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Song K, Li B, Li H, Zhang R, Zhang X, Luan R, Liu Y, Yang L. The Characterization of G-Quadruplexes in Tobacco Genome and Their Function under Abiotic Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4331. [PMID: 38673916 PMCID: PMC11050182 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tobacco is an ideal model plant in scientific research. G-quadruplex is a guanine-rich DNA structure, which regulates transcription and translation. In this study, the prevalence and potential function of G-quadruplexes in tobacco were systematically analyzed. In tobacco genomes, there were 2,924,271,002 G-quadruplexes in the nuclear genome, 430,597 in the mitochondrial genome, and 155,943 in the chloroplast genome. The density of the G-quadruplex in the organelle genome was higher than that in the nuclear genome. G-quadruplexes were abundant in the transcription regulatory region of the genome, and a difference in G-quadruplex density in two DNA strands was also observed. The promoter of 60.4% genes contained at least one G-quadruplex. Compared with up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the G-quadruplex density in down-regulated DEGs was generally higher under drought stress and salt stress. The G-quadruplex formed by simple sequence repeat (SSR) and its flanking sequence in the promoter region of the NtBBX (Nitab4.5_0002943g0010) gene might enhance the drought tolerance of tobacco. This study lays a solid foundation for further research on G-quadruplex function in tobacco and other plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Song
- College of Plant Protection and Agricultural Big-Data Research Center, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (K.S.); (B.L.)
| | - Bin Li
- College of Plant Protection and Agricultural Big-Data Research Center, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (K.S.); (B.L.)
| | - Haozhen Li
- College of Plant Protection and Agricultural Big-Data Research Center, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (K.S.); (B.L.)
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaohua Zhang
- College of Plant Protection and Agricultural Big-Data Research Center, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (K.S.); (B.L.)
| | - Ruiwei Luan
- College of Plant Protection and Agricultural Big-Data Research Center, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (K.S.); (B.L.)
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Ying Liu
- College of Plant Protection and Agricultural Big-Data Research Center, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (K.S.); (B.L.)
| | - Long Yang
- College of Plant Protection and Agricultural Big-Data Research Center, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; (K.S.); (B.L.)
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2
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Fazelifar P, Cucchiarini A, Khoshbin Z, Mergny JL, Kazemi Noureini S. Strong and selective interactions of palmatine with G-rich sequences in TRF2 promoter; experimental and computational studies. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-15. [PMID: 38100552 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2292793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
G-rich sequences have the potential to fold into G-quadruplexes (GQs). G-quadruplexes, particularly those positioned in the regulatory regions of proto-oncogenes, have recently garnered attention in anti-cancer drug design. A thermal FRET assay was employed to conduct preliminary screening of various alkaloids, aiming to identify stronger interactions with a specific set of G-rich double-labeled oligonucleotides in both K + and Na + buffers. These oligonucleotides were derived from regions associated with Kit, Myc, Ceb, Bcl2, human telomeres, and potential G-quadruplex forming sequences found in the Nrf2 and Trf2 promoters. Palmatine generally increased the stability of different G-rich sequences into their folded GQ structures, more or less in a concentration dependent manner. The thermal stability and interaction of palmatine was further studied using transition FRET (t-FRET), CD and UV-visible spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation methods. Palmatine showed the strongest interaction with T RF2 in both K+ and Na+ buffers even at equimolar concentration ratio. T-FRET studies revealed that palmatine has the potential to disrupt double-strand formation by the T RF2 sequence in the presence of its complementary strand. Palmatine exhibits a stronger interaction with G-rich strand DNA, promoting its folding into G-quadruplex structures. It is noteworthy that palmatine exhibits the strongest interaction with T RF2, which is the shortest sequence among the G-rich oligonucleotides studied, featuring only one nucleotide for two of its loops. Palmatine represents a suitable structure for drug design to develop more specific ligands targeting G-quadruplexes. Whether palmatine can also affect the expression of the T RF2 gene requires further studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pegah Fazelifar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Anne Cucchiarini
