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Susorov D, Echeverria D, Khvorova A, Korostelev AA. mRNA-specific readthrough of nonsense codons by antisense oligonucleotides (R-ASOs). Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae624. [PMID: 39011883 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Nonsense mutations account for >10% of human genetic disorders, including cystic fibrosis, Alagille syndrome, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A nonsense mutation results in the expression of a truncated protein, and therapeutic strategies aim to restore full-length protein expression. Most strategies under development, including small-molecule aminoglycosides, suppressor tRNAs, or the targeted degradation of termination factors, lack mRNA target selectivity and may poorly differentiate between nonsense and normal stop codons, resulting in off-target translation errors. Here, we demonstrate that antisense oligonucleotides can stimulate readthrough of disease-causing nonsense codons, resulting in high yields of full-length protein in mammalian cellular lysate. Readthrough efficiency depends on the sequence context near the stop codon and on the precise targeting position of an oligonucleotide, whose interaction with mRNA inhibits peptide release to promote readthrough. Readthrough-inducing antisense oligonucleotides (R-ASOs) enhance the potency of non-specific readthrough agents, including aminoglycoside G418 and suppressor tRNA, enabling a path toward target-specific readthrough of nonsense mutations in CFTR, JAG1, DMD, BRCA1 and other mutant genes. Finally, through systematic chemical engineering, we identify heavily modified fully functional R-ASO variants, enabling future therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Susorov
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMass Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMass Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMass Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Andrei A Korostelev
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMass Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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2
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Valle-Orero J, Rieu M, Allemand JF, Bujaa D, Joubert A, Tran PLT, Croquette V, Boulé JB. Observing G4 formation and its resolution by Pif1 in real time by manipulation under magnetic tweezers. Methods Enzymol 2024; 695:119-158. [PMID: 38521583 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) are nucleic acids secondary structures that may form in guanine-rich sequences, either intra or inter-molecularly. Ability of a primary sequence to form a G4 can be predicted computationally with an improving accuracy as well as tested in bulk using biophysical measurements. As a result, G4 density maps have been devised for a large number of genomes from all life kingdoms. Experimental validation of the formation of G4s in vivo however remains indirect and relies on their stabilization with small molecules, antibodies or proteins, or mutational studies, in order to measure downstream effects on gene expression or genome stability for example. Although numerous techniques exist to observe spontaneous formation of G4s in single-stranded DNA, observing G4 formation in double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) is more challenging. However, it is particularly relevant to understand if a given G4 sequence forms stably in a dsDNA context, if it is stable enough to dock proteins or pose a challenge to molecular motors such as helicases or polymerases. In essence, G4s can be a threat to genomic stability but carry as well as the potential to be elements of a structural language in the non-replicating genome. To study quantitatively the formation dynamics and stability of single intramolecular G4s embedded in dsDNA, we have adapted techniques of DNA manipulation under magnetic tweezers. This technique also allows to study encounters of molecular motors with G4 at a single molecule resolution, in order to gain insight into the specificity of G4 resolution by molecular motors, and its efficiency. The procedures described here include the design of the G4 substrate, the study of G4 formation probability and lifetime in dsDNA, as well as procedures to characterize the encounter between the Pif1 helicase and a G4 until G4 resolution. The procedures that we described here can easily be extended to the study of other G4s or molecular motors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Valle-Orero
- Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, ENS, PSL University, Sorbonne University, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France; Biology Institute of the École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), ENS, CNRS, INSERM, PSL University, Paris, France; Department of Computer Science, Mathematics and Environmental Sciences, The American University of Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Martin Rieu
- Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, ENS, PSL University, Sorbonne University, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France; Biology Institute of the École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), ENS, CNRS, INSERM, PSL University, Paris, France; Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-François Allemand
- Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, ENS, PSL University, Sorbonne University, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France; Biology Institute of the École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), ENS, CNRS, INSERM, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Dulamkhuu Bujaa
- Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, ENS, PSL University, Sorbonne University, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France; Biology Institute of the École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), ENS, CNRS, INSERM, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Joubert
- Genome Structure and Instability Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, CNRS, INSERM, Sorbonne University Alliance, Paris, France
| | - Phong Lan Thao Tran
- Genome Structure and Instability Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, CNRS, INSERM, Sorbonne University Alliance, Paris, France; Depixus SAS, 3-5 impasse Reille, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Croquette
- Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, ENS, PSL University, Sorbonne University, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France; Biology Institute of the École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), ENS, CNRS, INSERM, PSL University, Paris, France; ESPCI Paris, PSL University, Paris, France.
| | - Jean-Baptiste Boulé
- Genome Structure and Instability Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, CNRS, INSERM, Sorbonne University Alliance, Paris, France.
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3
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Fazio NT, Mersch KN, Hao L, Lohman TM. E. coli RecB Nuclease Domain Regulates RecBCD Helicase Activity but not Single Stranded DNA Translocase Activity. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168381. [PMID: 38081382 PMCID: PMC11131135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Much is still unknown about the mechanisms by which helicases unwind duplex DNA. Whereas structure-based models describe DNA unwinding as occurring by the ATPase motors mechanically pulling the DNA duplex across a wedge domain in the helicase, biochemical data show that processive DNA unwinding by E. coli RecBCD helicase can occur in the absence of ssDNA translocation by the canonical RecB and RecD motors. Here we show that DNA unwinding is not a simple consequence of ssDNA translocation by the motors. Using stopped-flow fluorescence approaches, we show that a RecB nuclease domain deletion variant (RecBΔNucCD) unwinds dsDNA at significantly slower rates than RecBCD, while the ssDNA translocation rate is unaffected. This effect is primarily due to the absence of the nuclease domain since a nuclease-dead mutant (RecBD1080ACD), which retains the nuclease domain, showed no change in ssDNA translocation or dsDNA unwinding rates relative to RecBCD on short DNA substrates (≤60 base pairs). Hence, ssDNA translocation is not rate-limiting for DNA unwinding. RecBΔNucCD also initiates unwinding much slower than RecBCD from a blunt-ended DNA. RecBΔNucCD also unwinds DNA ∼two-fold slower than RecBCD on long DNA (∼20 kilo base pair) in single molecule optical tweezer experiments, although the rates for RecBD1080ACD unwinding are intermediate between RecBCD and RecBΔNucCD. Surprisingly, significant pauses in DNA unwinding occur even in the absence of chi (crossover hotspot instigator) sites. We hypothesize that the nuclease domain influences the rate of DNA base pair melting, possibly allosterically and that RecBΔNucCD may mimic a post-chi state of RecBCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole T Fazio
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Kacey N Mersch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Linxuan Hao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Timothy M Lohman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States.
