RNase H mediated cleavage of RNA by cyclohexene nucleic acid (CeNA)

Cyclohexene nucleic acid (CeNA) forms a duplex with RNA that is more stable than a DNA–RNA duplex (ΔT_m per modification: +2°C). A cyclohexenyl A nucleotide adopts a 3′-endo conformation when introduced in dsDNA. The neighbouring deoxynucleotide adopts an O4′-endo conformation. The CeNA:RNA duplex is cleaved by RNase H. The V_max and K_m of the cleavage reaction for CeNA:RNA and DNA:RNA is in the same range, although the k_cat value is about 600 times lower in the case of CeNA:RNA.     

The structure of d(CGCGAAT[]TCGCG) . d(CGCGAATTCGCG); the incorporation of a thymine photodimer into a B-DNA helix

In the light of the biological significance of thymine photodimers , studies of the energetics of the dodecanucleotide fragment d( CGCGAATTCGCG )2 have been carried out using the methods of molecular mechanics, with and without incorporation of a thymine dimer in the cis-syn configuration. The results of the calculations suggest that the thymine dimerized structures show no gross distortion in the double helix with the conformational changes relative to the normal B-DNA double helix restricted largely to the dimer region. The energetics of dTp[]dT reveal a number of conformers which are energetically almost equally favorable and are, as a group, qualitatively consistent with NMR studies on this molecule. The biological implications of the results of the conformational studies, reported here, have been examined vis-a-vis the currently available models for the recognition of DNA "damage" by repair enzymes.     

Base pairing properties of D- and L-cyclohexene nucleic acids (CeNA)

Cyclohexene nucleic acids (CeNA) with a D-like configuration form very stable self-complementary duplexes and stable duplexes with RNA. An increased duplex stability with Delta T(m)/mod of +1.2 degrees C is observed. The duplex with DNA is less stable. Excellent mismatch discrimination has been observed as well for the duplex with DNA as for the duplex with RNA. The results obtained with mixed CeNA sequences warrant antisense studies with CeNA. The CeNAs of opposite chirality constitute a self-pairing system on their own, resembling L-RNA sequences.     

Enzymatic resolution and base pairing properties of D- and L-cyclohexenyl nucleic acids (CeNA)

An enzymatic transesterification reaction afforded large scale resolution of the cyclohexenol precursor needed for preparation of both series of CeNA building blocks. CeNA oligos of "D-like" chirality display a strong and selective interaction with RNA, while preserving RNase H activity, and therefore have potential as antisense constructs. CeNAs of opposite chirality form a self-pairing system on their own.     

Cyclohexene nucleic acids (CeNA) form stable duplexes with RNA and induce RNase H activity

Cyclohexene nucleic acids (CeNA) were synthesized using classical phosporamidite chemistry. Incorporation of a cyclohexene nucleo-side in a DNA chain leads to an increase in stability of the DNA/RNA duplex. CeNA is stable against degradation in serum. A CeNA/RNA hybrid is able to activate E. Coli RNase H. resulting in cleavage of the RNA strand.     

Water molecule binding and lifetimes on the DNA duplex d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2

Summary Measurements of the water proton spin-lattice relaxation rate for aqueous solutions of the palindromic dodecamer, d(CGCGAATTCGCG)₂, are reported as a function of the magnetic field strength. The magnitude of the relaxation rates at low magnetic field strengths and the shape of the relaxation dispersion curve permit assessment of the number of water molecules which may be considered bound to the DNA for a time equal to or longer than the rotational correlation time of the duplex. The data are examined using limiting models that arbitrarily use the measured rotational correlation time of the polynucleotide complex as a reference point for the water molecule lifetime. If it is assumed that water molecules are bound at DNA sites for times as long as or longer than the rotational correlation time of the duplex, then the magnitude of the relaxation rates at low field require that there may be only two or three such water sites. However, if the lifetime constraints is relaxed, and we assume that the number of water molecules bound to the DNA is more nearly the number identified in the X-ray structures, then the average water molecule lifetime is on the order of 1 ns. Measurements of ¹H NOESY spectra demonstrate that some water molecules must have lifetimes sufficiently long that negative Overhauser effects are observed. Taken together, these results suggest a distribution of water molecule lifetimes in which most of the DNA-bound water molecule lifetimes are shorter than the rotational correlation time of the duplex, but where some have lifetimes of at least 1 ns under these concentrated conditions.Abbreviations DNA deoxyribonucleic acid - NOE nuclear Overhauser enhancement - NOESY nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy     

Structure of d(CGCGAATTCGCG) in the presence of Ca(2+) ions.