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Zahra Khoshbin
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
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3
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Chorostecki U, Bologna NG, Ariel F. The plant noncoding transcriptome: a versatile environmental sensor. EMBO J 2023; 42:e114400. [PMID: 37735935 PMCID: PMC10577639 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023114400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant noncoding RNA transcripts have gained increasing attention in recent years due to growing evidence that they can regulate developmental plasticity. In this review article, we comprehensively analyze the relationship between noncoding RNA transcripts in plants and their response to environmental cues. We first provide an overview of the various noncoding transcript types, including long and small RNAs, and how the environment modulates their performance. We then highlight the importance of noncoding RNA secondary structure for their molecular and biological functions. Finally, we discuss recent studies that have unveiled the functional significance of specific long noncoding transcripts and their molecular partners within ribonucleoprotein complexes during development and in response to biotic and abiotic stress. Overall, this review sheds light on the fascinating and complex relationship between dynamic noncoding transcription and plant environmental responses, and highlights the need for further research to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms and exploit the potential of noncoding transcripts for crop resilience in the context of global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uciel Chorostecki
- Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversitat Internacional de CatalunyaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Nicolas G. Bologna
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)CSIC‐IRTA‐UAB‐UBBarcelonaSpain
| | - Federico Ariel
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia del Litoral, CONICET, FBCBUniversidad Nacional del LitoralSanta FeArgentina
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4
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Suhorukova AV, Sobolev DS, Milovskaya IG, Fadeev VS, Goldenkova-Pavlova IV, Tyurin AA. A Molecular Orchestration of Plant Translation under Abiotic Stress. Cells 2023; 12:2445. [PMID: 37887289 PMCID: PMC10605726 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The complexities of translational strategies make this stage of implementing genetic information one of the most challenging to comprehend and, simultaneously, perhaps the most engaging. It is evident that this diverse range of strategies results not only from a long evolutionary history, but is also of paramount importance for refining gene expression and metabolic modulation. This notion is particularly accurate for organisms that predominantly exhibit biochemical and physiological reactions with a lack of behavioural ones. Plants are a group of organisms that exhibit such features. Addressing unfavourable environmental conditions plays a pivotal role in plant physiology. This is particularly evident with the changing conditions of global warming and the irrevocable loss or depletion of natural ecosystems. In conceptual terms, the plant response to abiotic stress comprises a set of elaborate and intricate strategies. This is influenced by a range of abiotic factors that cause stressful conditions, and molecular genetic mechanisms that fine-tune metabolic pathways allowing the plant organism to overcome non-standard and non-optimal conditions. This review aims to focus on the current state of the art in the field of translational regulation in plants under abiotic stress conditions. Different regulatory elements and patterns are being assessed chronologically. We deem it important to focus on significant high-performance techniques for studying the genetic information dynamics during the translation phase.