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4
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Dulin D. An Introduction to Magnetic Tweezers. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2694:375-401. [PMID: 37824014 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3377-9_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic tweezers are a single-molecule force and torque spectroscopy technique that enable the mechanical interrogation in vitro of biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins. They use a magnetic field originating from either permanent magnets or electromagnets to attract a magnetic particle, thus stretching the tethering biomolecule. They nicely complement other force spectroscopy techniques such as optical tweezers and atomic force microscopy (AFM) as they operate as a very stable force clamp, enabling long-duration experiments over a very broad range of forces spanning from 10 fN to 1 nN, with 1-10 milliseconds time and sub-nanometer spatial resolution. Their simplicity, robustness, and versatility have made magnetic tweezers a key technique within the field of single-molecule biophysics, being broadly applied to study the mechanical properties of, e.g., nucleic acids, genome processing molecular motors, protein folding, and nucleoprotein filaments. Furthermore, magnetic tweezers allow for high-throughput single-molecule measurements by tracking hundreds of biomolecules simultaneously both in real-time and at high spatiotemporal resolution. Magnetic tweezers naturally combine with surface-based fluorescence spectroscopy techniques, such as total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, enabling correlative fluorescence and force/torque spectroscopy on biomolecules. This chapter presents an introduction to magnetic tweezers including a description of the hardware, the theory behind force calibration, its spatiotemporal resolution, combining it with other techniques, and a (non-exhaustive) overview of biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Dulin
- LaserLaB Amsterdam and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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5
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Shaw A, Craig JM, Amiri H, Kim J, Upton HE, Pimentel SC, Huang JR, Marqusee S, Collins K, Gundlach JH, Bustamante CJ. Nanopore molecular trajectories of a eukaryotic reverse transcriptase reveal a long-range RNA structure sensing mechanism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.05.535757. [PMID: 37066208 PMCID: PMC10104057 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.05.535757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic reverse transcriptases (RTs) can have essential or deleterious roles in normal human physiology and disease. Compared to well-studied helicases, it remains unclear how RTs overcome the ubiquitous RNA structural barriers during reverse transcription. Herein, we describe the development of a Mycobacterium smegmatis porin A (MspA) nanopore technique to sequence RNA to quantify the single-molecule kinetics of an RT from Bombyx mori with single-nucleotide resolution. By establishing a quadromer map that correlates RNA sequence and MspA ion current, we were able to quantify the RT's dwell time at every single nucleotide step along its RNA template. By challenging the enzyme with various RNA structures, we found that during cDNA synthesis the RT can sense and actively destabilize RNA structures 11-12 nt downstream of its front boundary. The ability to sequence single molecules of RNA with nanopores paves the way to investigate the single-nucleotide activity of other processive RNA translocases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Shaw
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | | | - Hossein Amiri
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Jeonghoon Kim
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Heather E. Upton
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Bakar Fellows Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Sydney C. Pimentel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Present address: NYU Grossman School of Medicine 550 First Avenue New York, NY 10016
| | - Jesse R. Huang
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195
| | - Susan Marqusee
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Kathleen Collins
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Bakar Fellows Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Jens H. Gundlach
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195
| | - Carlos J. Bustamante
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Kavli Energy Nanoscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
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6
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Fazio N, Mersch KN, Hao L, Lohman TM. E. coli RecBCD Nuclease Domain Regulates Helicase Activity but not Single Stranded DNA Translocase Activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.13.561901. [PMID: 37905078 PMCID: PMC10614803 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.13.561901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Much is still unknown about the mechanisms by which helicases unwind duplex DNA. Whereas structure-based models describe DNA unwinding as a consequence of mechanically pulling the DNA duplex across a wedge domain in the helicase by the single stranded (ss)DNA translocase activity of the ATPase motors, biochemical data indicate that processive DNA unwinding by the E. coli RecBCD helicase can occur in the absence of ssDNA translocation of the canonical RecB and RecD motors. Here, we present evidence that dsDNA unwinding is not a simple consequence of ssDNA translocation by the RecBCD motors. Using stopped-flow fluorescence approaches, we show that a RecB nuclease domain deletion variant (RecB ΔNuc CD) unwinds dsDNA at significantly slower rates than RecBCD, while the rate of ssDNA translocation is unaffected. This effect is primarily due to the absence of the nuclease domain and not the absence of the nuclease activity, since a nuclease-dead mutant (RecB D1080A CD), which retains the nuclease domain, showed no significant change in rates of ssDNA translocation or dsDNA unwinding relative to RecBCD on short DNA substrates (≤ 60 base pairs). This indicates that ssDNA translocation is not rate-limiting for DNA unwinding. RecB ΔNuc CD also initiates unwinding much slower than RecBCD from a blunt-ended DNA, although it binds with higher affinity than RecBCD. RecB ΔNuc CD also unwinds DNA ∼two-fold slower than RecBCD on long DNA (∼20 kilo base pair) in single molecule optical tweezer experiments, although the rates for RecB D1080A CD unwinding are intermediate between RecBCD and RecB ΔNuc CD. Surprisingly, significant pauses occur even in the absence of chi (crossover hotspot instigator) sites. We hypothesize that the nuclease domain influences the rate of DNA base pair melting, rather than DNA translocation, possibly allosterically. Since the rate of DNA unwinding by RecBCD also slows after it recognizes a chi sequence, RecB ΔNuc CD may mimic a post- chi state of RecBCD.
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7
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Marx SK, Mickolajczyk KJ, Craig J, Thomas C, Pfeffer A, Abell S, Carrasco J, Franzi M, Huang J, Kim H, Brinkerhoff H, Kapoor T, Gundlach J, Laszlo A. Observing inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 helicase at single-nucleotide resolution. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:9266-9278. [PMID: 37560916 PMCID: PMC10516658 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes for a helicase (nsp13) that is essential for viral replication and highly conserved across related viruses, making it an attractive antiviral target. Here we use nanopore tweezers, a high-resolution single-molecule technique, to gain detailed insight into how nsp13 turns ATP-hydrolysis into directed motion along nucleic acid strands. We measured nsp13 both as it translocates along single-stranded DNA or unwinds double-stranded DNA. Our data reveal nsp13's single-nucleotide steps, translocating at ∼1000 nt/s or unwinding at ∼100 bp/s. Nanopore tweezers' high spatiotemporal resolution enables detailed kinetic analysis of nsp13 motion. As a proof-of-principle for inhibition studies, we observed nsp13's motion in the presence of the ATPase inhibitor ATPγS. We construct a detailed picture of inhibition in which ATPγS has multiple mechanisms of inhibition. The dominant mechanism of inhibition depends on the application of assisting force. This lays the groundwork for future single-molecule inhibition studies with viral helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinduja K Marx
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Keith J Mickolajczyk
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Jonathan M Craig
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Akira M Pfeffer
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Sarah J Abell
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Michaela C Franzi
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jesse R Huang
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Hwanhee C Kim
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Henry Brinkerhoff
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Tarun M Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jens H Gundlach
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Andrew H Laszlo
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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8
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Plaza-G A I, Lemishko KM, Crespo R, Truong TQ, Kaguni LS, Cao-García FJ, Ciesielski GL, Ibarra B. Mechanism of strand displacement DNA synthesis by the coordinated activities of human mitochondrial DNA polymerase and SSB. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:1750-1765. [PMID: 36744436 PMCID: PMC9976888 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many replicative DNA polymerases couple DNA replication and unwinding activities to perform strand displacement DNA synthesis, a critical ability for DNA metabolism. Strand displacement is tightly regulated by partner proteins, such as single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding proteins (SSBs) by a poorly understood mechanism. Here, we use single-molecule optical tweezers and biochemical assays to elucidate the molecular mechanism of strand displacement DNA synthesis by the human mitochondrial DNA polymerase, Polγ, and its modulation by cognate and noncognate SSBs. We show that Polγ exhibits a robust DNA unwinding mechanism, which entails lowering the energy barrier for unwinding of the first base pair of the DNA fork junction, by ∼55%. However, the polymerase cannot prevent the reannealing of the parental strands efficiently, which limits by ∼30-fold its strand displacement activity. We demonstrate that SSBs stimulate the Polγ strand displacement activity through several mechanisms. SSB binding energy to ssDNA additionally increases the destabilization energy at the DNA junction, by ∼25%. Furthermore, SSB interactions with the displaced ssDNA reduce the DNA fork reannealing pressure on Polγ, in turn promoting the productive polymerization state by ∼3-fold. These stimulatory effects are enhanced by species-specific functional interactions and have significant implications in the replication of the human mitochondrial DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Plaza-G A
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia, IMDEA Nanociencia, Faraday 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Kateryna M Lemishko
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia, IMDEA Nanociencia, Faraday 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Crespo
- Departamento de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y Electrónica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Pza. de Ciencias, 1, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Thinh Q Truong
- Department of Chemistry, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL 36117, USA
| | - Laurie S Kaguni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Center for Mitochondrial Science and Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Francisco J Cao-García
- Departamento de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y Electrónica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Pza. de Ciencias, 1, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Grzegorz L Ciesielski
- Department of Chemistry, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL 36117, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Center for Mitochondrial Science and Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Borja Ibarra
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia, IMDEA Nanociencia, Faraday 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Nanobiotecnología (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Unidad Asociada al Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain
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9
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Xu L, Halma MTJ, Wuite GJL. Unravelling How Single-Stranded DNA Binding Protein Coordinates DNA Metabolism Using Single-Molecule Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032806. [PMID: 36769124 PMCID: PMC9917605 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) play vital roles in DNA metabolism. Proteins of the SSB family exclusively and transiently bind to ssDNA, preventing the DNA double helix from re-annealing and maintaining genome integrity. In the meantime, they interact and coordinate with various proteins vital for DNA replication, recombination, and repair. Although SSB is essential for DNA metabolism, proteins of the SSB family have been long described as accessory players, primarily due to their unclear dynamics and mechanistic interaction with DNA and its partners. Recently-developed single-molecule tools, together with biochemical ensemble techniques and structural methods, have enhanced our understanding of the different coordination roles that SSB plays during DNA metabolism. In this review, we discuss how single-molecule assays, such as optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, Förster resonance energy transfer, and their combinations, have advanced our understanding of the binding dynamics of SSBs to ssDNA and their interaction with other proteins partners. We highlight the central coordination role that the SSB protein plays by directly modulating other proteins' activities, rather than as an accessory player. Many possible modes of SSB interaction with protein partners are discussed, which together provide a bigger picture of the interaction network shaped by SSB.
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10
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Cao X, Liu K, Yan S, Li S, Li Y, Jin T, Liu S. Mechanical regulation of the helicase activity of Zika virus NS3. Biophys J 2022; 121:4900-4908. [PMID: 35923103 PMCID: PMC9808545 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that infects humans and can cause birth defects and neurological disorders. Its non-structural protein 3 (NS3) contains a protease domain and a helicase domain, both of which play essential roles during the viral life cycle. However, it has been shown that ZIKV NS3 has an inherently weak helicase activity, making it unable to unwind long RNA duplexes alone. How this activity is stimulated to process the viral genome and whether the two domains of NS3 are functionally coupled remain unclear. Here, we used optical tweezers to characterize the RNA-unwinding properties of ZIKV NS3-including its processivity, velocity, and step size-at the single-molecule level. We found that external forces that weaken the stability of the duplex RNA substrate significantly enhance the helicase activity of ZIKV NS3. On the other hand, we showed that the protease domain increases the binding affinity of NS3 to RNA but has only a minor effect on unwinding per se. Our findings suggest that the ZIKV NS3 helicase is activated on demand in the context of viral replication, a paradigm that may be generalizable to other flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocong Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Kaixian Liu
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Shannon Yan
- Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Sai Li
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Yajuan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Tengchuan Jin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China; Laboratory of Structural Immunology, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shixin Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York.
