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsz013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations can be induced by environmental factors but also arise spontaneously during DNA replication or due to deamination of methylated cytosines at CpG dinucleotides. Sites where mutations occur with higher frequency than would be expected by chance are termed hotspots while sites that contain mutations rarely are termed coldspots. Mutations are permanently scanned and repaired by repair systems. Among them, the mismatch repair targets base pair mismatches, which are discriminated from canonical base pairs by probing altered elasticity of DNA. Using biased molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the elasticity of coldspots and hotspots motifs detected in human genes associated with inherited disorders, and also of motifs with Czech population hotspots and de novo mutations. Main attention was paid to mutations leading to G/T and A+/C pairs. We observed that hotspots without CpG/CpHpG sequences are less flexible than coldspots, which indicates that flexible sequences are more effectively repaired. In contrary, hotspots with CpG/CpHpG sequences exhibited increased flexibility as coldspots. Their mutability is more likely related to spontaneous deamination of methylated cytosines leading to C > T mutations, which are primarily targeted by base excision repair. We corroborated conclusions based on computer simulations by measuring melting curves of hotspots and coldspots containing G/T mismatch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Růžička
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Přemysl Souček
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kulhánek
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Radová
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Fajkusová
- Centre of Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kamila Réblová
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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8
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Liao Q, Lüking M, Krüger DM, Deindl S, Elf J, Kasson PM, Lynn Kamerlin SC. Long Time-Scale Atomistic Simulations of the Structure and Dynamics of Transcription Factor-DNA Recognition. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:3576-3590. [PMID: 30952192 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b12363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed an explosion of interest in computational studies of DNA binding proteins, including both coarse-grained and atomistic simulations of transcription factor-DNA recognition, to understand how these transcription factors recognize their binding sites on the DNA with such exquisite specificity. The present study performs microsecond time scale all-atom simulations of the dimeric form of the lactose repressor (LacI), both in the absence of any DNA and in the presence of both specific and nonspecific complexes, considering three different DNA sequences. We examine, specifically, the conformational differences between specific and nonspecific protein-DNA interactions, as well as the behavior of the helix-turn-helix motif of LacI when interacting with the DNA. Our simulations suggest that stable LacI binding occurs primarily to bent A-form DNA, with a loss of LacI conformational entropy and optimization of correlated conformational equilibria across the protein. In addition, binding to the specific operator sequence involves a slightly larger number of stabilizing DNA-protein hydrogen bonds (in comparison to nonspecific complexes), which may account for the experimentally observed specificity for this operator. In doing so, our simulations provide a detailed atomistic description of potential structural drivers for LacI selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Liao
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Chemistry-BMC , Uppsala University , BMC Box 576, S-751 24 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Malin Lüking
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Chemistry-BMC , Uppsala University , BMC Box 576, S-751 24 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Dennis M Krüger
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology , Uppsala University , BMC Box 596, S-751 23 Uppsala , Sweden.,Department for Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bioinformatics Unit , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen , von Siebold Strasse 3A , 37075 Göttingen , Germany
| | - Sebastian Deindl
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology , Uppsala University , BMC Box 596, S-751 23 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Johan Elf
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology , Uppsala University , BMC Box 596, S-751 23 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Peter M Kasson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology , Uppsala University , BMC Box 596, S-751 23 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Shina Caroline Lynn Kamerlin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Chemistry-BMC , Uppsala University , BMC Box 576, S-751 24 Uppsala , Sweden
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9
