Solution-state structure of the Dewar pyrimidinone photoproduct of thymidylyl-(3'----5')-thymidine

The preparation, spectroscopic investigation, structure determination, conformational analysis, and modeling of the Dewar pyrimidinone photoproduct of thymidylyl-(3'----5')-thymidine, previously referred to as TpT3 [Johns, H. E., Pearson, M. L., LeBlanc, J. C., & Heilleiner, C. W. (1964) J. Mol. Biol. 9, 503-524], is described. TpT3 was prepared in quantitative yield by photolysis of an aqueous solution of the (6-4) photoproduct of TpT with Pyrex-filtered medium-pressure mercury arc light. TpT3 was analyzed by FAB MS, IR, UV, and 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The spectroscopic data led to the conclusion that TpT3 results from the photoisomerization of the pyrimidinone ring of the (6-4) product of TpT to its Dewar valence isomer. Torsion angle and interproton distance information derived from coupling constants and NOE data was used to constrain ring conformation searches by utilizing the SYBYL molecular modeling program subroutine SEARCH. Sets of angles derived from the ring search procedure were then used to construct structures whose geometries were optimized by the energy-minimization subroutine MAXIMIN. A two-state model for the solution-state structure of the Dewar photoproduct was chosen which was energetically sound, fit the experimental coupling constants with an RMS deviation of 1.15 Hz, and was consistent with the NOE data. The model for the Dewar photoproduct was compared to a model for the (6-4) photoproduct and the TpT subunits of the Dickerson dodecamer structure by a least-squares fitting procedure. It was concluded that the Dewar photoproduct more closely resembles a B-form TpT unit than does the (6-4) photoproduct.     

Ultraviolet irradiation of nucleic acids: formation, purification, and solution conformational analyses of oligothymidylates containing cis-syn photodimers

Acetone-photosensitized UV irradiation of three thymine oligomers, d(TpT), d(TpTpT), and d(TpTpTpT), forms predominantly cis-syn cyclobutyl photodimers. C-18 reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is used to purify the following positional isomers: d(TpT[p]T), d(T[p]TpT), d(TpTpT[p]T), d(TpT[p]TpT), d(T[p]TpTpT), and d(T[p]TpT[p]T), where T[p]T represents the cis-syn photodimer. Conformational properties of the cis-syn dimers and adjacent thymine nucleotides have been investigated in solution by using 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. These studies show that (1) the photodimer conformation in longer oligothymidylates is similar to that in the dinucleoside monophosphate and (2) the cis-syn dimer induces alterations to a greater degree on the 5' side than on the 3' side of the photodimer. Specifically, the photodimer distorts the exocyclic bonds epsilon(C3'-O3') in Tp- and gamma(C5'-C4') in -pT[p]- on the 5' side and slightly alters the furanose equilibrium of the -pT nucleotide on the 3' side of the dimer.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of cis-syn, trans-syn, and 6-4 photodimers of thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine monophosphate and cis-syn photodimers of thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine cyanoethyl phosphotriester

Three out of four possible photodimers of thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine monophosphates (i.e., cis-syn, 6-4, and one of the trans-syn) and two structural isomers (i.e., R and S forms) of cis-syn-thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine cyanoethyl phosphotriester have been isolated and purified from the reaction mixtures after UV irradiation and studied by multinuclear magnetic resonance Spectroscopy. All five inter thymine base linked photodimers have grossly similar structures which are quite different from those of the parent thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine. The base of Tp- is in the syn conformation, and that of -pT it is in the anti conformation. The sugar puckering of Tp- is dominated by the 2E conformer, but in -pT it is in 4E; except for the conformer around C5'-O5' bond, the 6-4 isomer is very similar to those of cis-syn and trans-syn conformation. As expected, there are sugar-phosphate backbone distortions in the phosphotriesters, due to the neutralization of the negative charge of the phosphate. In general the structures of all five photodimers are very close to those of the cis-syn photodimer of thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine monophosphate cyanoethyl ester as studied by X-ray diffraction [Cadet, J., Voituriez, L., Hruska, F. E., & Grand, A. (1985) Biopolymers 24, 897-903; Hruska, F. E., Voituriez, L., Grand, A., & Cadet, J. (1986) Biopolymers 25, 1401-1417]. While the trans-syn photodimer has two structural isomers, only one [C6(of Tp-)-R] was produced by the UV irradiation and studied.     

