Single molecule analysis of Thermus thermophilus SSB protein dynamics on single-stranded DNA

A real-time fluorescent gp32 probe-based assay for monitoring single-stranded DNA-dependent DNA processing enzymes

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) generated during DNA replication, recombination and damage repair reactions is an important intermediate and ssDNA-binding proteins that binds these intermediates coordinate various DNA metabolic processes. Mechanistic details of these ssDNA-dependent processes can be explored by monitoring the generation and consumption of ssDNA in real time. In this work, a fluorescein-labeled gp32-based sensor was employed to continuously monitor various aspects of ssDNA-dependent DNA replication and recombination processes in real time. The gp32 protein probe displayed high sensitivity and specificity to a variety of ssDNA-dependent processes of T4 phage. Several applications of the probe are illustrated here: the solution dynamics of ssDNA-binding protein, protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions involving gp32 protein and its mode of interaction, ssDNA translocation and protein displacement activities of helicases, primer extension activity of DNA polymerase holoenzyme and nucleoprotein filament formation during DNA recombination. The assay has identified new protein-protein interactions of gp32 during T4 replication and recombination. The fluorescent probe described here can thus be used as a universal probe for monitoring in real time various ssDNA-dependent processes, which is based on a well-characterized and easy-to-express bacteriophage T4 gene 32 protein, gp32.

Unravelling How Single-Stranded DNA Binding Protein Coordinates DNA Metabolism Using Single-Molecule Approaches

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.

Small Prokaryotic DNA-Binding Proteins Protect Genome Integrity throughout the Life Cycle

Genomes of all organisms are persistently threatened by endogenous and exogenous assaults. Bacterial mechanisms of genome maintenance must provide protection throughout the physiologically distinct phases of the life cycle. Spore-forming bacteria must also maintain genome integrity within the dormant endospore. The nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) influence nucleoid organization and may alter DNA topology to protect DNA or to alter gene expression patterns. NAPs are characteristically multifunctional; nevertheless, Dps, HU and CbpA are most strongly associated with DNA protection. Archaea display great variety in genome organization and many inhabit extreme environments. As of yet, only MC1, an archaeal NAP, has been shown to protect DNA against thermal denaturation and radiolysis. ssDNA are intermediates in vital cellular processes, such as DNA replication and recombination. Single-stranded binding proteins (SSBs) prevent the formation of secondary structures but also protect the hypersensitive ssDNA against chemical and nuclease degradation. Ionizing radiation upregulates SSBs in the extremophile Deinococcus radiodurans.

Effects of Conserved Wedge Domain Residues on DNA Binding Activity of Deinococcus radiodurans RecG Helicase

Deinococcus radiodurans is extremely resistant to ionizing radiation and has an exceptional ability to repair DNA damage caused by various DNA-damaging agents. D. radiodurans uses the same DNA-repair strategies as other prokaryotes, but certain proteins involved in the classical DNA repair machinery have characteristics different from their counterparts. RecG helicase, which unwinds a variety of branched DNA molecules, such as Holliday junctions (HJ) and D-loops, plays important roles in DNA repair, recombination, and replication. Primary sequence analysis of RecG from a number of bacterial species revealed that three amino acids (QPW) in the DNA-binding wedge domain (WD) are well-conserved across the Deinococcus RecG proteins. Interactions involving these conserved residues and DNA substrates were predicted in modeled domain structures of D. radiodurans RecG (DrRecG). Compared to the WD of Escherichia coli RecG protein (EcRecG) containing FSA amino acids corresponding to QPW in DrRecG, the HJ binding activity of DrRecG-WD was higher than that of EcRecG-WD. Reciprocal substitution of FSA and QPW increased and decreased the HJ binding activity of the mutant WDs, EcRecG-WD_QPW, and DrRecG-WD_FSA, respectively. Following γ-irradiation treatment, the reduced survival rate of DrRecG mutants (ΔrecG) was fully restored by the expression of DrRecG, but not by that of EcRecG. EcRecG_QPW also enhanced γ-radioresistance of ΔrecG, whereas DrRecG_FSA did not. ΔrecG cells complemented in trans by DrRecG and EcRecG_QPW reconstituted an intact genome within 3 h post-irradiation, as did the wild-type strain, but ΔrecG with EcRecG and DrRecG_FSA exhibited a delay in assembly of chromosomal fragments induced by γ-irradiation. These results suggested that the QPW residues facilitate the association of DrRecG with DNA junctions, thereby enhancing the DNA repair efficiency of DrRecG.