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11
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Craig JM, Mills M, Kim HC, Huang JR, Abell S, Mount J, Gundlach J, Neuman K, Laszlo A. Nanopore tweezers measurements of RecQ conformational changes reveal the energy landscape of helicase motion. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10601-10613. [PMID: 36165957 PMCID: PMC9561376 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicases are essential for nearly all nucleic acid processes across the tree of life, yet detailed understanding of how they couple ATP hydrolysis to translocation and unwinding remains incomplete because their small (∼300 picometer), fast (∼1 ms) steps are difficult to resolve. Here, we use Nanopore Tweezers to observe single Escherichia coli RecQ helicases as they translocate on and unwind DNA at ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolution. Nanopore Tweezers simultaneously resolve individual steps of RecQ along the DNA and conformational changes of the helicase associated with stepping. Our data reveal the mechanochemical coupling between physical domain motions and chemical reactions that together produce directed motion of the helicase along DNA. Nanopore Tweezers measurements are performed under either assisting or opposing force applied directly on RecQ, shedding light on how RecQ responds to such forces in vivo. Determining the rates of translocation and physical conformational changes under a wide range of assisting and opposing forces reveals the underlying dynamic energy landscape that drives RecQ motion. We show that RecQ has a highly asymmetric energy landscape that enables RecQ to maintain velocity when encountering molecular roadblocks such as bound proteins and DNA secondary structures. This energy landscape also provides a mechanistic basis making RecQ an 'active helicase,' capable of unwinding dsDNA as fast as it translocates on ssDNA. Such an energy landscape may be a general strategy for molecular motors to maintain consistent velocity despite opposing loads or roadblocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Craig
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, 3910 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maria Mills
- Laboratory of Single Molecule Biophysics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Missouri, 701 S College Ave, Physics Building Rm 223, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Hwanhee C Kim
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, 3910 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jesse R Huang
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, 3910 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sarah J Abell
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, 3910 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jonathan W Mount
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, 3910 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jens H Gundlach
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, 3910 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Keir C Neuman
- Laboratory of Single Molecule Biophysics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Andrew H Laszlo
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, 3910 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, USA
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12
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Sequence-dependent mechanochemical coupling of helicase translocation and unwinding at single-nucleotide resolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2202489119. [PMID: 36037333 PMCID: PMC9457475 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2202489119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We used single-molecule picometer-resolution nanopore tweezers (SPRNT) to resolve the millisecond single-nucleotide steps of superfamily 1 helicase PcrA as it translocates on, or unwinds, several kilobase-long DNA molecules. We recorded more than two million enzyme steps under various assisting and opposing forces in diverse adenosine tri- and diphosphate conditions to comprehensively explore the mechanochemistry of PcrA motion. Forces applied in SPRNT mimic forces and physical barriers PcrA experiences in vivo, such as when the helicase encounters bound proteins or duplex DNA. We show how PcrA's kinetics change with such stimuli. SPRNT allows for direct association of the underlying DNA sequence with observed enzyme kinetics. Our data reveal that the underlying DNA sequence passing through the helicase strongly influences the kinetics during translocation and unwinding. Surprisingly, unwinding kinetics are not solely dominated by the base pairs being unwound. Instead, the sequence of the single-stranded DNA on which the PcrA walks determines much of the kinetics of unwinding.
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13
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Ozaslan D, Byrd AK, Belachew B, Raney KD. Alignment of helicases on single-stranded DNA increases activity. Methods Enzymol 2022; 672:29-54. [PMID: 35934480 PMCID: PMC9421817 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.03.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Helicases function in most biological processes that utilize RNA or DNA nucleic acids including replication, recombination, repair, transcription, splicing, and translation. They are motor proteins that bind ATP and then catalyze hydrolysis to release energy which is transduced for conformational changes. Different conformations correspond to different steps in a process that results in movement of the enzyme along the nucleic acid track in a unidirectional manner. Some helicases such as DEAD-box helicases do not translocate, but these enzymes transduce chemical energy from ATP hydrolysis to unwind secondary structure in DNA or RNA. Some helicases function as monomers while others assemble into defined structures, either dimers or higher order oligomers. Dda helicase from bacteriophage T4 and NS3 helicase domain from the hepatitis C virus are examples of monomeric helicases. These helicases can bind to single-stranded DNA in a manner that appears like train engines on a track. When monomeric helicases align on DNA, the activity of the enzymes increases. Helicase activity can include the rate of duplex unwinding and the total number of base pairs melted during a single binding event or processivity. Dda and NS3h are considered as having low processivity, unwinding fewer than 50 base pairs per binding event. Here, we report fusing two molecules of NS3h molecules together through genetically linking the C-terminus of one molecule to the N-terminus of a second NS3h molecule. We observed increased processivity relative to NS3h possibly arising from the increased probability that at least one of the helicases will completely unwind the DNA prior to dissociation. The dimeric enzyme also binds DNA more like the full-length NS3 helicase. Finally, the dimer can displace streptavidin from biotin-labeled oligonucleotide, whereas monomeric NS3h cannot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Ozaslan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Alicia K Byrd
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
| | - Binyam Belachew
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Kevin D Raney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
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14
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Abstract
Single-molecule magnetic tweezers deliver magnetic force and torque to single target molecules, permitting the study of dynamic changes in biomolecular structures and their interactions. Because the magnetic tweezer setups can generate magnetic fields that vary slowly over tens of millimeters-far larger than the nanometer scale of the single molecule events being observed-this technique can maintain essentially constant force levels during biochemical experiments while generating a biologically meaningful force on the order of 1-100 pN. When using bead-tether constructs to pull on single molecules, smaller magnetic beads and shorter submicrometer tethers improve dynamic response times and measurement precision. In addition, employing high-speed cameras, stronger light sources, and a graphics programming unit permits true high-resolution single-molecule magnetic tweezers that can track nanometer changes in target molecules on a millisecond or even submillisecond time scale. The unique force-clamping capacity of the magnetic tweezer technique provides a way to conduct measurements under near-equilibrium conditions and directly map the energy landscapes underlying various molecular phenomena. High-resolution single-molecule magnetic tweezers can thus be used to monitor crucial conformational changes in single-protein molecules, including those involved in mechanotransduction and protein folding. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry, Volume 91 is June 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Kyu Choi
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering and Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Hyun Gyu Kim
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea;
| | - Min Ju Shon
- Department of Physics and School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea;
| | - Tae-Young Yoon
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea;
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15
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DNA Polymerase-Parental DNA Interaction Is Essential for Helicase-Polymerase Coupling during Bacteriophage T7 DNA Replication. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031342. [PMID: 35163266 PMCID: PMC8835902 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA helicase and polymerase work cooperatively at the replication fork to perform leading-strand DNA synthesis. It was believed that the helicase migrates to the forefront of the replication fork where it unwinds the duplex to provide templates for DNA polymerases. However, the molecular basis of the helicase-polymerase coupling is not fully understood. The recently elucidated T7 replisome structure suggests that the helicase and polymerase sandwich parental DNA and each enzyme pulls a daughter strand in opposite directions. Interestingly, the T7 polymerase, but not the helicase, carries the parental DNA with a positively charged cleft and stacks at the fork opening using a β-hairpin loop. Here, we created and characterized T7 polymerases each with a perturbed β-hairpin loop and positively charged cleft. Mutations on both structural elements significantly reduced the strand-displacement synthesis by T7 polymerase but had only a minor effect on DNA synthesis performed against a linear DNA substrate. Moreover, the aforementioned mutations eliminated synergistic helicase-polymerase binding and unwinding at the DNA fork and processive fork progressions. Thus, our data suggested that T7 polymerase plays a dominant role in helicase-polymerase coupling and replisome progression.