An oligodeoxyribonucleotide N3'--> P5' phosphoramidate duplex forms an A-type helix in solution.

The solution conformations of the dinucleotide d(TT) and the modified duplex d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2 with N3'--> P5' phosphoramidate internucleoside linkages have been studied using circular dichroism (CD) and NMR spectroscopy. The CD spectra indicate that the duplex conformation is similar to that of isosequential phosphodiester RNA, a A-type helix, and is different from that of DNA, a B-type helix, NMR studies of model dimers d(TpT) and N3'--> P5' phosphoramidate d(TnpT) show that the sugar ring conformation changes from predominantly C2'-endo to C3'-endo when the 3'-phosphoester is replaced by a phosphoramidate group. Two-dimensional NMR (NOESY, DQF-COSY and TOCSY spectra) studies of the duplex provide additional details about the A-type duplex conformation of the oligonucleotide phosphoramidate and confirm that all furanose rings of 3'-aminonucleotides adopt predominantly N-type sugar puckering.     

The structure and antiviral activity of ribavirin analogs. I. Molecular and crystal structure of 1-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-1,2,4-triazole-5-carboxamide

The crystal and molecular structures of the antiviral compound 1-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-1,2,4-triazole-5-carboxamide has been determined by the X-ray diffraction method. The space group is P2i/c, unit cell parameters a = 4,381, b = 18,679, c = 10,776 A, beta = 107,40 degrees, Z = 4. The structure was solved by the direct method and refined by a full-matrix least-squares procedure to R = 4.9%. Two planar groups of atoms can be distinguished in the molecule. The first group involves the atoms of triazole ring, C6, and C1', the second one contains C5, C6, O6 and N6 atoms. The angle between these planes is 5.6 degrees. The carboxyamide group is rotated by 180 degrees in comparison with this group in ribavirin. That is why the intramolecular hydrogen bond C1'-H1'. 1...O6 can form. Torsion angle O5'-C5'-C4'-O4' is 73.9 degrees and it corresponds to gauche-rotamer. The conformation about O4'-C4' bond is trans. The C1'-C4' bond is approximately perpendicular to the aglycone.     

Conformational properties of branched RNA fragments in aqueous solution

The conformational properties of branched trinucleoside diphosphates ACC, ACG, AGC, AGG, AUU, AGU, AUG, ATT, GUU, and aAUU [XYZ = X(2'p5'Y)3'p5'Z] have been studied in aqueous solution by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H, 13C), ultraviolet absorption, and circular dichroism. It is concluded from these studies that the purine ring of the central residue (X; e.g., adenosine) forms a base-base stack exclusively with the purine or pyrimidine ring of the 2'-nucleotidyl unit (Y; 2'-residue). The residue attached to the central nucleoside via the 3'-5'-linkage (Z; 3'-residue) is "free" from the influence of the other two heterocyclic rings. The ribose rings of the central nucleoside and the 2'- and 3'-residues exist as equilibrium mixtures of C2'-endo (2E)-C3'-endo (3E) conformers. The furanose ring of the central nucleoside (e.g., A) when linked to a pyrimidine nucleoside via the 2'-5'-linkage shows a higher preference for the 2E pucker conformation (e.g., AUG, AUU, ACG, ca. 80%) than those linked to a guanosine nucleoside through the same type of bond (AGU, AGG, AGC, ca. 70%). This indicates some correlation between nucleotide sequence and ribose conformational equilibrium. The 2E-3E equilibrium of 2'-pyrimidines (Y) shows significant, sometimes exclusive, preference (70-100%) for the 3E conformation; 3'-pyrimidines and 2'-guanosines have nearly equal 2E and 3E rotamer populations; and the ribose conformational equilibrium of 3'-guanosines shows a preference (60-65%) for the 2E pucker. Conformational properties were quantitatively evaluated for most of the bonds (C4'-C5', C5'-O5', C2'-O2', and C3'-O3') in the branched "trinucleotides" AUU and AGG by analysis of 1H-1H, 1H-31P, and 13C-31P coupling constants. The C4'-C5' bond of the adenosine units shows a significant preference for the gamma + conformation. The dominant conformation about C4'-C5' and C5'-O5' for the 2'-and 3'-nucleotidyl units is gamma + and beta t, respectively, with larger gamma + and beta t rotamer populations for the 2'-unit. The increased conformational purity in the 2'-residue, compared to the 3'-residue, is ascribed to the presence of an ordered (adenine----2'-residue) stacked state. The favored rotamers about C3'-O3' and C2'-O2' are epsilon- and epsilon'-, respectively. The conformational features of AUU and AGG were compared to those of their constitutive dimers A3'p5'G, A2'p5'G, A3'p5'U, and A2'p5'U and monomers 5'pG and 5'pU.     