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Ma N, van der Vaart A. Free Energy Coupling between DNA Bending and Base Flipping. J Chem Inf Model 2017; 57:2020-2026. [PMID: 28696686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.7b00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Free energy simulations are presented to probe the energetic coupling between DNA bending and the flipping of a central thymine in double stranded DNA 13mers. The energetics are shown to depend on the neighboring base pairs, and upstream C or T or downstream C tended to make flipping more costly. Flipping to the major groove side was generally preferred. Bending aids flipping, by pushing the system up in free energy, but for small and intermediate bending angles the two were uncorrelated. At higher bending angles, bending and flipping became correlated, and bending primed the system for base flipping toward the major groove. Flipping of the 6-4 pyrimidine-pyrimidone and pyrimidine dimer photoproducts is shown to be more facile than for undamaged DNA. For the damages, major groove flipping was preferred, and DNA bending was much facilitated in the 6-4 pyrimidine-pyrimidone damaged system. Aspects of the calculations were verified by structural analyses of protein-DNA complexes with flipped bases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ma
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida , 4202 East Fowler Avenue CHE 205, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Arjan van der Vaart
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida , 4202 East Fowler Avenue CHE 205, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
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10
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Abstract
The energetics of B-DNA bending toward the major and minor grooves were quantified by free energy simulations at four different KCl concentrations. Increased [KCl] led to more flexible DNA, with persistence lengths that agreed well with experimental values. At all salt concentrations, major groove bending was preferred, although preferences for major and minor groove bending were similar for the A-tract containing sequence. Since the phosphate repulsions and DNA internal energy favored minor groove bending, the preference for major groove bending was thought to originate from differences in solvation. Water in the minor groove was tighter bound than water in the major groove, and harder to displace than major groove water, which favored the compression of the major groove upon bending. Higher [KCl] decreased the persistence length for both major and minor groove bending but did not greatly affect the free energy spacing between the minor and major groove bending curves. For sequences without A-tracts, salt affected major and minor bending to nearly the same degree, and did not change the preference for major groove bending. For the A-tract containing sequence, an increase in salt concentration decreased the already small energetic difference between major and minor groove bending. Since salts did not significantly affect the relative differences in bending energetics and hydration, it is likely that the increased bending flexibilities upon salt increase are simply due to screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ma
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida , 4202 East Fowler Avenue CHE 205, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Arjan van der Vaart
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida , 4202 East Fowler Avenue CHE 205, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
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11
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Salari H, Eslami-Mossallam B, Ranjbar HF, Ejtehadi MR. Stiffer double-stranded DNA in two-dimensional confinement due to bending anisotropy. Phys Rev E 2017; 94:062407. [PMID: 28085439 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.94.062407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Using analytical approach and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, we study the elastic behavior of the intrinsically twisted elastic ribbons with bending anisotropy, such as double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), in two-dimensional (2D) confinement. We show that, due to the bending anisotropy, the persistence length of dsDNA in 2D conformations is always greater than three-dimensional (3D) conformations. This result is in consistence with the measured values for DNA persistence length in 2D and 3D in equal biological conditions. We also show that in two dimensions, an anisotropic, intrinsically twisted polymer exhibits an implicit twist-bend coupling, which leads to the transient curvature increasing with a half helical turn periodicity along the bent polymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Salari
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran
| | - B Eslami-Mossallam
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, the Netherlands
| | - H F Ranjbar
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - M R Ejtehadi
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran and School of Nano Science, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran 19395-5531, Iran
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12
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Abstract
DNA bending is critical for DNA packaging, recognition, and repair, and occurs toward either the major or the minor groove. The anisotropy of B-DNA groove bending was quantified for eight DNA sequences by free energy simulations employing a novel reaction coordinate. The simulations show that bending toward the major groove is preferred for non-A-tracts while the A-tract has a high tendency of bending toward the minor groove. Persistence lengths were generally larger for bending toward the minor groove, which is thought to originate from differences in groove hydration. While this difference in stiffness is one of the factors determining the overall preference of bending direction, the dominant contribution is shown to be a free energy offset between major and minor groove bending. The data suggests that, for the A-tract, this offset is largely determined by inherent structural properties, while differences in groove hydration play a large role for non-A-tracts. By quantifying the energetics of DNA groove bending and rationalizing the origins of the anisotropy, the calculations provide important new insights into a key biological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ma