The Essential, Ubiquitous Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Proteins

Maintenance of genomes is fundamental for all living organisms. The diverse processes related to genome maintenance entail the management of various intermediate structures, which may be deleterious if unresolved. The most frequent intermediate structures that result from the melting of the DNA duplex are single-stranded (ss) DNA stretches. These are thermodynamically less stable and can spontaneously fold into secondary structures, which may obstruct a variety of genome processes. In addition, ssDNA is more prone to breaking, which may lead to the formation of deletions or DNA degradation. Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) bind and stabilize ssDNA, preventing the abovementioned deleterious consequences and recruiting the appropriate machinery to resolve that intermediate molecule. They are present in all forms of life and are essential for their viability, with very few exceptions. Here we present an introductory chapter to a volume of the Methods in Molecular Biology dedicated to SSBs, in which we provide a general description of SSBs from various taxa.

Mechanism of Dynamic Binding of Replication Protein A to ssDNA

Replication protein A (RPA) serves as a hub protein inside eukaryotic cells, where it coordinates crucial DNA metabolic processes and activates the DNA-damage response system. A characteristic feature of its action is to associate with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) intermediates before handing them over to downstream proteins. The length of ssDNA intermediates differs for different pathways. This means that RPA must have mechanisms for selective processing of ssDNA intermediates based on their length, the knowledge of which is fundamental to elucidate when and how DNA repair and replication processes are symphonized. By employing extensive molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the mechanism of binding of RPA to ssDNA of different lengths. We show that the binding involves dynamic equilibrium with a stable intermediate, the population of which increases with the length of ssDNA. The vital underlying factors are decoded through collective variable principal component analysis. It suggests a differently orchestrated set of interactions that define the action of RPA based on the length of ssDNA intermediates. We further estimated the association kinetics that matches excellently well with previous experimental studies and probed the diffusion mechanism of RPA to ssDNA. RPA diffuses on short ssDNA through progressive "bulge" formation. With long ssDNA, we observed a conformational change in ssDNA coupled with its binding to RPA in a cooperative fashion. This unanticipated binding mechanism successfully explains how the "short-lived", long ssDNA intermediates are processed quickly in vivo. This study thus reveals the molecular basis of several recent experimental observations related to RPA binding to ssDNA and provides novel insights into the RPA functioning in DNA repair and replication.

Dynamic structural insights into the molecular mechanism of DNA unwinding by the bacteriophage T7 helicase

The hexametric T7 helicase (gp4) adopts a spiral lock-washer form and encircles a coil-like DNA (tracking) strand with two nucleotides bound to each subunit. However, the chemo-mechanical coupling mechanism in unwinding has yet to be elucidated. Here, we utilized nanotensioner-enhanced Förster resonance energy transfer with one nucleotide precision to investigate gp4-induced unwinding of DNA that contains an abasic lesion. We observed that the DNA unwinding activity of gp4 is hindered but not completely blocked by abasic lesions. Gp4 moves back and forth repeatedly when it encounters an abasic lesion, whereas it steps back only occasionally when it unwinds normal DNA. We further observed that gp4 translocates on the tracking strand in step sizes of one to four nucleotides. We propose that a hypothetical intermediate conformation of the gp4-DNA complex during DNA unwinding can help explain how gp4 molecules pass lesions, providing insights into the unwinding dynamics of gp4.