The effect of (2''-5'') and (3''-5'') phosphodiester linkages on conformational and stacking properties of cytidylyl-cytidine in aqueous solution.

Conformational properties of (2'-5') and (3'-5') CpC have been determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 220 MHz. The ribose ring structures are predominantly 3E with the exception of the ring from the 2'-phosphate fragment of C(2'-5')pC which exhibits an 2E pucker. Bases are oriented anti with respect to the ribose and the conformations about C4'-C5', C5'-O5', C3'-O3' (C2'-O2') are gg, g'g', and g+ in equilibrium g-, respectively. The dimers exist as mixtures of stacked (g+g+ and g-g- about the P-O(C) bonds) and unstacked species at 20 degrees C. Stacking is estimated to be 35% in both dimers.     

The structure and antiviral activity of ribavirin analogs. III. Molecular and crystal structure of 1-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-1,2,4-triazole-carboxamide

The crystal and molecular structure of a ribavirin acyclic analogue, 1-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide, has been determined by X-ray diffraction method. The space group is P1, unit cell parameters: a = 5,237, b = 6,960, c = 11,483 A, alpha = 93,89, beta = 97,43, gamma = 94,26 degrees; Z = 2. The structure was solved by the direct method and refined by least-squares procedure to R = 3.7%. Two molecular conformers statistically coexist in the unit cell, differing in the hydroxyethoxymethyl group conformation. Trans-conformation about O4'-C4' bond and gauche about C4'-C5' bond are observed in both molecules. C1'-O4' bond is approximately perpendicular to the aglicon.     

The occurence of the syn-C3' endo conformation and the distorted backbone conformations for C4'-C5' and P-O5' in oligo and polynucleotides.

The nucleoside constituents of nucleic acids prefer the anti conformation (1). When the sugar pucker is taken into account the nucleosides prefer the C2'endo-anti conformation. Of the nearly 300 nucleosides known, about 250 are in the anti conformation and 50 are in the syn-conformation, i.e., anti to syn conformation is 5:1. The nucleotide building blocks of nucleic acids show the same trend as nucleosides. Both the deoxy-guanosine and riboguanosine residues in nucleosides and nucleotides prefer the syn-C2'endo conformation with an intra-molecular hydrogen bond (for nucleosides) between the O5'-H and the N3 of the base and, a few syn-C3'endo conformations are also observed. Evidence is presented for the occurrence of the C3'endo-syn conformation for guanines in mis-paired double helical right-handed structures with the distorted sugar phosphate C4'-C5' and P-O5' bonds respectively, from g+ (gg) and g- to trans. Evidence is also provided for guanosine nucleotides in left-handed double-helical (Z-DNA) oligo and polynucleotides which has the same syn-C3'endo conformation and the distorted backbone sugar-phosphate bonds (C4'-C5' and P-O5') as in the earlier right-handed case.     