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida , 4202 East Fowler Avenue, CHE 205, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Arjan van der Vaart
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida , 4202 East Fowler Avenue, CHE 205, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
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13
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Salari H, Eslami-Mossallam B, Naderi S, Ejtehadi MR. Extreme bendability of DNA double helix due to bending asymmetry. J Chem Phys 2016; 143:104904. [PMID: 26374059 DOI: 10.1063/1.4929994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental data of the DNA cyclization (J-factor) at short length scales exceed the theoretical expectation based on the wormlike chain (WLC) model by several orders of magnitude. Here, we propose that asymmetric bending rigidity of the double helix in the groove direction can be responsible for extreme bendability of DNA at short length scales and it also facilitates DNA loop formation at these lengths. To account for the bending asymmetry, we consider the asymmetric elastic rod (AER) model which has been introduced and parametrized in an earlier study [B. Eslami-Mossallam and M. R. Ejtehadi, Phys. Rev. E 80, 011919 (2009)]. Exploiting a coarse grained representation of the DNA molecule at base pair (bp) level and using the Monte Carlo simulation method in combination with the umbrella sampling technique, we calculate the loop formation probability of DNA in the AER model. We show that the DNA molecule has a larger J-factor compared to the WLC model which is in excellent agreement with recent experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Salari
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran
| | - B Eslami-Mossallam
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - S Naderi
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran
| | - M R Ejtehadi
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Mazur AK. Modeling DNA Dynamics under Steady Deforming Forces and Torques. J Chem Theory Comput 2015; 5:2149-57. [PMID: 26613154 DOI: 10.1021/ct900124n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
An algorithm is developed for modeling atom-level dynamics of DNA subjected to steady external torques. For completeness, simulations with steady stretching loads are also considered. The algorithms were tested in Brownian dynamics simulations of discrete wormlike chain models with calibrated elastic properties to confirm that the elastic responses induced are of desired type and magnitude and that no side effects appear. The same methods were next used in a series of 100-ns all-atom MD simulations of tetradecamer DNA fragments with explicit water and counterions. The results demonstrate the possibility of probing regular elastic responses in DNA under low, nearly physiological amplitudes of forces and torques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey K Mazur
- CNRS UPR9080, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 75005, France
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15
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Dršata T, Lankaš F. Multiscale modelling of DNA mechanics. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2015; 27:323102. [PMID: 26194779 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/27/32/323102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical properties of DNA are important not only in a wide range of biological processes but also in the emerging field of DNA nanotechnology. We review some of the recent developments in modeling these properties, emphasizing the multiscale nature of the problem. Modern atomic resolution, explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations have contributed to our understanding of DNA fine structure and conformational polymorphism. These simulations may serve as data sources to parameterize rigid base models which themselves have undergone major development. A consistent buildup of larger entities involving multiple rigid bases enables us to describe DNA at more global scales. Free energy methods to impose large strains on DNA, as well as bead models and other approaches, are also briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Dršata
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague, Czech Republic. Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic
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16
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Fujita M, Watanabe S, Yoshizawa M, Yamamoto J, Iwai S. Analysis of structural flexibility of damaged DNA using thiol-tethered oligonucleotide duplexes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117798. [PMID: 25679955 PMCID: PMC4332495 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bent structures are formed in DNA by the binding of small molecules or proteins. We developed a chemical method to detect bent DNA structures. Oligonucleotide duplexes in which two mercaptoalkyl groups were attached to the positions facing each other across the major groove were prepared. When the duplex contained the cisplatin adduct, which was proved to induce static helix bending, interstrand disulfide bond formation under an oxygen atmosphere was detected by HPLC analyses, but not in the non-adducted duplex, when the two thiol-tethered nucleosides were separated by six base pairs. When the insert was five and seven base pairs, the disulfide bond was formed and was not formed, respectively, regardless of the cisplatin adduct formation. The same reaction was observed in the duplexes containing an abasic site analog and the (6-4) photoproduct. Compared with the cisplatin case, the disulfide bond formation was slower in these duplexes, but the reaction rate was nearly independent of the linker length. These results indicate that dynamic structural changes of the abasic site- and (6-4) photoproduct-containing duplexes could be detected by our method. It is strongly suggested that the UV-damaged DNA-binding protein, which specifically binds these duplexes and functions at the first step of global-genome nucleotide excision repair, recognizes the easily bendable nature of damaged DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Fujita
- Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1–3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560–8531, Japan
| | - Shun Watanabe
- Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1–3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560–8531, Japan
| | - Mariko Yoshizawa
- Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1–3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560–8531, Japan
| | - Junpei Yamamoto
- Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1–3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560–8531, Japan
| | - Shigenori Iwai
- Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1–3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560–8531, Japan
- * E-mail:
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17
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van der Vaart A. Coupled binding-bending-folding: The complex conformational dynamics of protein-DNA binding studied by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2014; 1850:1091-1098. [PMID: 25161164 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protein-DNA binding often involves dramatic conformational changes such as protein folding and DNA bending. While thermodynamic aspects of this behavior are understood, and its biological function is often known, the mechanism by which the conformational changes occur is generally unclear. By providing detailed structural and energetic data, molecular dynamics simulations have been helpful in elucidating and rationalizing protein-DNA binding. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review will summarize recent atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the conformational dynamics of DNA and protein-DNA binding. A brief overview of recent developments in DNA force fields is given as well. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Simulations have been crucial in rationalizing the intrinsic flexibility of DNA, and have been instrumental in identifying the sequence of binding events, the triggers for the conformational motion, and the mechanism of binding for a number of important DNA-binding proteins. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Molecular dynamics simulations are an important tool for understanding the complex binding behavior of DNA-binding proteins. With recent advances in force fields and rapid increases in simulation time scales, simulations will become even more important for future studies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Recent developments of molecular dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjan van der Vaart
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue CHE 205, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
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18
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Base flip in DNA studied by molecular dynamics simulationsof differently-oxidized forms of methyl-Cytosine. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:11799-816. [PMID: 24995694 PMCID: PMC4139815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms150711799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Distortions in the DNA sequence, such as damage or mispairs, are specifically recognized and processed by DNA repair enzymes. Many repair proteins and, in particular, glycosylases flip the target base out of the DNA helix into the enzyme’s active site. Our molecular dynamics simulations of DNA with intact and damaged (oxidized) methyl-cytosine show that the probability of being flipped is similar for damaged and intact methyl-cytosine. However, the accessibility of the different 5-methyl groups allows direct discrimination of the oxidized forms. Hydrogen-bonded patterns that vary between methyl-cytosine forms carrying a carbonyl oxygen atom are likely to be detected by the repair enzymes and may thus help target site recognition.
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19
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Dršata T, Špačková N, Jurečka P, Zgarbová M, Šponer J, Lankaš F. Mechanical properties of symmetric and asymmetric DNA A-tracts: implications for looping and nucleosome positioning. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:7383-94. [PMID: 24829460 PMCID: PMC4066768 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A-tracts are functionally important DNA sequences which induce helix bending and have peculiar structural properties. While A-tract structure has been qualitatively well characterized, their mechanical properties remain controversial. A-tracts appear structurally rigid and resist nucleosome formation, but seem flexible in DNA looping. In this work, we investigate mechanical properties of symmetric AnTn and asymmetric A2n tracts for n = 3, 4, 5 using two types of coarse-grained models. The first model represents DNA as an ensemble of interacting rigid bases with non-local quadratic deformation energy, the second one treats DNA as an anisotropically bendable and twistable elastic rod. Parameters for both models are inferred from microsecond long, atomic-resolution molecular dynamics simulations. We find that asymmetric A-tracts are more rigid than the control G/C-rich sequence in localized distortions relevant for nucleosome formation, but are more flexible in global bending and twisting relevant for looping. The symmetric tracts, in contrast, are more rigid than asymmetric tracts and the control, both locally and globally. Our results can reconcile the contradictory stiffness data on A-tracts and suggest symmetric A-tracts to be more efficient in nucleosome exclusion than the asymmetric ones. This would open a new possibility of gene expression manipulation using A-tracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Dršata