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16
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Rissone P, Bizarro CV, Ritort F. Stem-loop formation drives RNA folding in mechanical unzipping experiments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2025575119. [PMID: 35022230 PMCID: PMC8784153 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025575119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate knowledge of RNA hybridization is essential for understanding RNA structure and function. Here we mechanically unzip and rezip a 2-kbp RNA hairpin and derive the 10 nearest-neighbor base pair (NNBP) RNA free energies in sodium and magnesium with 0.1 kcal/mol precision using optical tweezers. Notably, force-distance curves (FDCs) exhibit strong irreversible effects with hysteresis and several intermediates, precluding the extraction of the NNBP energies with currently available methods. The combination of a suitable RNA synthesis with a tailored pulling protocol allowed us to obtain the fully reversible FDCs necessary to derive the NNBP energies. We demonstrate the equivalence of sodium and magnesium free-energy salt corrections at the level of individual NNBP. To characterize the irreversibility of the unzipping-rezipping process, we introduce a barrier energy landscape of the stem-loop structures forming along the complementary strands, which compete against the formation of the native hairpin. This landscape correlates with the hysteresis observed along the FDCs. RNA sequence analysis shows that base stacking and base pairing stabilize the stem-loops that kinetically trap the long-lived intermediates observed in the FDC. Stem-loops formation appears as a general mechanism to explain a wide range of behaviors observed in RNA folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Rissone
- Small Biosystems Laboratory, Condensed Matter Physics Department, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Cristiano V Bizarro
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Tuberculose, Centro de Pesquisas em Biologia Molecular e Funcional, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, 90616-900 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Felix Ritort
- Small Biosystems Laboratory, Condensed Matter Physics Department, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain;
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17
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Taylor AMK, Okoniewski SR, Uyetake L, Perkins TT. Force-Activated DNA Substrates for In Situ Generation of ssDNA and Designed ssDNA/dsDNA Structures in an Optical-Trapping Assay. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2478:273-312. [PMID: 36063324 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2229-2_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule force spectroscopy can precisely probe the biomechanical interactions of proteins that unwind duplex DNA and bind to and wrap around single-stranded (ss)DNA. Yet assembly of the required substrates, which often contain a ssDNA segment embedded within a larger double-stranded (ds)DNA construct, can be time-consuming and inefficient, particularly when using a standard three-way hybridization protocol. In this chapter, we detail how to construct a variety of force-activated DNA substrates more efficiently. To do so, we engineered a dsDNA molecule with a designed sequence of specified GC content positioned between two enzymatically induced, site-specific nicks. Partially pulling this substrate into the overstretching transition of DNA (~65 pN) using an optical trap led to controlled dissociation of the ssDNA segment delineated by the two nicks. Here, we describe protocols for generating ssDNA of up to 1000 nucleotides as well as more complex structures, such as a 120-base-pair DNA hairpin positioned next to a 33-nucleotide ssDNA segment. The utility of the hairpin substrate was demonstrated by measuring the motion of E. coli. RecQ, a 3'-to-5' DNA helicase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnulf M K Taylor
- JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Stephen R Okoniewski
- JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Lyle Uyetake
- JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Thomas T Perkins
- JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
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18
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Lo CY, Gao Y. Assembling bacteriophage T7 leading-strand replisome for structural investigation. Methods Enzymol 2022; 672:103-123. [PMID: 35934471 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Replicative helicase and polymerase form the leading-strand replisome that unwinds parental DNA and performs continuous leading-strand DNA synthesis. Uncoupling of the helicase-polymerase complex results in replication stress, replication errors, and genome instability. Although numerous replisomes from different biological systems have been reconstituted and characterized, structural investigations of the leading-strand replisome complex are hindered by its large size and dynamics. We have determined the first replisome structure on a fork substrate with bacteriophage T7 replisome as a model system. Here, we summarized our protocols to prepare and characterize the coupled T7 replisome complex. Similar methods can potentially be applied for structural investigations of more complicated replisomes.
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19
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Singh A, Patel SS. Quantitative methods to study helicase, DNA polymerase, and exonuclease coupling during DNA replication. Methods Enzymol 2022; 672:75-102. [PMID: 35934486 PMCID: PMC9933136 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Genome replication is accomplished by highly regulated activities of enzymes in a multi-protein complex called the replisome. Two major enzymes, DNA polymerase and helicase, catalyze continuous DNA synthesis on the leading strand of the parental DNA duplex while the lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously. The helicase and DNA polymerase on their own are catalytically inefficient and weak motors for unwinding/replicating double-stranded DNA. However, when a helicase and DNA polymerase are functionally and physically coupled, they catalyze fast and highly processive leading strand DNA synthesis. DNA polymerase has a 3'-5' exonuclease activity, which removes nucleotides misincorporated in the nascent DNA. DNA synthesis kinetics, processivity, and accuracy are governed by the interplay of the helicase, DNA polymerase, and exonuclease activities within the replisome. This chapter describes quantitative biochemical and biophysical methods to study the coupling of these three critical activities during DNA replication. The methods include real-time quantitation of kinetics of DNA unwinding-synthesis by a coupled helicase-DNA polymerase complex, a 2-aminopurine fluorescence-based assay to map the precise positions of helicase and DNA polymerase with respect to the replication fork junction, and a radiometric assay to study the coupling of DNA polymerase, exonuclease, and helicase activities during processive leading strand DNA synthesis. These methods are presented here with bacteriophage T7 replication proteins as an example but can be applied to other systems with appropriate modifications.
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20
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Abstract
RNA viruses cause many routine illnesses, such as the common cold and the flu. Recently, more deadly diseases have emerged from this family of viruses. The hepatitis C virus has had a devastating impact worldwide. Despite the cures developed in the U.S. and Europe, economically disadvantaged countries remain afflicted by HCV infection due to the high cost of these medications. More recently, COVID-19 has swept across the world, killing millions and disrupting economies and lifestyles; the virus responsible for this pandemic is a coronavirus. Our understanding of HCV and SARS CoV-2 replication is still in its infancy. Helicases play a critical role in the replication, transcription and translation of viruses. These key enzymes need extensive study not only as an essential player in the viral lifecycle, but also as targets for antiviral therapeutics. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge for RNA helicases of high importance to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Marecki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Binyam Belachew
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Jun Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Kevin D Raney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
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21
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Abstract
Ring-shaped hexameric helicases are essential motor proteins that separate duplex nucleic acid strands for DNA replication, recombination, and transcriptional regulation. Two evolutionarily distinct lineages of these enzymes, predicated on RecA and AAA+ ATPase folds, have been identified and characterized to date. Hexameric helicases couple NTP hydrolysis with conformational changes that move nucleic acid substrates through a central pore in the enzyme. How hexameric helicases productively engage client DNA or RNA segments and use successive rounds of NTPase activity to power translocation and unwinding have been longstanding questions in the field. Recent structural and biophysical findings are beginning to reveal commonalities in NTP hydrolysis and substrate translocation by diverse hexameric helicase families. Here, we review these molecular mechanisms and highlight aspects of their function that are yet to be understood.
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22
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Kinetic and structural mechanism for DNA unwinding by a non-hexameric helicase. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7015. [PMID: 34853304 PMCID: PMC8636605 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27304-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
UvrD, a model for non-hexameric Superfamily 1 helicases, utilizes ATP hydrolysis to translocate stepwise along single-stranded DNA and unwind the duplex. Previous estimates of its step size have been indirect, and a consensus on its stepping mechanism is lacking. To dissect the mechanism underlying DNA unwinding, we use optical tweezers to measure directly the stepping behavior of UvrD as it processes a DNA hairpin and show that UvrD exhibits a variable step size averaging ~3 base pairs. Analyzing stepping kinetics across ATP reveals the type and number of catalytic events that occur with different step sizes. These single-molecule data reveal a mechanism in which UvrD moves one base pair at a time but sequesters the nascent single strands, releasing them non-uniformly after a variable number of catalytic cycles. Molecular dynamics simulations point to a structural basis for this behavior, identifying the protein-DNA interactions responsible for strand sequestration. Based on structural and sequence alignment data, we propose that this stepping mechanism may be conserved among other non-hexameric helicases.
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23
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Determining translocation orientations of nucleic acid helicases. Methods 2021; 204:160-171. [PMID: 34758393 PMCID: PMC9076756 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicase enzymes translocate along an RNA or DNA template with a defined polarity to unwind, separate, or remodel duplex strands for a variety of genome maintenance processes. Helicase mutations are commonly associated with a variety of diseases including aging, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Biochemical characterization of these enzymes has provided a wealth of information on the kinetics of unwinding and substrate preferences, and several high-resolution structures of helicases alone and bound to oligonucleotides have been solved. Together, they provide mechanistic insights into the structural translocation and unwinding orientations of helicases. However, these insights rely on structural inferences derived from static snapshots. Instead, continued efforts should be made to combine structure and kinetics to better define active translocation orientations of helicases. This review explores many of the biochemical and biophysical methods utilized to map helicase binding orientation to DNA or RNA substrates and includes several time-dependent methods to unequivocally map the active translocation orientation of these enzymes to better define the active leading and trailing faces.
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24
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Bocanegra R, Plaza G A I, Ibarra B. In vitro single-molecule manipulation studies of viral DNA replication. Enzymes 2021; 49:115-148. [PMID: 34696830 DOI: 10.1016/bs.enz.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Faithfull replication of genomic information relies on the coordinated activity of the multi-protein machinery known as the replisome. Several constituents of the replisome operate as molecular motors that couple thermal and chemical energy to a mechanical task. Over the last few decades, in vitro single-molecule manipulation techniques have been used to monitor and manipulate mechanically the activities of individual molecular motors involved in DNA replication with nanometer, millisecond, and picoNewton resolutions. These studies have uncovered the real-time kinetics of operation of these biological systems, the nature of their transient intermediates, and the processes by which they convert energy to work (mechano-chemistry), ultimately providing new insights into their inner workings of operation not accessible by ensemble assays. In this chapter, we describe two of the most widely used single-molecule manipulation techniques for the study of DNA replication, optical and magnetic tweezers, and their application in the study of the activities of proteins involved in viral DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Bocanegra
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia, IMDEA Nanociencia, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ismael Plaza G A
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia, IMDEA Nanociencia, Madrid, Spain
| | - Borja Ibarra
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia, IMDEA Nanociencia, Madrid, Spain.