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5
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Sharma T, Kundu N, Kaur S, Shankaraswamy J, Saxena S. Why to target G-quadruplexes using peptides: Next-generation G4-interacting ligands. J Pept Sci 2023; 29:e3491. [PMID: 37009771 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Guanine-rich oligonucleotides existing in both DNA and RNA are able to fold into four-stranded DNA secondary structures via Hoogsteen type hydrogen-bonding, where four guanines self-assemble into a square planar arrangement, which, when stacked upon each other, results in the formation of higher-order structures called G-quadruplexes. Their distribution is not random; they are more frequently present at telomeres, proto-oncogenic promoters, introns, 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions, stem cell markers, ribosome binding sites and so forth and are associated with various biological functions, all of which play a pivotal role in various incurable diseases like cancer and cellular ageing. Several studies have suggested that G-quadruplexes could not regulate biological processes by themselves; instead, various proteins take part in this regulation and can be important therapeutic targets. There are certain limitations in using whole G4-protein for therapeutics purpose because of its high manufacturing cost, laborious structure prediction, dynamic nature, unavailability for oral administration due to its degradation in the gut and inefficient penetration to reach the target site because of the large size. Hence, biologically active peptides can be the potential candidates for therapeutic intervention instead of the whole G4-protein complex. In this review, we aimed to clarify the biological roles of G4s, how we can identify them throughout the genome via bioinformatics, the proteins interacting with G4s and how G4-interacting peptide molecules may be the potential next-generation ligands for targeting the G4 motifs located in biologically important regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taniya Sharma
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Nikita Kundu
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Sarvpreet Kaur
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Jadala Shankaraswamy
- Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Mojerla, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Budwel, Telangana, India
| | - Sarika Saxena
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
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6
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Pečinka P, Bohálová N, Volná A, Kundrátová K, Brázda V, Bartas M. Analysis of G-Quadruplex-Forming Sequences in Drought Stress-Responsive Genes, and Synthesis Genes of Phenolic Compounds in Arabidopsis thaliana. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:life13010199. [PMID: 36676148 PMCID: PMC9865073 DOI: 10.3390/life13010199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Sequences of nucleic acids with the potential to form four-stranded G-quadruplex structures are intensively studied mainly in the context of human diseases, pathogens, or extremophile organisms; nonetheless, the knowledge about their occurrence and putative role in plants is still limited. This work is focused on G-quadruplex-forming sites in two gene sets of interest: drought stress-responsive genes, and genes related to the production/biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in the model plant organism Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition, 20 housekeeping genes were analyzed as well, where the constitutive gene expression was expected (with no need for precise regulation depending on internal or external factors). The results have shown that none of the tested gene sets differed significantly in the content of G-quadruplex-forming sites, however, the highest frequency of G-quadruplex-forming sites was found in the 5'-UTR regions of phenolic compounds' biosynthesis genes, which indicates the possibility of their regulation at the mRNA level. In addition, mainly within the introns and 1000 bp flanks downstream gene regions, G-quadruplex-forming sites were highly underrepresented. Finally, cluster analysis allowed us to observe similarities between particular genes in terms of their PQS characteristics. We believe that the original approach used in this study may become useful for further and more comprehensive bioinformatic studies in the field of G-quadruplex genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Pečinka
- Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, 70833 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Natália Bohálová
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry and Molecular Oncology, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Adriana Volná
- Department of Physics, University of Ostrava, 70833 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Kundrátová
- Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, 70833 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Brázda
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry and Molecular Oncology, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Bartas
- Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, 70833 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Correspondence:
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7
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Volná A, Bartas M, Nezval J, Pech R, Pečinka P, Špunda V, Červeň J. Beyond the Primary Structure of Nucleic Acids: Potential Roles of Epigenetics and Noncanonical Structures in the Regulations of Plant Growth and Stress Responses. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2642:331-361. [PMID: 36944887 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3044-0_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetics deals with changes in gene expression that are not caused by modifications in the primary sequence of nucleic acids. These changes beyond primary structures of nucleic acids not only include DNA/RNA methylation, but also other reversible conversions, together with histone modifications or RNA interference. In addition, under particular conditions (such as specific ion concentrations or protein-induced stabilization), the right-handed double-stranded DNA helix (B-DNA) can form noncanonical structures commonly described as "non-B DNA" structures. These structures comprise, for example, cruciforms, i-motifs, triplexes, and G-quadruplexes. Their formation often leads to significant differences in replication and transcription rates. Noncanonical RNA structures have also been documented to play important roles in translation regulation and the biology of noncoding RNAs. In human and animal studies, the frequency and dynamics of noncanonical DNA and RNA structures are intensively investigated, especially in the field of cancer research and neurodegenerative diseases. In contrast, noncanonical DNA and RNA structures in plants have been on the fringes of interest for a long time and only a few studies deal with their formation, regulation, and physiological importance for plant stress responses. Herein, we present a review focused on the main fields of epigenetics in plants and their possible roles in stress responses and signaling, with special attention dedicated to noncanonical DNA and RNA structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Volná
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Bartas
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Nezval
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Radomír Pech
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Pečinka
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Špunda
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Červeň
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
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8
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Bowater RP, Brázda V. Impacts of Molecular Structure on Nucleic Acid-Protein Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010407. [PMID: 36613851 PMCID: PMC9820666 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010407] [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: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between nucleic acids and proteins are some of the most important interactions in biology because they are the cornerstones for fundamental biological processes, such as replication, transcription, and recombination [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard P. Bowater
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
- Correspondence: (R.P.B.); (V.B.)