Biosensors for Detection of Human Placental Pathologies: A Review of Emerging Technologies and Current Trends

Substantial growth in the biosensor research has enabled novel, sensitive and point-of-care diagnosis of human diseases in the last decade. This paper presents an overview of the research in the field of biosensors that can potentially predict and diagnosis of common placental pathologies. A survey of biomarkers in maternal circulation and their characterization methods is presented, including markers of oxidative stress, angiogenic factors, placental debris, and inflammatory biomarkers that are associated with various pathophysiological processes in the context of pregnancy complications. Novel biosensors enabled by microfluidics technology and nanomaterials is then reviewed. Representative designs of plasmonic and electrochemical biosensors for highly sensitive and multiplexed detection of biomarkers, as well as on-chip sample preparation and sensing for automatic biomarker detection are illustrated. New trends in organ-on-a-chip based placental disease models are highlighted to illustrate the capability of these in vitro disease models in better understanding the complex pathophysiological processes, including mass transfer across the placental barrier, oxidative stress, inflammation, and malaria infection. Biosensor technologies that can be potentially embedded in the placental models for real time, label-free monitoring of these processes and events are suggested. Merger of cell culture in microfluidics and biosensing can provide significant potential for new developments in advanced placental models, and tools for diagnosis, drug screening and efficacy testing.

Single-stranded binding proteins and helicase enhance the activity of prokaryotic argonautes in vitro

Prokaryotic argonautes are a unique class of nucleic acid-guided endonucleases putatively involved in cellular defense against foreign genetic elements. While their eukaryotic homologs and Cas protein counterparts require single-stranded RNAs as guides, some prokaryotic argonautes are able to utilize short single-stranded DNAs as guides for sequence-specific endonuclease activity. Many complications currently prevent the use of prokaryotic argonautes for in vivo gene-editing applications; however, they do exhibit potential as a new class of in vitro molecular tools if certain challenges can be overcome, specifically the limitations on substrate accessibility which leads to unequal levels of activity across a broad palate of substrates and the inability to act on double-stranded DNA substrates. Here we demonstrate the use of accessory factors, including thermostable single-stranded DNA binding proteins and UvrD-like helicase, in conjunction with prokaryotic argonautes to significantly improve enzymatic activity and enable functionality with a broader range of substrates, including linear double-stranded DNA substrates. We also demonstrate the use of Thermus thermophilus argonaute with accessory factors as a programmable restriction enzyme to generate long, unique single-stranded overhangs from linear double-stranded substrates compatible with downstream ligation.

Crystal Structure of an Unusual Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein Encoded by Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Elements

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a global public health threat. Methicillin resistance is carried on mobile genetic elements belonging to the staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) family. The molecular mechanisms that SCC elements exploit for stable maintenance and for horizontal transfer are poorly understood. Previously, we identified several conserved SCC genes with putative functions in DNA replication, including lp1413, which we found encodes a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein. We report here the 2.18 Å crystal structure of LP1413, which shows that it adopts a winged helix-turn-helix fold rather than the OB-fold normally seen in replication-related ssDNA-binding proteins. However, conserved residues form a hydrophobic pocket not normally found in winged helix-turn-helix domains. LP1413 also has a conserved but disordered C-terminal tail. As deletion of the tail does not significantly affect cooperative binding to ssDNA, we propose that it mediates interactions with other proteins. LP1413 could play several different roles in vivo.

The impact of base stacking on the conformations and electrostatics of single-stranded DNA

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is notable for its interactions with ssDNA binding proteins (SSBs) during fundamentally important biological processes including DNA repair and replication. Previous work has begun to characterize the conformational and electrostatic properties of ssDNA in association with SSBs. However, the conformational distributions of free ssDNA have been difficult to determine. To capture the vast array of ssDNA conformations in solution, we pair small angle X-ray scattering with novel ensemble fitting methods, obtaining key parameters such as the size, shape and stacking character of strands with different sequences. Complementary ion counting measurements using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy are employed to determine the composition of the ion atmosphere at physiological ionic strength. Applying this combined approach to poly dA and poly dT, we find that the global properties of these sequences are very similar, despite having vastly different propensities for single-stranded helical stacking. These results suggest that a relatively simple mechanism for the binding of ssDNA to non-specific SSBs may be at play, which explains the disparity in binding affinities observed for these systems.