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25
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Single-molecule studies of helicases and translocases in prokaryotic genome-maintenance pathways. DNA Repair (Amst) 2021; 108:103229. [PMID: 34601381 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2021.103229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Helicases involved in genomic maintenance are a class of nucleic-acid dependent ATPases that convert the energy of ATP hydrolysis into physical work to execute irreversible steps in DNA replication, repair, and recombination. Prokaryotic helicases provide simple models to understand broadly conserved molecular mechanisms involved in manipulating nucleic acids during genome maintenance. Our understanding of the catalytic properties, mechanisms of regulation, and roles of prokaryotic helicases in DNA metabolism has been assembled through a combination of genetic, biochemical, and structural methods, further refined by single-molecule approaches. Together, these investigations have constructed a framework for understanding the mechanisms that maintain genomic integrity in cells. This review discusses recent single-molecule insights into molecular mechanisms of prokaryotic helicases and translocases.
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26
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Spinks RR, Spenkelink LM, Dixon NE, van Oijen AM. Single-Molecule Insights Into the Dynamics of Replicative Helicases. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:741718. [PMID: 34513934 PMCID: PMC8426354 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.741718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicases are molecular motors that translocate along single-stranded DNA and unwind duplex DNA. They rely on the consumption of chemical energy from nucleotide hydrolysis to drive their translocation. Specialized helicases play a critically important role in DNA replication by unwinding DNA at the front of the replication fork. The replicative helicases of the model systems bacteriophages T4 and T7, Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been extensively studied and characterized using biochemical methods. While powerful, their averaging over ensembles of molecules and reactions makes it challenging to uncover information related to intermediate states in the unwinding process and the dynamic helicase interactions within the replisome. Here, we describe single-molecule methods that have been developed in the last few decades and discuss the new details that these methods have revealed about replicative helicases. Applying methods such as FRET and optical and magnetic tweezers to individual helicases have made it possible to access the mechanistic aspects of unwinding. It is from these methods that we understand that the replicative helicases studied so far actively translocate and then passively unwind DNA, and that these hexameric enzymes must efficiently coordinate the stepping action of their subunits to achieve unwinding, where the size of each step is prone to variation. Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy methods have made it possible to visualize replicative helicases acting at replication forks and quantify their dynamics using multi-color colocalization, FRAP and FLIP. These fluorescence methods have made it possible to visualize helicases in replication initiation and dissect this intricate protein-assembly process. In a similar manner, single-molecule visualization of fluorescent replicative helicases acting in replication identified that, in contrast to the replicative polymerases, the helicase does not exchange. Instead, the replicative helicase acts as the stable component that serves to anchor the other replication factors to the replisome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard R Spinks
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Lisanne M Spenkelink
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas E Dixon
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Antoine M van Oijen
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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27
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Lo CY, Gao Y. DNA Helicase-Polymerase Coupling in Bacteriophage DNA Replication. Viruses 2021; 13:v13091739. [PMID: 34578319 PMCID: PMC8472574 DOI: 10.3390/v13091739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages have long been model systems to study the molecular mechanisms of DNA replication. During DNA replication, a DNA helicase and a DNA polymerase cooperatively unwind the parental DNA. By surveying recent data from three bacteriophage replication systems, we summarized the mechanistic basis of DNA replication by helicases and polymerases. Kinetic data have suggested that a polymerase or a helicase alone is a passive motor that is sensitive to the base-pairing energy of the DNA. When coupled together, the helicase-polymerase complex is able to unwind DNA actively. In bacteriophage T7, helicase and polymerase reside right at the replication fork where the parental DNA is separated into two daughter strands. The two motors pull the two daughter strands to opposite directions, while the polymerase provides a separation pin to split the fork. Although independently evolved and containing different replisome components, bacteriophage T4 replisome shares mechanistic features of Hel-Pol coupling that are similar to T7. Interestingly, in bacteriophages with a limited size of genome like Φ29, DNA polymerase itself can form a tunnel-like structure, which encircles the DNA template strand and facilitates strand displacement synthesis in the absence of a helicase. Studies on bacteriophage replication provide implications for the more complicated replication systems in bacteria, archaeal, and eukaryotic systems, as well as the RNA genome replication in RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yang Gao
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-713-348-2619
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28
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Jarillo J, Ibarra B, Cao-García FJ. DNA replication: In vitro single-molecule manipulation data analysis and models. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:3765-3778. [PMID: 34285777 PMCID: PMC8267548 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Data analysis allows to extract information from the noisy single-molecule data. Models provide insight in the underlying biochemical processes. Ligands can activate or inhibit DNA replication and DNA unwinding.
DNA replication is a key biochemical process of the cell cycle. In the last years, analysis of in vitro single-molecule DNA replication events has provided new information that cannot be obtained with ensembles studies. Here, we introduce crucial techniques for the proper analysis and modelling of DNA replication in vitro single-molecule manipulation data. Specifically, we review some of the main methods to analyze and model the real-time kinetics of the two main molecular motors of the replisome: DNA polymerase and DNA helicase. Our goal is to facilitate access to and understanding of these techniques to promotetheir use in the study of DNA replication at the single-molecule level. A proper analysis of single-molecule data is crucial to obtain a detailed picture of, among others, the kinetics rates, equilibrium contants and conformational changes of the system under study. The techniques presented here have been used or can be adapted to study the operation of other proteins involved in nucleic acids metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Jarillo
- University of Namur, Institute of Life-Earth-Environment, Namur Center for Complex Systems, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Borja Ibarra
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia, IMDEA Nanociencia, C/ Faraday 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Cao-García
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia, IMDEA Nanociencia, C/ Faraday 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y Electrónica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Pza. de Ciencias, 1, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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29
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Magnetic Tweezers-Based Single-Molecule Assays to Study Interaction of E. coli SSB with DNA and RecQ Helicase. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2281:93-115. [PMID: 33847954 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1290-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The ability of magnetic tweezers to apply forces and measure molecular displacements has resulted in its extensive use to study the activity of enzymes involved in various aspects of nucleic acid metabolism. These studies have led to the discovery of key aspects of protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interaction, uncovering dynamic heterogeneities that are lost to ensemble averaging in bulk experiments. The versatility of magnetic tweezers lies in the possibility and ease of tracking multiple parallel single-molecule events to yield statistically relevant single-molecule data. Moreover, they allow tracking both fast millisecond dynamics and slow processes (spanning several hours). In this chapter, we present the protocols used to study the interaction between E. coli SSB, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), and E. coli RecQ helicase using magnetic tweezers. In particular, we propose constant force and force modulation assays to investigate SSB binding to DNA, as well as to characterize various facets of RecQ helicase activity stimulation by SSB.
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30
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Bocanegra R, Ismael Plaza GA, Pulido CR, Ibarra B. DNA replication machinery: Insights from in vitro single-molecule approaches. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2057-2069. [PMID: 33995902 PMCID: PMC8085672 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The replisome is the multiprotein molecular machinery that replicates DNA. The replisome components work in precise coordination to unwind the double helix of the DNA and replicate the two strands simultaneously. The study of DNA replication using in vitro single-molecule approaches provides a novel quantitative understanding of the dynamics and mechanical principles that govern the operation of the replisome and its components. ‘Classical’ ensemble-averaging methods cannot obtain this information. Here we describe the main findings obtained with in vitro single-molecule methods on the performance of individual replisome components and reconstituted prokaryotic and eukaryotic replisomes. The emerging picture from these studies is that of stochastic, versatile and highly dynamic replisome machinery in which transient protein-protein and protein-DNA associations are responsible for robust DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Bocanegra
- IMDEA Nanociencia, Faraday 9, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - G A Ismael Plaza
- IMDEA Nanociencia, Faraday 9, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos R Pulido
- IMDEA Nanociencia, Faraday 9, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Borja Ibarra
- IMDEA Nanociencia, Faraday 9, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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31
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Mickolajczyk KJ, Shelton PMM, Grasso M, Cao X, Warrington SE, Aher A, Liu S, Kapoor TM. Force-dependent stimulation of RNA unwinding by SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 helicase. Biophys J 2020; 120:1020-1030. [PMID: 33340543 PMCID: PMC7837305 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.11.2276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The superfamily 1 helicase nonstructural protein 13 (nsp13) is required for SARS-CoV-2 replication. The mechanism and regulation of nsp13 has not been explored at the single-molecule level. Specifically, force-dependent unwinding experiments have yet to be performed for any coronavirus helicase. Here, using optical tweezers, we find that nsp13 unwinding frequency, processivity, and velocity increase substantially when a destabilizing force is applied to the RNA substrate. These results, along with bulk assays, depict nsp13 as an intrinsically weak helicase that can be activated >50-fold by piconewton forces. Such force-dependent behavior contrasts the known behavior of other viral monomeric helicases, such as hepatitis C virus NS3, and instead draws stronger parallels to ring-shaped helicases. Our findings suggest that mechanoregulation, which may be provided by a directly bound RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, enables on-demand helicase activity on the relevant polynucleotide substrate during viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Mickolajczyk
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Patrick M M Shelton
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Michael Grasso
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Xiaocong Cao
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York; Laboratory of Structural Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Sara E Warrington
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Amol Aher
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Shixin Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York.
| | - Tarun M Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York.