The dodecamer d(CGCGAATTCGCG) was the first oligonucleotide to be crystallized as a B-DNA duplex. Its structure was analyzed in detail in the early 1980s. Here we show that, in the presence of Ca(2+), it crystallizes in a different way (R3 space group). The dodecamers form parallel columns of straight duplexes with ten base pairs in the B form. The terminal cytosines in each molecule are disordered, whereas the terminal guanines are placed in the minor groove of neighbor duplexes. The central GAATTC region is practically identical to that found in the classic structure of the same dodecamer crystallized in the P2(1)2(1)2(1) space group in the presence of Mg(2+) and spermine. Its structure is thus independent of the crystallization conditions which have been used.     

Dynamics of bases in hydrated [d(CGCGAATTCGCG)]2

Solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy has been used to investigate the dynamics of a DNA oligonucleotide with a defined sequence, [d(CGCGAATTCGCG)]2, which contains the EcoRI binding site. Quadrupole echo line shapes and spin-lattice relaxation times were obtained as a function of hydration on two different deuterated samples, both in the form of the Na salt. In one sample, the C8 protons of all purines in the self-complementary dodecamer were exchanged for deuterons. In the other sample, a specifically labeled thymidine (C6 deuterated) was synthetically incorporated at the seventh position (counting 5' to 3') in the sequence. The general trends for both samples were quite similar. At all levels of hydration, the data reveal the presence of a rapid, small-amplitude libration of the bases (tau c less than or equal to 1 ns, 6 degrees-10 degrees amplitude). At the higher hydration levels (80% relative humidity or higher), the results indicate the presence of a much slower motion (tau c approximately 10-100 microseconds), which at 80% relative humidity is of small amplitude (approximately 5 degrees) and at higher hydration levels may be of larger amplitude. There is no evidence for large-amplitude (greater than +/- 10 degrees) motion on a nanosecond or faster time scale under any hydration condition. The 2H NMR results were analyzed with a dynamical model which treats the oligonucleotide as a deformable filament and which can include collective torsional fluctuations. The slow motion observed at high hydration levels is attributed to the uniform twisting mode (of the entire helix).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

iTriplet, a rule-based nucleic acid sequence motif finder

Background  

With the advent of high throughput sequencing techniques, large amounts of sequencing data are readily available for analysis. Natural biological signals are intrinsically highly variable making their complete identification a computationally challenging problem. Many attempts in using statistical or combinatorial approaches have been made with great success in the past. However, identifying highly degenerate and long (>20 nucleotides) motifs still remains an unmet challenge as high degeneracy will diminish statistical significance of biological signals and increasing motif size will cause combinatorial explosion. In this report, we present a novel rule-based method that is focused on finding degenerate and long motifs. Our proposed method, named iTriplet, avoids costly enumeration present in existing combinatorial methods and is amenable to parallel processing.     

Re-refinement of the B-dodecamer d(CGCGAATTCGCG) with a comparative analysis of the solvent in it and in the Z-hexamer d(5BrCG5BrCG5BrCG)

The effects of X-ray refinement algorithm on parameters characterising nucleic acid structure are analysed following the re-refinement of the B-dodecamer d(CGCGAATTCGCG). The main conclusions are the following. Mean deviations of main chain torsion angles between the two refinements average 12.6 degrees. Phase angle of pseudorotation for sugar puckers vary between 100 degrees and 180 degrees in the present refinement with amplitude of pucker around 30 degrees. On the other hand, the helical parameters have mean deviations less than 2 degrees. At most half of the assigned solvent positions are within 2 A in both refinements. In the second part of the work, plots of temperature factors (B's) versus occupancies (Q's) for solvent peaks have been analysed in the B-dodecamer and in the Z-hexamer d(5BrCG5BrCG5BrCG). Owing to the poor statistics, some of those conclusions should be regarded as tentative. Occupancy appears to depend on the number of contacts made by the solvent peak with the nucleic acid while temperature factor does not. Except when engaged in particular interaction sites, solvent molecules bound to phosphates have a tendency for high B's and variable Q's. Water molecules bound to polar atoms of the bases occupy various positions in the B-Q diagram. Particularly striking is the behavior of the water molecules belonging to the B-spine and to the Z-spine: the spread in occupancy of water molecules in the hydration spine of the Z-oligomer is larger than in the hydration spine of the B-oligomer. An opposite tendency is observed for the temperature factors. The first observation might reflect the special mobility of the water molecules building up the spine hydration in the Z-form where it continues without interruption from one hexamer to the next. In the B-form, on the contrary, the spine is restricted to the center part of the dodecamer. The second observation might reflect the sharpness of the local attractive potential in the Z-form and its broadness in the B-form. In both cases, dipole reorientations would occur, leading to a high local dielectric constant: in the Z-form, through water molecules hopping from one site to another and, in the B-form, because of rotational freedom.     