Effects of Replication and Transcription on DNA Structure-Related Genetic Instability

Many repetitive sequences in the human genome can adopt conformations that differ from the canonical B-DNA double helix (i.e., non-B DNA), and can impact important biological processes such as DNA replication, transcription, recombination, telomere maintenance, viral integration, transposome activation, DNA damage and repair. Thus, non-B DNA-forming sequences have been implicated in genetic instability and disease development. In this article, we discuss the interactions of non-B DNA with the replication and/or transcription machinery, particularly in disease states (e.g., tumors) that can lead to an abnormal cellular environment, and how such interactions may alter DNA replication and transcription, leading to potential conflicts at non-B DNA regions, and eventually result in genetic stability and human disease.

Fluorescence fluctuation of an antigen-antibody complex: circular dichroism, FCS and smFRET of enhanced GFP and its antibody

The structure and dynamics of an antigen-antibody complex are monitored by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and single molecule FRET (smFRET). In this work, the antigen is enhanced GFP (EGFP) and the antibody is anti-EGFP VHH-His6. From FCS measurements, the hydrodynamic radius (rH) of EGFP and its antibody (VHH-His6) is found to be 24 ± 2 Å and 18 ± 2 Å, respectively. For the antigen-antibody complex (EGFP:anti-EGFP VHH-His6), rH is 41 ± 3 Å. CD spectra indicate that the addition of guanidium hydrochloride (GdnHCl) causes unfolding of the antigen, its antibody and their complex, and a consequent increase in size is observed from FCS data. smFRET between EGFP (donor, D) and Alexa 594 (acceptor, A) bound to anti-EGFP VHH-His6 reveals a time dependent fluctuation in donor-acceptor distances. This suggests that the structure of the antigen-antibody complex is dynamic in nature and is not rigid.

Determination of cell metabolite VEGF₁₆₅ and dynamic analysis of protein-DNA interactions by combination of microfluidic technique and luminescent switch-on probe

In this paper, we rationally design a novel G-quadruplex-selective luminescent iridium (III) complex for rapid detection of oligonucleotide and VEGF165 in microfluidics. This new probe is applied as a convenient biosensor for label-free quantitative analysis of VEGF165 protein from cell metabolism, as well as for studying the kinetics of the aptamer-protein interaction combination with a microfluidic platform. As a result, we have successfully established a quantitative analysis of VEGF165 from cell metabolism. Furthermore, based on the principles of hydrodynamic focusing and diffusive mixing, different transient states during kinetics process were monitored and recorded. Thus, the combination of microfluidic technique and G-quadruplex luminescent probe will be potentially applied in the studies of intramolecular interactions and molecule recognition in the future.

Binding dynamics of a monomeric SSB protein to DNA: a single-molecule multi-process approach

Single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSBs) are ubiquitous across all organisms and are characterized by the presence of an OB (oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide/oligopeptide) binding motif to recognize single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Despite their critical role in genome maintenance, our knowledge about SSB function is limited to proteins containing multiple OB-domains and little is known about single OB-folds interacting with ssDNA. Sulfolobus solfataricus SSB (SsoSSB) contains a single OB-fold and being the simplest representative of the SSB-family may serve as a model to understand fundamental aspects of SSB:DNA interactions. Here, we introduce a novel approach based on the competition between Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), protein-induced fluorescence enhancement (PIFE) and quenching to dissect SsoSSB binding dynamics at single-monomer resolution. We demonstrate that SsoSSB follows a monomer-by-monomer binding mechanism that involves a positive-cooperativity component between adjacent monomers. We found that SsoSSB dynamic behaviour is closer to that of Replication Protein A than to Escherichia coli SSB; a feature that might be inherited from the structural analogies of their DNA-binding domains. We hypothesize that SsoSSB has developed a balance between high-density binding and a highly dynamic interaction with ssDNA to ensure efficient protection of the genome but still allow access to ssDNA during vital cellular processes.