Molecular and crystalline structure of 3'-methylamino-2',3'-dideoxyribosylthymine--a potential inhibitor of HIV]

The structure of 3'-methylamino-2',3'-dideoxyribosylthymine [ddT(3'NHMe)] was determined by X-ray analysis. The space group is P2(1)2(1)2(1). Cell dimensions are: a 5.132(1), b 13.718(1), c 16.947(2) A, V 1193.2 A3, Z 4. The structure was solved by directed methods and refined by the full-matrix least square method to R 4.8%. The molecule of ddT(3'NHMe) has anti-conformation with respect to the glycosidic bond (chi (O4'-C1'-N1-C2) = -106.7 degrees), C3'-endo-C4'-exo puckering of the sugar moiety (P -28.8 degrees, psi m -31.5 degrees) and gauche-gauche conformation about exocyclic C4'-C5' bond (psi(C3'-C4'-C5'-O5') 45.8 degrees). The structure of ddT(3'NHMe) was compared with those of 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and natural thymidine.     

NMR study of stacking interactions and conformational adjustments in the dinucleotide-carcinogen adduct 2'-deoxycytidylyl-(3----5)-2'-deoxy-8-(N-fluoren-2-ylac etamido)guanosi ne

The conformation and dynamics of the dinucleotide d-CpG modified at the C(8) position of the guanine ring by the carcinogen 2-(acetylamino)fluorene has been investigated by high-field 1H NMR spectroscopy. A two-state analysis of chemical shift data has enabled estimation of the extent of intramolecular stacking in aqueous solution as a function of temperature. The stacking, which is mostly fluorene-cytosine, is virtually complete in the low-temperature range. The 500-MHz 1H NMR spectrum consists of two subspectra near ambient temperatures due to a 14.3 +/- 0.3 kcal/mol barrier to internal rotation about the amide bond in the stacked form. A large barrier to internal rotation about the guanyl-nitrogen bond at C(8) has also been ascertained, but separate NMR subspectra were not detected due to the predominance of one of the torsional diastereomers (alpha' = 90 degrees) in the fully stacked state. Problems of self-association and chemical exchange were identified and overcome to enable analysis of the sugar-phosphate backbone conformation utilizing coupling constants. For the exocyclic C(4')-C(5') bond of the deoxyguanosine moiety, there is a high gauche+ (gamma = 60 degrees) conformer population, which is uncommon for a purine nucleotide with a syn orientation about the glycosyl bond. The gauche- conformation (gamma = 300 degrees), which is normally present in syn purine nucleotides in solution, was not detected. The exocyclic C(5')-O(5') torsion of the deoxy-guanosine moiety remains near the classical energy minimum (beta = 180 degrees) in the major stacked conformations. The sugar ring of the deoxycytidine moiety is predominantly in the C2'-endo conformation, while the deoxyguanosine ring is a mixture of conformations, one of which appears to be unusually puckered. The results support intercalation models of modified DNA and suggest a looped-out structure, with the modified guanine being the first base in the loop. Such structures could explain the relatively rapid rate of repair and the frame-shift mutations of this type of adduct.     

Isomerisation and conformation studies of (+)- and (-)6-hydroxy-5, 6-dihydrouridine.

(1) "Uridine hydrates" i.e. (+)- and (-)6-hydroxy-5, 6-dihydrouridine were formed under gamma irradiation in a deaerated aqueous solution of uridine. (2) The structures of two diastereoisomers were determined by spectroscopic measurements (infrared, ultraviolet and NMR) and verified by stereospecific synthesis; uridine hydrates were prepared by mild reduction of trans(+)- and (-)iodohydrins with acetic acid and zinc power. (3) The carbon 6 epimerisation of uridine hydrates 6R or 6S was performed in triated water (pH 5.5, 30 degrees C) and at the same time tritium incorporation on carbon 5 was noted. The mechanism of these reactions could be explained by the opening of the N1-C6 bond of the pyrimidine ring, followed by ketoenolisation reaction of carbons 4 and 5. (4) The 250 MHz NMR analysis has allowed us to determine the nucleoside conformations. Nucleosides had mainly the S(C2' endo) conformation. A slight preference of gauche-gauche (gg) rotamer of the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group was noted and the aglycone was in the anti conformation.     