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32
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Zhang S, Zhang Q, Hou X, Guo L, Wang F, Bi L, Zhang X, Li H, Wen F, Xi X, Huang X, Shen B, Sun B. Dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 in DNA target Association and Dissociation. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e50184. [PMID: 32790142 PMCID: PMC7534634 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202050184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 (SaCas9) is an RNA-guided endonuclease that targets complementary DNA adjacent to a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) for cleavage. Its small size facilitates in vivo delivery for genome editing in various organisms. Herein, using single-molecule and ensemble approaches, we systemically study the mechanism of SaCas9 underlying its interplay with DNA. We find that the DNA binding and cleavage of SaCas9 require complementarities of 6- and 18-bp of PAM-proximal DNA with guide RNA, respectively. These activities are mediated by two steady interactions among the ternary complex, one of which is located approximately 6 bp from the PAM and beyond the apparent footprint of SaCas9 on DNA. Notably, the other interaction within the protospacer is significantly strong and thus poses DNA-bound SaCas9 a persistent block to DNA-tracking motors. Intriguingly, after cleavage, SaCas9 autonomously releases the PAM-distal DNA while retaining binding to the PAM. This partial DNA release immediately abolishes its strong interaction with the protospacer DNA and consequently promotes its subsequent dissociation from the PAM. Overall, these data provide a dynamic understanding of SaCas9 and instruct its effective applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Zhang
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xi‐Miao Hou
- College of Life SciencesNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Lijuan Guo
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Fangzhu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineCenter for Global HealthNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Lulu Bi
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xia Zhang
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hai‐Hong Li
- College of Life SciencesNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Fengcai Wen
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xu‐Guang Xi
- The LBPAEcole Normale Supérieure Paris‐SaclayCNRSUniversité Paris SaclayGif‐sur-YvetteFrance
| | - Xingxu Huang
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Bin Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineCenter for Global HealthNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Bo Sun
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
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33
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Interplay between Position-Dependent Codon Usage Bias and Hydrogen Bonding at the 5' End of ORFeomes. mSystems 2020; 5:5/4/e00613-20. [PMID: 32788408 PMCID: PMC7426154 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00613-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Codon usage bias exerts control over a wide variety of molecular processes. The positioning of synonymous codons within coding sequences (CDSs) dictates protein expression by mechanisms such as local translation efficiency, mRNA Gibbs free energy, and protein cotranslational folding. In this work, we explore how codon usage affects the position-dependent content of hydrogen bonding, which in turn influences energy requirements for unwinding double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). We categorized codons according to their hydrogen bond content and found differential effects on hydrogen bonding encoded by codon variants. The specific positional disposition of codon variants within CDSs creates a ramp of hydrogen bonding at the 5' end of the ORFeome in Escherichia coli CDSs occupying the first position of operons are subjected to selective pressure that reduces their hydrogen bonding compared to internal CDSs, and highly transcribed CDSs demand a lower maximum capacity of hydrogen bonds per codon, suggesting that the energetic requirement for unwinding the dsDNA in highly transcribed CDSs has evolved to be minimized in E. coli Subsequent analysis of over 14,000 ORFeomes showed a pervasive ramp of hydrogen bonding at the 5' end in Bacteria and Archaea that positively correlates with the probability of mRNA secondary structure formation. Both the ramp and the correlation were not found in Fungi The position-dependent hydrogen bonding might be part of the mechanism that contributes to the coordination between transcription and translation in Bacteria and Archaea A Web-based application to analyze the position-dependent hydrogen bonding of ORFeomes has been developed and is publicly available (https://juanvillada.shinyapps.io/hbonds/).IMPORTANCE Redundancy of the genetic code creates a vast space of alternatives to encode a protein. Synonymous codons exert control over a variety of molecular and physiological processes of cells mainly through influencing protein biosynthesis. Recent findings have shown that synonymous codon choice affects transcription by controlling mRNA abundance, mRNA stability, transcription termination, and transcript biosynthesis cost. In this work, by analyzing thousands of Bacteria, Archaea, and Fungi genomes, we extend recent findings by showing that synonymous codon choice, corresponding to the number of hydrogen bonds in a codon, can also have an effect on the energetic requirements for unwinding double-stranded DNA in a position-dependent fashion. This report offers new perspectives on the mechanism behind the transcription-translation coordination and complements previous hypotheses on the resource allocation strategies used by Bacteria and Archaea to manage energy efficiency in gene expression.
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34
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Mickolajczyk KJ, Shelton PMM, Grasso M, Cao X, Warrington SR, Aher A, Liu S, Kapoor TM. Force-dependent stimulation of RNA unwinding by SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 helicase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020. [PMID: 32766580 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.31.231274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The superfamily-1 helicase non-structural protein 13 (nsp13) is required for SARS-CoV-2 replication, making it an important antiviral therapeutic target. The mechanism and regulation of nsp13 has not been explored at the single-molecule level. Specifically, force-dependent unwinding experiments have yet to be performed for any coronavirus helicase. Here, using optical tweezers, we find that nsp13 unwinding frequency, processivity, and velocity increase substantially when a destabilizing force is applied to the dsRNA, suggesting a passive unwinding mechanism. These results, along with bulk assays, depict nsp13 as an intrinsically weak helicase that can be potently activated by picoNewton forces. Such force-dependent behavior contrasts the known behavior of other viral monomeric helicases, drawing stronger parallels to ring-shaped helicases. Our findings suggest that mechanoregulation, which may be provided by a directly bound RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, enables on-demand helicase activity on the relevant polynucleotide substrate during viral replication.
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35
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Xue ZY, Wu WQ, Zhao XC, Kumar A, Ran X, Zhang XH, Zhang Y, Guo LJ. Single-molecule probing the duplex and G4 unwinding patterns of a RecD family helicase. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 164:902-910. [PMID: 32693146 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.07.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
RecD family helicases play an important role in prokaryotic genome stability and serve as the structural models for studying superfamily 1B (SF1B) helicases. However, RecD-catalyzed duplex DNA unwinding behavior and the underlying mechanism are still elusive. RecD family helicases share a common proto-helicase with eukaryotic Pif1 family helicases, which are well known for their outstanding G-quadruplex (G4) unwinding ability. However, there are still controversial points as to whether and how RecD helicases unfold G4 structures. Here, single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and magnetic tweezers (MT) were used to study Deinococcus radiodurans RecD2 (DrRecD2)-mediated duplex DNA unwinding and resolution of G4 structures. A symmetric, repetitive unwinding phenomenon was observed on duplex DNA, revealed from the strand switch and translocation of one monomer. Furthermore, we found that DrRecD2 was able to unwind both parallel and antiparallel G4 structures without obvious topological preferences. Surprisingly, the unwinding properties of RecD on duplex and G4 DNA are different from those of Pif1. The findings provide an example, in which the patterns of two molecules derived from a common ancestor deviate during evolution, and they are of significance for understanding the unwinding mechanism and function of SF1B helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Yong Xue
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Wen-Qiang Wu
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China.
| | - Xiao-Cong Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Arvind Kumar
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Xia Ran
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Xing-Hua Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Li-Jun Guo
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China.