Amino acid sequence around the active site cysteine residue of calcium-activated neutral protease (CANP)

We have examined hydrophobic properties of Tetrahymena CaM using the uncharged probe, n-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPN) fluorescence. The maximal fluorescence intensity of Tetrahymena calmodulin (CaM) is less than 1/12 of that of the bovine brain CaM. In the phosphodiesterase activation, the potency of Tetrahymena CaM, which was represented by reciprocals of the quantity of CaM required for half-maximal activation of enzyme was 22.7% respectively, of that of the bovine brain CaM. Here, Tetrahymena CaM had less hydrophobic groups exposed in the presence of Ca2+. Then Ca2+-CaM dependent enzymes require much amount of Tetrahymena CaM, comparing with the bovine brain CaM.     

Visualization of nucleic acid sequence structural information

Several interactive Pascal programs have been written for theanalysis and display of structural information in nucleic acidsequences. Layout procedures were developed to display the homologyand repeat matrices of a sequence and to predict and displaythe secondary structure of RNA/DNA molecules free of overlapand to predict and display internal repeats. No special plottingdevices are required because the output is adapted to line printers.Sequences from several DNA database systems can be used as input.These programs are part of a general nucleic acid sequence analysispackage. Received on December 9, 1984; accepted on January 11, 1985     

Molecular modelling of the interaction of carbocyclic analogues of netropsin and distamycin with d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2

A molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics approach was used to examine the structure of complexes formed between the d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2 duplex and netropsin, distamycin, and four carbocyclic analogues of netropsin and distamycin (1-4). The resulting structures of the ligand-DNA model complexes and their energetics were examined. It is predicted that the compounds 1-4 should have a decreased affinity for the minor groove of AT-rich regions in comparison to netropsin and distamycin. From the energetic analysis it appears that van der Waals and electrostatic interactions are more important than specific hydrogen bonds in stabilizing the ligand-duplex complexes. We predict that compounds 1 and 2 are effectively isohelical with the DNA minor groove. The superior DNA-binding afforded by 1 and 2 in comparison to 3 and 4 results from their more effective penetration into the minor groove and smaller perturbation of molecular structure upon complex formation.     

Structural comparison of the B-DNA dodecamers d(CGCGTTAACGCG) and d(CGCGAATTCGCG) with T2A2 and A2T2 tracts.

The x-ray structure of the deoxy oligonucleotide dodecamer d(CGCGTTAACGCG) recently determined in our laboratory shows that the helical parameters of the central TTAA segment are significantly different compared to the central AATT in d(CGCGAATTCGCG). The roll in the central TA step of the T2A2 dodecamer opens towards the minor groove while the AT step of the A2T2 dodecamer opens towards the major groove. Also, the roll angles at the steps 4 and 8 (GT and AC in T2A2) and (GA and TC in A2T2) are in opposite directions. The high cup and helical twist angles at the central base-pair of T2A2 decreases the base stacking interactions compared to A2T2. Tilt angles within the tetranucleotide segments TTAA and AATT have opposite signs. In spite of the local differences caused by the sequence inversion (TTAA----AATT), the two dodecamers exhibit similar overall bending. The top third is more bent than the bottom third relative to the central segment. This asymmetric bending in the two dodecamers is mainly due to crystal packing interactions.     

Improved thrombin binding aptamer by incorporation of a single unlocked nucleic acid monomer

A 15-mer DNA aptamer (named TBA) adopts a G-quadruplex structure that strongly inhibits fibrin-clot formation by binding to thrombin. We have performed thermodynamic analysis, binding affinity and biological activity studies of TBA variants modified by unlocked nucleic acid (UNA) monomers. UNA-U placed in position U3, U7 or U12 increases the thermodynamic stability of TBA by 0.15–0.50 kcal/mol. In contrast, modification of any position within the two G-quartet structural elements is unfavorable for quadruplex formation. The intramolecular folding of the quadruplexes is confirmed by T_m versus ln c analysis. Moreover, circular dichroism and thermal difference spectra of the modified TBAs displaying high thermodynamic stability show bands that are characteristic for antiparallel quadruplex formation. Surface plasmon resonance studies of the binding of the UNA-modified TBAs to thrombin show that a UNA monomer is allowed in many positions of the aptamer without significantly changing the thrombin-binding properties. The biological effect of a selection of the modified aptamers was tested by a thrombin time assay and showed that most of the UNA-modified TBAs possess anticoagulant properties, and that the construct with a UNA-U monomer in position 7 is a highly potent inhibitor of fibrin-clot formation.