X-ray crystallographic conformational study of 5'-O-[N-(L-alanyl)-sulfamoyl]adenosine, a substrate analogue for alanyl-tRNA synthetase

In order to elucidate the substrate specificity of alanyl-tRNA synthetase, 5'-O-[N-(L-alanyl)sulfamoyl]adenosine (Ala-SA), an analogue of alanyl-AMP, was chemically synthesized. Its binding ability is similar to that of the substrate based on the inhibitory activity for the aminoacylation of alanyl-tRNA synthetase. Taking advantage of the stable sulfamoyl bond of Ala-Sa, compared with the highly labile aminoacyl bond of alanyl-AMP, the molecular conformation of the former inhibitor was studied by X-ray single crystal analysis. Crystal data are as follows: C13H19N7O7S.2H2O, space group C2, a = 39.620(6), b = 5.757(1), c = 20.040(3) A, beta = 117.2(1) degrees, V = 4065(9) A3, Z = 8, and final R = 0.065 for 2785 independent reflections of F(2)0 greater than or equal to 2 sigma (F0)2. In the crystal, the molecule is in a zwitterionic state with the terminal amino group protonated and sulfamoyl group deprotonated, and takes an open conformation, where the L-alanine moiety is located far from the adenosine moiety with gauche/trans and trans orientations about the exocyclic C(4')-C(5') and C(5')-O(5') bonds, respectively. The conformation of the adenosine moiety is anti for the glycosyl bond and C(3')-endo for the ribose puckering, and alanine is in the usually observed trans region for the psi torsion angle. The molecular dimensions of the sulfamoyl group are nearly the same as those of the phosphate group. The biological significance of the observed Ala-SA conformation is discussed in relation with the molecular conformation of tyrosyl-AMP complexed with tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase.     

1H-, 13C-, 31P-NMR studies and conformational analysis of NADP+, NADPH coenzymes and of dimers from electrochemical reduction of NADP+.

All H,H, H,P and several C,P coupling constants, including those between C-4' and the vicinal phosphorus atom, have been determined for NADP+, NADPH coenzymes and for a 4,4-dimer obtained from one-electron electrochemical reduction of NADP+. From these data the preferred conformation of the ribose, that of the 1,4-dihydronicotinamide rings, and the conformation about bonds C(4')-C(5') and C(5')-O(5') were deduced. The preferred form of the 1,4- and 1,6-dihydropyridine rings and the conformation about the ring-ring junction were also obtained for all the other 4,4- and 4,6-dimers formed in the same reduction. All the dimers show a puckered structure, i.e., a boat form for the 1,4- and a twist-boat for the 1,6-dihydronicotinamide ring; both protons at the ring-ring junctions are equatorial and have preferred gauche orientation. On the contrary, the reduced coenzyme NADPH displays a planar or highly flexible conformation, rapidly flipping between two limiting boat structures. The conformation of the ribose rings, already suggested for the NADP coenzymes to be an equilibrium mixture of C(2')-endo (S-type) and C(3')-endo (N-type) puckering modes, has been reexamined by using the Altona procedure and the relative proportion of the two modes has been obtained. The S and N families of conformers have almost equal population for the adenine-ribose, whereas for the nicotinamide-ribose rings the S-type reaches the 90%. The rotation about the ester bond C(5')-O(5') and about C(4')-C(5'), defined by torsion angles beta and gamma respectively, displays a constant high preference for the trans conformer beta t (75-80%), whereas the rotamers gamma are spread out in a range of different populations. The values are distributed between the gauche gamma + (48-69%) and the trans gamma t forms (28-73%). The gamma + conformer reaches a 90% value in the case of NADP+ and NMN+. The conformations of the mononucleotides 5'-AMP, NMN+ and NMNH were also calculated from the experimental coupling constant values of the literature.     