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36
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Joo S, Chung BH, Lee M, Ha TH. Ring-shaped replicative helicase encircles double-stranded DNA during unwinding. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:11344-11354. [PMID: 31665506 PMCID: PMC6868380 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz893] [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: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ring-shaped replicative helicases are hexameric and play a key role in cellular DNA replication. Despite their importance, our understanding of the unwinding mechanism of replicative helicases is far from perfect. Bovine papillomavirus E1 is one of the best-known model systems for replicative helicases. E1 is a multifunctional initiator that senses and melts the viral origin and unwinds DNA. Here, we study the unwinding mechanism of E1 at the single-molecule level using magnetic tweezers. The result reveals that E1 as a single hexamer is a poorly processive helicase with a low unwinding rate. Tension on the DNA strands impedes unwinding, indicating that the helicase interacts strongly with both DNA strands at the junction. While investigating the interaction at a high force (26–30 pN), we discovered that E1 encircles dsDNA. By comparing with the E1 construct without a DNA binding domain, we propose two possible encircling modes of E1 during active unwinding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihwa Joo
- BioNanoTechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.,Department of Nanobiotechnology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong H Chung
- BioNanoTechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.,Department of Nanobiotechnology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.,BioNano Health Guard Research Center, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Mina Lee
- Center for Nano-Bio Measurement, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Tai H Ha
- BioNanoTechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.,Department of Nanobiotechnology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
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37
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Chou YC. Mechanical mechanism for the translocation of hexameric and nonstructural helicases: Dependence on physical parameters. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2020; 43:21. [PMID: 32303848 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2020-11944-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Three recently observed facts of the translocation of actual hexameric and nonstructural (NS) helicases are related to the various physical quantities and are in accordance with the recently proposed mechanical mechanism: a) the translocation of hexameric helicases might be led by either the N-terminal domain (NTD) or C-terminal domain (CTD) depending on which domain has a smaller central pore, b) the translocation speed (vt) of the ring-shaped helicases and NS helicases decreased with decreasing applied tension, and c) a large difference in the vt of the NS helicase was observed for the helicase translocating on DNA and RNA. These findings are the effects of the physical quantities of the helicase/nuclei acid strands on the translocation of helicases and are difficult to explain with biochemical models. We predict that a similar behavior as described in b) and c) is also shown by hexameric helicases. The validity of the mechanical mechanism is demonstrated in simulation experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y C Chou
- Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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38
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Xie P. Non-tight and tight chemomechanical couplings of biomolecular motors under hindering loads. J Theor Biol 2020; 490:110173. [PMID: 31982418 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular motors make use of free energy released from chemical reaction (typically ATP hydrolysis) to perform mechanical motion or work. An important issue is whether a molecular motor exhibits tight or non-tight chemomechanical (CM) coupling. The tight CM coupling refers to that each ATPase activity is coupled with a mechanical step, while the non-tight CM coupling refers to that an ATPase activity is not necessarily coupled with a mechanical step. Here, we take kinesin, monomeric DNA helicase, ring-shaped hexameric DNA helicase and ribosome as examples to study this issue. Our studies indicate that some motors such as kinesin, monomeric helicase and ribosome exhibit non-tight CM coupling under hindering forces, while others such as the ring-shaped hexameric helicase exhibit tight or nearly tight CM coupling under any force. For the former, the reduction of the velocity caused by the hindering force arises mainly from the reduction of the CM coupling efficiency, while the ATPase rate is independent or nearly independent of the force. For the latter, the reduction of the velocity caused by the hindering force arises mainly from the reduction of the ATPase rate, while the CM coupling efficiency is independent or nearly independent of the force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Xie
- Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
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39
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Mohapatra S, Lin CT, Feng XA, Basu A, Ha T. Single-Molecule Analysis and Engineering of DNA Motors. Chem Rev 2019; 120:36-78. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Taekjip Ha
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
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40
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Raj S, Bagchi D, Orero JV, Banroques J, Tanner NK, Croquette V. Mechanistic characterization of the DEAD-box RNA helicase Ded1 from yeast as revealed by a novel technique using single-molecule magnetic tweezers. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:3699-3710. [PMID: 30993346 PMCID: PMC6468243 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
DEAD-box helicases are involved in all steps of RNA metabolism. They are ATP-dependent RNA binding proteins and RNA-dependent ATPases. They can displace short duplexes, but they lack processivity. Their mechanism and functioning are not clearly understood; classical or bulk biochemical assays are not sufficient to answer these questions. Single-molecule techniques provide useful tools, but they are limited in cases where the proteins are nonprocessive and give weak signals. We present here a new, magnetic-tweezers-based, single-molecule assay that is simple and that can sensitively measure the displacement time of a small, hybridized, RNA oligonucleotide. Tens of molecules can be analyzed at the same time. Comparing the displacement times with and without a helicase gives insights into the enzymatic activity of the protein. We used this assay to study yeast Ded1, which is orthologous to human DDX3. Although Ded1 acts on a variety of substrates, we find that Ded1 requires an RNA substrate for its ATP-dependent unwinding activity and that ATP hydrolysis is needed to see this activity. Further, we find that only intramolecular single-stranded RNA extensions enhance this activity. We propose a model where ATP-bound Ded1 stabilizes partially unwound duplexes and where multiple binding events may be needed to see displacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Raj
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,IBENS, Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Debjani Bagchi
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,IBENS, Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jessica Valle Orero
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,IBENS, Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Josette Banroques
- Laboratoire d'Expression Génétique Microbienne, CNRS UMR8261/Université Paris 7-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité Universités, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.,Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - N Kyle Tanner
- Laboratoire d'Expression Génétique Microbienne, CNRS UMR8261/Université Paris 7-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité Universités, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.,Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Vincent Croquette
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,IBENS, Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.,ESPCI Paris, PSL University, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
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41
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Chakrabarti S, Jarzynski C, Thirumalai D. Processivity, Velocity, and Universal Characteristics of Nucleic Acid Unwinding by Helicases. Biophys J 2019; 117:867-879. [PMID: 31400912 PMCID: PMC6731385 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicases are components of the cellular replisome that are essential for unwinding double-strand nucleic acids during the process of replication. Intriguingly, most helicases are inefficient and require either oligomerization or assistance from other partner proteins to increase the processivity of unwinding in the presence of the replication fork, which acts as a barrier to progress. Single-molecule force spectroscopy has emerged as a promising experimental technique to probe how relieving this barrier on the helicase can allow for increased efficiency of unwinding. However, there exists no comprehensive theoretical framework to provide unique interpretations of the underlying helicase kinetics from the force spectroscopy data. This remains a major confounding issue in the field. Here, we develop a mathematical framework and derive analytic expressions for the velocity and run length of a general model of finitely processive helicases, the two most commonly measured experimental quantities. We show that in contrast to the unwinding velocity, the processivity exhibits a universal increase in response to external force, irrespective of the underlying architecture and unwinding kinetics of the helicase. Our work provides the first, to our knowledge, explanation to a wide array of experiments and suggests that helicases may have evolved to maximize processivity rather than speed. To demonstrate the use of our theory on experimental data, we analyze velocity and processivity data on the T7 helicase and provide unique inferences on the kinetics of the helicase. Our results show that T7 is a weakly active helicase that destabilizes the fork ahead by less than 1 kBT and back steps very frequently while unwinding DNA. Our work generates fundamental insights into the force response of helicases and provides a widely applicable method for inferring the underlying helicase kinetics from force spectroscopy data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaon Chakrabarti
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
| | - Christopher Jarzynski
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute for Physical Sciences and Technology, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - D Thirumalai
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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42
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Seol Y, Harami GM, Kovács M, Neuman KC. Homology sensing via non-linear amplification of sequence-dependent pausing by RecQ helicase. eLife 2019; 8:e45909. [PMID: 31464683 PMCID: PMC6773442 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
RecQ helicases promote genomic stability through their unique ability to suppress illegitimate recombination and resolve recombination intermediates. These DNA structure-specific activities of RecQ helicases are mediated by the helicase-and-RNAseD like C-terminal (HRDC) domain, via unknown mechanisms. Here, employing single-molecule magnetic tweezers and rapid kinetic approaches we establish that the HRDC domain stabilizes intrinsic, sequence-dependent, pauses of the core helicase (lacking the HRDC) in a DNA geometry-dependent manner. We elucidate the core unwinding mechanism in which the unwinding rate depends on the stability of the duplex DNA leading to transient sequence-dependent pauses. We further demonstrate a non-linear amplification of these transient pauses by the controlled binding of the HRDC domain. The resulting DNA sequence- and geometry-dependent pausing may underlie a homology sensing mechanism that allows rapid disruption of unstable (illegitimate) and stabilization of stable (legitimate) DNA strand invasions, which suggests an intrinsic mechanism of recombination quality control by RecQ helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeonee Seol
- Laboratory of Single Molecule BiophysicsNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Gábor M Harami
- Department of Biochemistry, ELTE-MTA “Momentum” Motor Enzymology Research GroupEötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Mihály Kovács
- Department of Biochemistry, ELTE-MTA “Momentum” Motor Enzymology Research GroupEötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
- Department of Biochemistry, MTA-ELTE Motor Pharmacology Research GroupEötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Keir C Neuman
- Laboratory of Single Molecule BiophysicsNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
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43