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nám. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nada Špačková
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Jurečka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 12, 77146 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Zgarbová
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 12, 77146 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Lankaš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nám. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
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20
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Xiao S, Zhu H, Wang L, Liang H. DNA conformational flexibility study using phosphate backbone neutralization model. SOFT MATTER 2014; 10:1045-1055. [PMID: 24983118 DOI: 10.1039/c3sm52345d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Due to the critical role of DNA in the processes of the cell cycle, the structural and physicochemical properties of DNA have long been of concern. In the present work, the effect of interplay between the DNA duplex and metal ions in solution on the DNA structure and conformational flexibility is studied by comparing the structure and dynamic conformational behavior of a duplex in a normal form and its “null isomer” using molecular dynamics methods. It was found that the phosphate neutralization changes the cation atmosphere around the DNA duplex greatly, increases the major groove width, decreases the minor groove width, and reduces the global bending direction preference. We also noted that the probability of BI phosphate linkages increases significantly because of the charge reduction in the backbone phosphate groups. More importantly, we found that the electrostatic effect on the DNA conformational flexibility is dependent on the sequence; that is, the phosphate backbone neutralization induces the global dynamic bending to be less flexible for GC-rich sequences but more flexible for AT-rich sequences.
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21
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Sharma M, Predeus AV, Mukherjee S, Feig M. DNA bending propensity in the presence of base mismatches: implications for DNA repair. J Phys Chem B 2013; 117:6194-205. [PMID: 23621762 DOI: 10.1021/jp403127a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
DNA bending is believed to facilitate the initial recognition of the mismatched base for repair. The repair efficiencies are dependent on both the mismatch type and neighboring nucleotide sequence. We have studied bending of several DNA duplexes containing canonical matches: A:T and G:C; various mismatches: A:A, A:C, G:A, G:G, G:T, C:C, C:T, and T:T; and a bis-abasic site: X:X. Free-energy profiles were generated for DNA bending using umbrella sampling. The highest energetic cost associated with DNA bending is observed for canonical matches while bending free energies are lower in the presence of mismatches, with the lowest value for the abasic site. In all of the sequences, DNA duplexes bend toward the major groove with widening of the minor groove. For homoduplexes, DNA bending is observed to occur via smooth deformations, whereas for heteroduplexes, kinks are observed at the mismatch site during strong bending. In general, pyrimidine:pyrimidine mismatches are the most destabilizing, while purine:purine mismatches lead to intermediate destabilization, and purine:pyrimidine mismatches are the least destabilizing. The ease of bending is partially correlated with the binding affinity of MutS to the mismatch pairs and subsequent repair efficiencies, indicating that intrinsic DNA bending propensities are a key factor of mismatch recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
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22
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Abstract
Distortions in the DNA sequence such as damages or mispairs are specifically recognized and processed by DNA repair enzymes. A particular challenge for the enzymatic specificity is the recognition of a wrongly-placed native nucleotide such as thymine in T:G mispairs. An important step of substrate binding which is observed in many repair proteins is the flipping of the target base out of the DNA helix into the enzyme's active site. In this work we investigate how much the intrinsic dynamics of mispaired DNA is changed compared to canonical DNA. Our molecular dynamics simulations of DNA with and without T:G mispairs show significant differences in the conformation of paired and mispaired DNA. The wobble pair T:G shows local distortions such as twist, shear and stretch which deviate from canonical B form values. Moreover, the T:G mispair is found to be kinetically less stable, exhibiting two states with respect to base opening: a closed state comparable to the canonical base pairs, and a more open state, indicating a proneness for base flip. In addition, we observe that the thymine base in a T:G mispair is significantly more probable to be flipped than thymine in a T:A pair or cytosine in a C:G pair. Such local deformations and in particular the existence of a second, more-open state can be speculated to help the target-site recognition by repair enzymes.