| | - Václav Brázda
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (R.P.B.); (V.B.)
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9
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Falanga AP, Terracciano M, Oliviero G, Roviello GN, Borbone N. Exploring the Relationship between G-Quadruplex Nucleic Acids and Plants: From Plant G-Quadruplex Function to Phytochemical G4 Ligands with Pharmaceutic Potential. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2377. [PMID: 36365194 PMCID: PMC9698481 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex (G4) oligonucleotides are higher-order DNA and RNA secondary structures of enormous relevance due to their implication in several biological processes and pathological states in different organisms. Strategies aiming at modulating human G4 structures and their interrelated functions are first-line approaches in modern research aiming at finding new potential anticancer treatments or G4-based aptamers for various biomedical and biotechnological applications. Plants offer a cornucopia of phytocompounds that, in many cases, are effective in binding and modulating the thermal stability of G4s and, on the other hand, contain almost unexplored G4 motifs in their genome that could inspire new biotechnological strategies. Herein, we describe some G4 structures found in plants, summarizing the existing knowledge of their functions and biological role. Moreover, we review some of the most promising G4 ligands isolated from vegetal sources and report on the known relationships between such phytochemicals and G4-mediated biological processes that make them potential leads in the pharmaceutical sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea P. Falanga
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Monica Terracciano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giorgia Oliviero
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni N. Roviello
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Italian National Council for Research (IBB-CNR), Area di Ricerca site and Headquarters, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Borbone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Italian National Council of Research (ISASI-CNR), Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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10
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Chang T, Li G, Ding Z, Li W, Zhu P, Lei W, Shangguan D. Potential G-quadruplexes within the Promoter Nuclease Hypersensitive Sites of the Heat-responsive Genes in Rice. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200405. [PMID: 36006168 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200405] [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: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) have been shown to be involved in the regulation of multiple cellular processes. Exploring putative G4-forming sequences (PQSs) in heat-responsive genes of rice and their folding structures under different conditions will help to understand the mechanism in response to heat stress. In this work, we discovered a prevalence of PQSs in nuclease hypersensitive sites within the promoters of heat-responsive genes. Moreover, 50% of the searched G3 PQSs ((G3+L1-7)3+G3+) locate in heat shock transcription factors. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, thermal difference spectroscopy, and UV melting analysis demonstrated the representative PQSs could adopt stable G4s at physiological temperature and potassium concentration. These PQSs were able to stall Klenow Fragment (KF) DNA polymerase by the formation of G4s. However, the G4s with Tm values around 50 - 60 oC could be increasingly unwound by KF with the increase of temperatures from 25 to 50 oC, implying these G4s could sense the changes in temperature by structural switch. This work offers fresh clue to understand the potential of G4-involved functions of PQSs and the molecular events in plants in the response to heat stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianjun Chang
- Henan Polytechnic University, Institute of Enveiroment and Resoures, 2001 Shiji Avenue, 454003, Jiaozuo, CHINA
| | - Guangping Li
- Henan Polytechnic University, Institute of Resources and Environment, CHINA
| | - Zhan Ding
- Henan Polytechnic University, Institute of Resources and Environment, CHINA
| | - Weiguo Li
- Henan Polytechnic University, Institute of Resources and Environment, CHINA
| | - Panpan Zhu
- Henan Polytechnic University, Institute of Resources and Environment, CHINA
| | - Wei Lei
- Henan Polytechnic University, Institute of Resources and Environment, CHINA
| | - Dihua Shangguan
- Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Labor-atory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, CAS Re-search/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, CHINA
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11