Real-time submillisecond single-molecule FRET dynamics of freely diffusing molecules with liposome tethering

Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is one of the powerful techniques for deciphering the dynamics of unsynchronized biomolecules. However, smFRET is limited in its temporal resolution for observing dynamics. Here, we report a novel method for observing real-time dynamics with submillisecond resolution by tethering molecules to freely diffusing 100-nm-sized liposomes. The observation time for a diffusing molecule is extended to 100 ms with a submillisecond resolution, which allows for direct analysis of the transition states from the FRET time trace using hidden Markov modelling. We measure transition rates of up to 1,500 s^–1 between two conformers of a Holliday junction. The rapid diffusional migration of Deinococcus radiodurans single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) on single-stranded DNA is resolved by FRET, faster than that of Escherichia coli SSB by an order of magnitude. Our approach is a powerful method for studying the dynamics and movements of biomolecules at submillisecond resolution.

Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer is widely used to probe biomolecular dynamics, but is limited by its temporal resolution. Here, Kim et al. push the limit to submillisecond for the duration of tens of milliseconds by tethering target molecules to liposomes in buffer solutions.

Molecular determinants of the interactions between proteins and ssDNA

ssDNA binding proteins (SSBs) protect ssDNA from chemical and enzymatic assault that can derail DNA processing machinery. Complexes between SSBs and ssDNA are often highly stable, but predicting their structures is challenging, mostly because of the inherent flexibility of ssDNA and the geometric and energetic complexity of the interfaces that it forms. Here, we report a newly developed coarse-grained model to predict the structure of SSB-ssDNA complexes. The model is successfully applied to predict the binding modes of six SSBs with ssDNA strands of lengths of 6-65 nt. In addition to charge-charge interactions (which are often central to governing protein interactions with nucleic acids by means of electrostatic complementarity), an essential energetic term to predict SSB-ssDNA complexes is the interactions between aromatic residues and DNA bases. For some systems, flexibility is required from not only the ssDNA but also, the SSB to allow it to undergo conformational changes and the penetration of the ssDNA into its binding pocket. The association mechanisms can be quite varied, and in several cases, they involve the ssDNA sliding along the protein surface. The binding mechanism suggests that coarse-grained models are appropriate to study the motion of SSBs along ssDNA, which is expected to be central to the function carried out by the SSBs.

Direct observation of the growth and shrinkage of microtubules by single molecule Förster resonance energy transfer

Single molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) has been applied to monitor the growth and the shrinkage of the dynamic microtubules.

Diffusion of human replication protein A along single-stranded DNA

Replication protein A (RPA) is a eukaryotic single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein that plays critical roles in most aspects of genome maintenance, including replication, recombination and repair. RPA binds ssDNA with high affinity, destabilizes DNA secondary structure and facilitates binding of other proteins to ssDNA. However, RPA must be removed from or redistributed along ssDNA during these processes. To probe the dynamics of RPA-DNA interactions, we combined ensemble and single-molecule fluorescence approaches to examine human RPA (hRPA) diffusion along ssDNA and find that an hRPA heterotrimer can diffuse rapidly along ssDNA. Diffusion of hRPA is functional in that it provides the mechanism by which hRPA can transiently disrupt DNA hairpins by diffusing in from ssDNA regions adjacent to the DNA hairpin. hRPA diffusion was also monitored by the fluctuations in fluorescence intensity of a Cy3 fluorophore attached to the end of ssDNA. Using a novel method to calibrate the Cy3 fluorescence intensity as a function of hRPA position on the ssDNA, we estimate a one-dimensional diffusion coefficient of hRPA on ssDNA of D1~5000nt(2) s(-1) at 37°C. Diffusion of hRPA while bound to ssDNA enables it to be readily repositioned to allow other proteins access to ssDNA.