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23
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Elder R, Jayaraman A. Sequence-specific recognition of cancer drug-DNA adducts by HMGB1a repair protein. Biophys J 2012; 102:2331-8. [PMID: 22677386 PMCID: PMC3353062 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2012.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2012] [Revised: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficacy of cancer drugs such as cisplatin (Cp) and oxaliplatin (Ox), which covalently bind to DNA to form drug-DNA adducts, is linked to their recognition by repair proteins such as HMGB1a. Previous experimental studies showed that HMGB1a's binding affinity for Cp- and Ox-DNA varies with the drug used and the local DNA sequence context of the adduct. We link this differential binding affinity to the free energy of deforming (bending and minor groove opening) the drug-DNA molecule during HMGB1a binding. Specifically, the minimal binding affinity of HMGB1a for Ox-DNA in the TGGA context is explained by its larger deformation free energy compared with Cp-DNA or Ox-DNA in other sequence contexts. Methyl groups on neighboring thymine bases in Ox-TGGA crowd the minor groove and sterically hinder the motion of the diaminocyclohexane ring of Ox, leading to this reduced deformability and resultant decrease in HMGB1a's binding affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arthi Jayaraman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
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24
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Spiriti J, Kamberaj H, de Graff AMR, Thorpe MF, van der Vaart A. DNA Bending through Large Angles Is Aided by Ionic Screening. J Chem Theory Comput 2012; 8:2145-56. [PMID: 26593845 DOI: 10.1021/ct300177r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We used adaptive umbrella sampling on a modified version of the roll angle to simulate the bending of DNA dodecamers. Simulations were carried out with the AMBER and CHARMM force fields for 10 sequences in which the central base pair step was varied. On long length scales, the DNA behavior was found to be consistent with the worm-like chain model. Persistence lengths calculated directly from the simulated structures and indirectly through the use of sequence-independent coarse-grained models based on simulation data were similar to literature values. On short length scales, the free energy cost of bending DNA was found to be consistent with the worm-like chain model for small and intermediate bending angles. At large angles, the bending free energy as a function of the roll angle became linear, suggesting a relative increase in flexibility at larger roll angles. Counterions congregated on the concave side of the highly bent DNA and screened the repulsion of the phosphate groups, facilitating the bending.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Spiriti
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave. CHE 205, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Hiqmet Kamberaj
- Faculty of Technical Sciences, International Balkan University, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Adam M R de Graff
- Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871504, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - M F Thorpe
- Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871504, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Arjan van der Vaart
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave. CHE 205, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
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25
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Lankaš F. Modelling Nucleic Acid Structure and Flexibility: From Atomic to Mesoscopic Scale. INNOVATIONS IN BIOMOLECULAR MODELING AND SIMULATIONS 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/9781849735056-00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
This chapter surveys some of the recent developments in coarse-grained modelling of nucleic acids. We first discuss models based on pseudoatoms, effective spherical particles representing groups of atoms. A major part of the chapter is devoted to models in which bases or base pairs are represented as independent, interacting rigid bodies. Two popular definitions of internal coordinates, as implemented in the programs 3DNA and Curves+, are outlined from a common perspective. Recently developed rigid base and basepair models with nonlocal quadratic interactions are presented. A statistical mechanical description of the models on their full phase space yields exact relations between model parameters and expected values of some state functions. We estimated shape and stiffness parameters for nonlocal rigid base and basepair models of a DNA oligomer containing A-tract. The parameterization is based on atomic-resolution molecular dynamics simulation data. We found that the rigid base model is consistent with a local interaction pattern, while interactions in the rigid basepair model are visibly non-local, in agreement with earlier findings. Differences in shape and stiffness parameters obtained using Curves+ and 3DNA coordinates are found to be small for structures within the B-DNA family. Anharmonic effects, coarser models, and other approaches to describe nucleic acid structure and flexibility are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Lankaš
- Centre for Complex Molecular Systems and Biomolecules Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Praha 6 Czech Republic
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26