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Dobrovolná M, Bohálová N, Peška V, Wang J, Luo Y, Bartas M, Volná A, Mergny JL, Brázda V. The Newly Sequenced Genome of Pisum sativum Is Replete with Potential G-Quadruplex-Forming Sequences-Implications for Evolution and Biological Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8482. [PMID: 35955617 PMCID: PMC9369095 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) have been long considered rare and physiologically unimportant in vitro curiosities, but recent methodological advances have proved their presence and functions in vivo. Moreover, in addition to their functional relevance in bacteria and animals, including humans, their importance has been recently demonstrated in evolutionarily distinct plant species. In this study, we analyzed the genome of Pisum sativum (garden pea, or the so-called green pea), a unique member of the Fabaceae family. Our results showed that this genome contained putative G4 sequences (PQSs). Interestingly, these PQSs were located nonrandomly in the nuclear genome. We also found PQSs in mitochondrial (mt) and chloroplast (cp) DNA, and we experimentally confirmed G4 formation for sequences found in these two organelles. The frequency of PQSs for nuclear DNA was 0.42 PQSs per thousand base pairs (kbp), in the same range as for cpDNA (0.53/kbp), but significantly lower than what was found for mitochondrial DNA (1.58/kbp). In the nuclear genome, PQSs were mainly associated with regulatory regions, including 5'UTRs, and upstream of the rRNA region. In contrast to genomic DNA, PQSs were located around RNA genes in cpDNA and mtDNA. Interestingly, PQSs were also associated with specific transposable elements such as TIR and LTR and around them, pointing to their role in their spreading in nuclear DNA. The nonrandom localization of PQSs uncovered their evolutionary and functional significance in the Pisum sativum genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Dobrovolná
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Natália Bohálová
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vratislav Peška
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CEDEX, 91128 Palaiseau, France; (J.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yu Luo
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CEDEX, 91128 Palaiseau, France; (J.W.); (Y.L.)
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, CEDEX, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Martin Bartas
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic;
| | - Adriana Volná
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic;
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CEDEX, 91128 Palaiseau, France; (J.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Václav Brázda
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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12
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Searching for G-Quadruplex-Binding Proteins in Plants: New Insight into Possible G-Quadruplex Regulation. BIOTECH 2021; 10:biotech10040020. [PMID: 35822794 PMCID: PMC9245464 DOI: 10.3390/biotech10040020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes are four-stranded nucleic acid structures occurring in the genomes of all living organisms and viruses. It is increasingly evident that these structures play important molecular roles; generally, by modulating gene expression and overall genome integrity. For a long period, G-quadruplexes have been studied specifically in the context of human promoters, telomeres, and associated diseases (cancers, neurological disorders). Several of the proteins for binding G-quadruplexes are known, providing promising targets for influencing G-quadruplex-related processes in organisms. Nonetheless, in plants, only a small number of G-quadruplex binding proteins have been described to date. Thus, we aimed to bioinformatically inspect the available protein sequences to find the best protein candidates with the potential to bind G-quadruplexes. Two similar glycine and arginine-rich G-quadruplex-binding motifs were described in humans. The first is the so-called “RGG motif”-RRGDGRRRGGGGRGQGGRGRGGGFKG, and the second (which has been recently described) is known as the “NIQI motif”-RGRGRGRGGGSGGSGGRGRG. Using this general knowledge, we searched for plant proteins containing the above mentioned motifs, using two independent approaches (BLASTp and FIMO scanning), and revealed many proteins containing the G4-binding motif(s). Our research also revealed the core proteins involved in G4 folding and resolving in green plants, algae, and the key plant model organism, Arabidopsis thaliana. The discovered protein candidates were annotated using STRINGdb and sorted by their molecular and physiological roles in simple schemes. Our results point to the significant role of G4-binding proteins in the regulation of gene expression in plants.
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