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Bagchi D, Manosas M, Zhang W, Manthei KA, Hodeib S, Ducos B, Keck JL, Croquette V. Single molecule kinetics uncover roles for E. coli RecQ DNA helicase domains and interaction with SSB. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:8500-8515. [PMID: 30053104 PMCID: PMC6144805 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Most RecQ DNA helicases share a conserved domain arrangement that mediates their activities in genomic stability. This arrangement comprises a helicase motor domain, a RecQ C-terminal (RecQ-C) region including a winged-helix (WH) domain, and a ‘Helicase and RNase D C-terminal’ (HRDC) domain. Single-molecule real-time translocation and DNA unwinding by full-length Escherichia coli RecQ and variants lacking either the HRDC or both the WH and HRDC domains was analyzed. RecQ operated under two interconvertible kinetic modes, ‘slow’ and ‘normal’, as it unwound duplex DNA and translocated on single-stranded (ss) DNA. Consistent with a crystal structure of bacterial RecQ bound to ssDNA by base stacking, abasic sites blocked RecQ unwinding. Removal of the HRDC domain eliminates the slow mode while preserving the normal mode of activity. Unexpectedly, a RecQ variant lacking both the WH and HRDC domains retains weak helicase activity. The inclusion of E. coli ssDNA-binding protein (SSB) induces a third ‘fast’ unwinding mode four times faster than the normal RecQ mode and enhances the overall helicase activity (affinity, rate, and processivity). SSB stimulation was, furthermore, observed in the RecQ deletion variants, including the variant missing the WH domain. Our results support a model in which RecQ and SSB have multiple interacting modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debjani Bagchi
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat - 390002, India
| | - Maria Manosas
- Departament de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.,CIBER-BBN de Bioingenieria, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Sanidad Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Weiting Zhang
- Laboratoire de physique statistique, Département de physique de l'ENS, École normale supérieure, PSL Research University, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France. IBENS, Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Kelly A Manthei
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53706-1532, USA
| | - Samar Hodeib
- Laboratoire de physique statistique, Département de physique de l'ENS, École normale supérieure, PSL Research University, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France. IBENS, Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Bertrand Ducos
- Laboratoire de physique statistique, Département de physique de l'ENS, École normale supérieure, PSL Research University, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France. IBENS, Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - James L Keck
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53706-1532, USA
| | - Vincent Croquette
- Laboratoire de physique statistique, Département de physique de l'ENS, École normale supérieure, PSL Research University, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France. IBENS, Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
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44
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Burnham DR, Kose HB, Hoyle RB, Yardimci H. The mechanism of DNA unwinding by the eukaryotic replicative helicase. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2159. [PMID: 31089141 PMCID: PMC6517413 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09896-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate DNA replication is tightly regulated in eukaryotes to ensure genome stability during cell division and is performed by the multi-protein replisome. At the core an AAA+ hetero-hexameric complex, Mcm2-7, together with GINS and Cdc45 form the active replicative helicase Cdc45/Mcm2-7/GINS (CMG). It is not clear how this replicative ring helicase translocates on, and unwinds, DNA. We measure real-time dynamics of purified recombinant Drosophila melanogaster CMG unwinding DNA with single-molecule magnetic tweezers. Our data demonstrates that CMG exhibits a biased random walk, not the expected unidirectional motion. Through building a kinetic model we find CMG may enter up to three paused states rather than unwinding, and should these be prevented, in vivo fork rates would be recovered in vitro. We propose a mechanism in which CMG couples ATP hydrolysis to unwinding by acting as a lazy Brownian ratchet, thus providing quantitative understanding of the central process in eukaryotic DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Burnham
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Hazal B Kose
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Rebecca B Hoyle
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Hasan Yardimci
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
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45
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Amiri H, Noller HF. A tandem active site model for the ribosomal helicase. FEBS Lett 2019; 593:1009-1019. [PMID: 30972734 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During protein synthesis, the messenger RNA (mRNA) helicase activity of the ribosome ensures that codons are made single stranded before decoding. Here, based on recent structural and functional findings, a quantitative model is presented for a tandem arrangement of two helicase active sites on the ribosome. A distal site encounters mRNA structures first, one elongation cycle earlier than a proximal site. Although unwinding of encountered mRNA structures past the proximal site is required for translocation, two routes exist for translocation past the distal site: sliding, which requires unwinding, and stick-slip, which does not. The model accounts in detail for a number of findings related to the ribosomal helicase and provides a testable framework to further study mRNA unwinding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Amiri
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of RNA, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Harry F Noller
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of RNA, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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46
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Tomko EJ, Galburt EA. Single-molecule approach for studying RNAP II transcription initiation using magnetic tweezers. Methods 2019; 159-160:35-44. [PMID: 30898685 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The initiation of transcription underlies the ability of cells to modulate genome expression as a function of both internal and external signals and the core process of initiation has features that are shared across all domains of life. Specifically, initiation can be sub-divided into promoter recognition, promoter opening, and promoter escape. However, the molecular players and mechanisms used are significantly different in Eukaryotes and Bacteria. In particular, bacterial initiation requires only the formation of RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme and proceeds as a series of spontaneous conformational changes while eukaryotic initiation requires the formation of the 31-subunit pre-initiation complex (PIC) and often requires ATP hydrolysis by the Ssl2/XPB subunit of the general transcription factor TFIIH. Our mechanistic view of this process in Eukaryotes has recently been improved through a combination of structural and single-molecule approaches which are providing a detailed picture of the structural dynamics that lead to the production of an elongation competent RNAP II and thus, an RNA transcript. Here we provide the methodological details of our single-molecule magnetic tweezers studies of transcription initiation using purified factors from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Tomko
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Eric A Galburt
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, United States.
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47
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Zananiri R, Malik O, Rudnizky S, Gaydar V, Kreiserman R, Henn A, Kaplan A. Synergy between RecBCD subunits is essential for efficient DNA unwinding. eLife 2019; 8:e40836. [PMID: 30601118 PMCID: PMC6338465 DOI: 10.7554/elife.40836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The subunits of the bacterial RecBCD act in coordination, rapidly and processively unwinding DNA at the site of a double strand break. RecBCD is able to displace DNA-binding proteins, suggesting that it generates high forces, but the specific role of each subunit in the force generation is unclear. Here, we present a novel optical tweezers assay that allows monitoring the activity of RecBCD's individual subunits, when they are part of an intact full complex. We show that RecBCD and its subunits are able to generate forces up to 25-40 pN without a significant effect on their velocity. Moreover, the isolated RecD translocates fast but is a weak helicase with limited processivity. Experiments at a broad range of [ATP] and forces suggest that RecD unwinds DNA as a Brownian ratchet, rectified by ATP binding, and that the presence of the other subunits shifts the ratchet equilibrium towards the post-translocation state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Zananiri
- Faculty of BiologyTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Omri Malik
- Faculty of BiologyTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
- Russell Berrie Nanotechnology InstituteTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Sergei Rudnizky
- Faculty of BiologyTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Vera Gaydar
- Faculty of BiologyTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Roman Kreiserman
- Faculty of BiologyTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
- Faculty of PhysicsTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Arnon Henn
- Faculty of BiologyTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Ariel Kaplan
- Faculty of BiologyTechnion – Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
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48
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Byrd AK, Bell MR, Raney KD. Pif1 helicase unfolding of G-quadruplex DNA is highly dependent on sequence and reaction conditions. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:17792-17802. [PMID: 30257865 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to unwinding double-stranded nucleic acids, helicase activity can also unfold noncanonical structures such as G-quadruplexes. We previously characterized Pif1 helicase catalyzed unfolding of parallel G-quadruplex DNA. Here we characterized unfolding of the telomeric G-quadruplex, which can fold into antiparallel and mixed hybrid structures and found significant differences. Telomeric DNA sequences are unfolded more readily than the parallel quadruplex formed by the c-MYC promoter in K+ Furthermore, we found that under conditions in which the telomeric quadruplex is less stable, such as in Na+, Pif1 traps thermally melted quadruplexes in the absence of ATP, leading to the appearance of increased product formation under conditions in which the enzyme is preincubated with the substrate. Stable telomeric G-quadruplex structures were unfolded in a stepwise manner at a rate slower than that of duplex DNA unwinding; however, the slower dissociation from G-quadruplexes compared with duplexes allowed the helicase to traverse more nucleotides than on duplexes. Consistent with this, the rate of ATP hydrolysis on the telomeric quadruplex DNA was reduced relative to that on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), but less quadruplex DNA was needed to saturate ATPase activity. Under single-cycle conditions, telomeric quadruplex was unfolded by Pif1, but for the c-MYC quadruplex, unfolding required multiple helicase molecules loaded onto the adjacent ssDNA. Our findings illustrate that Pif1-catalyzed unfolding of G-quadruplex DNA is highly dependent on the specific sequence and the conditions of the reaction, including both the monovalent cation and the order of addition.
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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
| | - Matthew R Bell
- 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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49
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UPF1-like helicase grip on nucleic acids dictates processivity. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3752. [PMID: 30218034 PMCID: PMC6138625 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06313-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicases are molecular engines which translocate along nucleic acids (NA) to unwind double-strands or remodel NA–protein complexes. While they have an essential role in genome structure and expression, the rules dictating their processivity remain elusive. Here, we developed single-molecule methods to investigate helicase binding lifetime on DNA. We found that UPF1, a highly processive helicase central to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), tightly holds onto NA, allowing long lasting action. Conversely, the structurally similar IGHMBP2 helicase has a short residence time. UPF1 mutants with variable grip on DNA show that grip tightness dictates helicase residence time and processivity. In addition, we discovered via functional studies that a decrease in UPF1 grip impairs NMD efficiency in vivo. Finally, we propose a three-state model with bound, sliding and unbound molecular clips, that can accurately predict the modulation of helicase processivity. UPF1 is a highly processive helicase that plays an essential role in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Here the authors use single molecule binding assays to establish a functionally important relationship between helicase grip to nucleic acids, binding lifetime and the duration of translocation.
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50
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Xie P. A model of DNA unwinding dynamics by the RecBCD complex and its regulation by Chi recognition. J Theor Biol 2018; 448:142-156. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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