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Ray S, Grove A. Interaction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae HMO2 Domains with Distorted DNA. Biochemistry 2012; 51:1825-35. [DOI: 10.1021/bi201700h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sreerupa Ray
- Department of Biological
Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton
Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Anne Grove
- Department of Biological
Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton
Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
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27
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Mazur AK. Local elasticity of strained DNA studied by all-atom simulations. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2011; 84:021903. [PMID: 21929016 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.84.021903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Genomic DNA is constantly subjected to various mechanical stresses arising from its biological functions and cell packaging. If the local mechanical properties of DNA change under torsional and tensional stress, the activity of DNA-modifying proteins and transcription factors can be affected and regulated allosterically. To check this possibility, appropriate steady forces and torques were applied in the course of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of DNA with AT- and GC-alternating sequences. It is found that the stretching rigidity grows with tension as well as twisting. The torsional rigidity is not affected by stretching, but it varies with twisting very strongly, and differently for the two sequences. Surprisingly, for AT-alternating DNA it passes through a minimum with the average twist close to the experimental value in solution. For this fragment, but not for the GC-alternating sequence, the bending rigidity noticeably changes with both twisting and stretching. The results have important biological implications and shed light on earlier experimental observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey K Mazur
- UPR9080 CNRS, Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, F-75005, France.
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28
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Eslami-Mossallam B, Ejtehadi MR. Contribution of nonlocal interactions to DNA elasticity. J Chem Phys 2011; 134:125106. [PMID: 21456706 DOI: 10.1063/1.3567185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A nonlocal harmonic elastic rod model is proposed to describe the elastic behavior of short DNA molecules. We show that the nonlocal interactions contribute to effective bending energy of the molecule and affect its apparent persistence length. It is also shown that the anomalous behavior which has been observed in all-atom molecular dynamic simulations [A. K. Mazur, Biophys. J. 134, 4507 (2006)] can be a consequence of both nonlocal interactions between DNA base pairs and the intrinsic curvature of DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Eslami-Mossallam
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11365-8639, Tehran, Iran
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29
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Yeh JI, Pohl E, Truan D, He W, Sheldrick GM, Du S, Achim C. The crystal structure of non-modified and bipyridine-modified PNA duplexes. Chemistry 2010; 16:11867-75. [PMID: 20859960 PMCID: PMC3194003 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201000392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a synthetic analogue of DNA that commonly has an N-aminoethyl glycine backbone. The crystal structures of two PNA duplexes, one containing eight standard nucleobase pairs (GGCATGCC)(2), and the other containing the same nucleobase pairs and a central pair of bipyridine ligands, have been solved with a resolution of 1.22 and 1.10 Å, respectively. The non-modified PNA duplex adopts a P-type helical structure similar to that of previously characterized PNAs. The atomic-level resolution of the structures allowed us to observe for the first time specific modes of interaction between the terminal lysines of the PNA and the backbone and the nucleobases situated in the vicinity of the lysines, which are considered an important factor in the induction of a preferred handedness in PNA duplexes. Our results support the notion that whereas PNA typically adopts a P-type helical structure, its flexibility is relatively high. For example, the base-pair rise in the bipyridine-containing PNA is the largest measured to date in a PNA homoduplex. The two bipyridines bulge out of the duplex and are aligned parallel to the major groove of the PNA. In addition, two bipyridines from adjacent PNA duplexes form a π-stacked pair that relates the duplexes within the crystal. The bulging out of the bipyridines causes bending of the PNA duplex, which is in contrast to the structure previously reported for biphenyl-modified DNA duplexes in solution, where the biphenyls are π stacked with adjacent nucleobase pairs and adopt an intrahelical geometry. This difference shows that relatively small perturbations can significantly impact the relative position of nucleobase analogues in nucleic acid duplexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne I. Yeh
- Department of Structural Biology University of Pittsburgh Medical School Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (USA)
| | - Ehmke Pohl
- Department of Chemistry and School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Durham University South Road, Durham DH1 3LE (UK)