Flexibility of 3',5' deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates

In 3',5' deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates, in addition to the nature of the base and the sugar puckering, there are six single bond rotations. However, from the analysis of crystal structure data on the constituents of nucleic acids, only three rotational angles, that are about glycosyl bond, about C4'-C5' and about C3'-O3' bonds, are flexible. For a given sugar puckering and a base, potential energy calculations using non-bonded, electrostatic and torsional functions were carried out by varying the three torsion angles. The energies are represented as isopotential energy surfaces. Since the availability of the real-time color graphics, it is possible to analyse these isopotential energy surfaces. The calculations were carried out for C3' exo and C3' endo puckerings for deoxyribose and also for four bases. These calculations throw more light not only on the allowed regions for the three rotational angles but also on the relationships among them. The dependence of base and the puckering of the sugar on these rotational angles and thereby the flexibility of the 3',5' deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates is discussed. From our calculations, it is now possible to follow minimum energy path for interconversion among various conformers.     

Carbon-13 NMR in conformational analysis of nucleic acid fragments. 3. The magnitude of torsional angle epsilon in d(TpA) from CCOP and HCOP NMR coupling constants.

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of the deoxyribonucleotide d(TpA), 3',5'-cyclic AMP and 3',5'-cyclic dAMP were measured. It is shown that the different substitution of C2' in deoxyribonucleotides versus ribonucleotides does not affect the vicinal C2'-C3'-O3'-P coupling to a measurable extent. Therefore, the same set of Karplus parameters may be used for the C2'-C3-O3'-P couplings in ribonucleotides and in deoxyribonucleotides. Vicinal carbon-phosphorus and proton-phosphorus coupling constants are used to calculate the magnitude of the torsion angle epsilon (C4'-C3'-O3'-P), which amounts to 195(0) in the trans conformer and to 261(0) in the gauche(-) conformer.     

A convenient synthesis of adenylyl-(2'----5')-adenylyl-(2'----5')-adenosine (2-5A core)

A simple synthesis of adenylyl-(2'----5')-adenylyl (2'----5')-adenosine (2-5A core) has been achieved on the basis of selective 3'-O-silylation of 5'-O-p-monomethoxytrityladenosine and chemo-selective formation of the 2'-5' internucleotide linkage using N-unprotected nucleosides.     

Photooxidation of d(TpG) by riboflavin and methylene blue. Isolation and characterization of thymidylyl-(3',5')-2-amino-5-[(2-deoxy-beta-D- erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino]-4H-imidazol-4-one and its primary decomposition product thymidylyl-(3',5')-2,2-diamino-4-[(2-deoxy-beta-D- erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino]-5(2H)-oxazolone.

The major initial product of riboflavin- and methylene blue-mediated photosensitization of 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) in oxygen-saturated aqueous solution has previously been identified as 2-amino-5-[(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino] 4H-imidazol-4-one (dlz). At room temperature in aqueous solution dlz decomposes quantitatively to 2,2-diamino-4-[(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro- pentofuranosyl)amino]-5(2H)-oxazolone (dZ). The data presented here show that the same guanine photooxidation products are generated following riboflavin- and methylene blue-mediated photosensitization of thymidylyl-(3',5')-2'-deoxyguanosine [d(TpG)]. As observed for the monomers, the initial product, thymidylyl-(3',5')-2-amino-5-[(2-deoxy- beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino]-4H-imidazol-4-one [d(Tplz)], decomposes in aqueous solution at room temperature to thymidylyl-(3',5')-2,2-diamino-4- [(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino]-5(2H)-oxazolone [d(TpZ)]. Both modified dinucleoside monophosphates have been isolated by HPLC and characterized by proton NMR spectrometry, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, chemical analyses and enzymatic digestions. Among the chemical and enzymatic properties of these modified dinucleoside monophosphates are: (i) d(Tplz) and d(TpZ) are alkali-labile; (ii) d(Tplz) reacts with methoxyamine, while d(TpZ) is unreactive; (iii) d(Tplz) is digested by snake venom phosphodiesterase, while d(TpZ) is unaffected; (iv) relative to d(TpG), d(TpZ) and d(Tplz) are slowly digested by spleen phosphodiesterase; (v) d(Tplz) and d(TpZ) can be 5'-phosphorylated by T4 polynucleotide kinase. The first observation suggests that dlz and dZ may be responsible for some of the strand breaks detected following hot piperidine treatment of DNA exposed to photosensitizers.