| | - Daphne Truan
- Swiss Light Source Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-52323 Villigen, PSI (Switzerland)
| | - Wei He
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University 4400 5 Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (USA)
| | - George M. Sheldrick
- Institut of Inorganic Chemistry University of GöttingenTammanstr. 4, 37077 Göttingen (Germany)
| | - Shoucheng Du
- Department of Structural Biology University of Pittsburgh Medical School Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (USA)
| | - Catalina Achim
- Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University 4400 5 Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (USA)
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30
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Lankas F, Spacková N, Moakher M, Enkhbayar P, Sponer J. A measure of bending in nucleic acids structures applied to A-tract DNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 38:3414-22. [PMID: 20123729 PMCID: PMC2879501 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2009] [Revised: 12/11/2009] [Accepted: 01/03/2010] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A method is proposed to measure global bending in DNA and RNA structures. It relies on a properly defined averaging of base-fixed coordinate frames, computes mean frames of suitably chosen groups of bases and uses these mean frames to evaluate bending. The method is applied to DNA A-tracts, known to induce considerable bend to the double helix. We performed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of sequences containing the A(4)T(4) and T(4)A(4) tracts, in a single copy and in two copies phased with the helical repeat. Various temperature and salt conditions were investigated. Our simulations indicate bending by roughly 10 degrees per A(4)T(4) tract into the minor groove, and an essentially straight structure containing T(4)A(4), in agreement with electrophoretic mobility data. In contrast, we show that the published NMR structures of analogous sequences containing A(4)T(4) and T(4)A(4) tracts are significantly bent into the minor groove for both sequences, although bending is less pronounced for the T(4)A(4) containing sequence. The bending magnitudes obtained by frame averaging are confirmed by the analysis of superhelices composed of repeated tract monomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Lankas
- Centre for Complex Molecular Systems and Biomolecules, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague, Czech Republic.
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31
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Eslami-Mossallam B, Ejtehadi MR. Asymmetric elastic rod model for DNA. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2009; 80:011919. [PMID: 19658741 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.80.011919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2008] [Revised: 06/02/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In this paper we consider the anharmonic corrections to the anisotropic elastic rod model for DNA. Our model accounts for the difference between the bending energies of positive and negative rolls, which comes from the asymmetric structure of the DNA molecule. We will show that the model can explain the high flexibility of DNA at small length scales, as well as kink formation at high deformation limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Eslami-Mossallam
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11365-8639, 14588-89694 Tehran, Iran
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32
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Curuksu J, Zacharias M, Lavery R, Zakrzewska K. Local and global effects of strong DNA bending induced during molecular dynamics simulations. Nucleic Acids Res 2009; 37:3766-73. [PMID: 19380377 PMCID: PMC2699519 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkp234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA bending plays an important role in many biological processes, but its molecular and energetic details as a function of base sequence remain to be fully understood. Using a recently developed restraint, we have studied the controlled bending of four different B-DNA oligomers using molecular dynamics simulations. Umbrella sampling with the AMBER program and the recent parmbsc0 force field yield free energy curves for bending. Bending 15-base pair oligomers by 90 degrees requires roughly 5 kcal mol(-1), while reaching 150 degrees requires of the order of 12 kcal mol(-1). Moderate bending occurs mainly through coupled base pair step rolls. Strong bending generally leads to local kinks. The kinks we observe all involve two consecutive base pair steps, with disruption of the central base pair (termed Type II kinks in earlier work). A detailed analysis of each oligomer shows that the free energy of bending only varies quadratically with the bending angle for moderate bending. Beyond this point, in agreement with recent experiments, the variation becomes linear. An harmonic analysis of each base step yields force constants that not only vary with sequence, but also with the degree of bending. Both these observations suggest that DNA is mechanically more complex than simple elastic rod models would imply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Curuksu
- Computational Biology, School of Engineering and Science, Jacobs University, Campus Ring 1, D-28759 Bremen, Germany
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