500 MHz 1H-NMR study of the interaction of daunomycin with B and Z helices of d(CGm5CGCG)

The interaction of daunomycin with B and Z helices of a self-complementary DNA fragment d(CGm5CGCG) in solution was studied by 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 500 MHz. The results show that the B-Z transition kinetics is not affected by addition of daunomycin. Daunomycin binds exclusively to the B form of d(CGm5CGCG). Z exchanges with B while the latter also exchanges with the B duplex-daunomycin complexes.     

DNA fragment conformations. A 1H-NMR conformational analysis of the d(G-G)-chelated platinum-oligonucleotide d(A-T-G-G)cisPt

The conformation of d(A-T-G-G) and d(A-T-G-G)cisPt has been investigated by 1H-NMR at 500 MHz and 90 MHz under various experimental conditions of temperature and concentration. Analysis of the coupling constants between the deoxyribose protons shows that all the sugar rings of d(A-T-G-G) adopt the S(C2'-endo) conformation most of the time. By contrast, in the platinated tetramer, d(A-T-G-G)cisPt, the N(C3'-endo) conformation is highly predominant for the internal dG residue while the S(C2'-endo) conformation is largely favoured for the other residues as in the case of the unplatinated compound. The relaxation time and nuclear Overhauser effect measurements indicate that the orientation of the two guanines of d(A-T-G-G)cisPt is anti in agreement with the previous results obtained for the dimers: r(G-G)cisPt, d(G-G)cisPt. On lowering the temperature from 80 degrees C to 20 degrees C, several proton resonances of d(A-T-G-G)cisPt exhibit large chemical shift and linewidth variations. The most spectacular temperature effect was observed for the internal dG(H1') and dT(H4') protons. All the delta = f(t) curves display a sigmoid form with the same mid-point temperature of 44 +/- 2 degrees C. This mid-point temperature together with the observed chemical shift and linewidth variations were found to be independent of the d(A-T-G-G)cisPt concentration. These results suggest that d(A-T-G-G)cisPt can adopt two different conformations depending on the temperature. The enthalpy for the transition between the high and low temperature conformations is about 84 kJ/mol.     

A 19F-NMR study of 2-fluoro-4-demethoxydaunomycin intercalation complexes with the decanucleotides d(G-C)5 and d(A-T)5

Binding configurations and equilibria of intercalation complexes formed by the novel anthracycline drug, 2-fluoro-4-demethoxydaunomycin (2FD), with the decanucleotides d(G-C)5 and d(A-T)5 have been studied by 19F-NMR spectroscopy. The 19F chemical shift of 2FD bound to d(A-T)5 was approximately 1.5 ppm downfield of that observed for 2FD bound to d(G-C)5. By mixing equimolar amounts of aqueous d(G-C)5, d(A-T)5 and 2FD, the distribution of drug between the nucleotides was followed by observing relative peak intensities and showed no G-C or A-T binding preference at room temperature. It was shown that each decanucleotide duplex bound three 2FD molecules, giving a neighbour exclusion parameter, n, of n = 3 for this drug. The stoichiometric complexes, which we denote by [d(A-T)5][2FD]3 and [d(G-C)5][2FD]3, were also purified and isolated in this study.     

Intercalation of aflatoxin B1 in two oligodeoxynucleotide adducts: comparative 1H NMR analysis of d(ATCAFBGAT).d(ATCGAT) and d(ATAFBGCAT)2

8,9-Dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl-[d(ATCGAT)])-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B1.d(ATCGAT) and 8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl-[d(ATGCAT)])-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B1.8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl-[d(ATGCAT)])-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B1 were prepared by direct addition of afltoxin B1 8,9-epoxide to d(ATCGAT)2 and d(ATGCAT)2, respectively. In contrast to reaction of aflatoxin B1 8,9-epoxide with d(ATCGAT)2 which exhibits a limiting stoichiometry of 1:1 aflatoxin B1:d(ATCGAT)2 [Gopalakrishnan, S., Stone, M. P., & Harris, T. M. (1989) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111, 7232-7239], reaction of aflatoxin B1 8,9-epoxide with d(ATGCAT)2 exhibits a limiting stoichiometry of 2:1 aflatoxin B1:d(ATGCAT)2. 1H NOE experiments, nonselective 1H T1 relaxation measurements, and 1H chemical shift perturbations demonstrate that in both modified oligodeoxynucleotides the aflatoxin moiety is intercalated above the 5'-face of the modified guanine. The oligodeoxynucleotides remain right-handed, and perturbation of the B-DNA structure is localized adjacent to the adducted guanine. Aflatoxin-oligodeoxynucleotide 1H NOEs are observed between aflatoxin and the 5'-neighbor base pair and include both the major groove and the minor groove. The aflatoxin methoxy and cyclopentenone ring protons face into the minor groove; the furofuran ring protons face into the major groove. No NOE is observed between the imino proton of the modified base pair and the imino proton of the 5'-neighbor base pair; sequential NOEs between nucleotide base and deoxyribose protons are interrupted in both oligodeoxynucleotide strands on the 5'-side of the modified guanine. The protons at C8 and C9 of the aflatoxin terminal furan ring exhibit slower spin-lattice relaxation as compared to other oligodeoxynucleotide protons, which supports the conclusion that they face into the major groove. Increased shielding is observed for aflatoxin protons; chemical shift perturbations of the oligodeoxynucleotide protons are confined to the immediate vicinity of the adducted base pair. The imidazole proton of the modified guanine exchanges with water and is observed at 9.75 ppm. The difference in reaction stoichiometry is consistent with an intercalated transition-state complex between aflatoxin B1 8,9-epoxide and B-DNA. Insertion of aflatoxin B1-8,9 epoxide above the 5'-face of guanine in d(ATCGAT)2 would prevent the binding of a second molecule of aflatoxin B1 8,9-epoxide. In contrast, two intercalation sites would be available with d(ATGCAT)2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

A 1H and 31P NMR study of cis-Pt(NH3)2[d(CpGpG)-N7(2),N7(3)]. The influence of a 5'-terminal cytosine, on the structure of the cis-Pt(NH3)2[d(GpG)-N7,N7] intrastrand cross-link

Proton NMR studies at 300 MHz and 500 MHz have been carried out on the trinucleoside bisphosphate d(CpGpG) and on cis-Pt(NH3)2[d(CpGpG)-N7(2),N7(3)] [abbreviated as d(CpGpGp) . cisPt]. For the Pt adduct, 13C and 31P NMR was also used for characterizing the oligonucleotide. d(CpGpG) appears to revert to a B-DNA-type single helix at lower temperatures. The relatively small concentration dependence of the proton chemical shifts, in comparison with shifts due to intramolecular stacking effects, indicates that the compound is essentially single-stranded. In d(CpGpGp) . cisPt, the first nucleoside, C(1), stacks well on top of the second, G(2), despite the N conformation of the G(2) sugar ring. The platinated GpG part in this trimer adopts largely the same structure as in cis-Pt(NH3)2[d(GpGpG)-N7(1),N7(2)] [den Hartog, J. H. J., et al. (1982) Nucleic Acids Res. 10, 4715-4730]. Main differences however, are changes in H8 chemical shifts and a 0.6-ppm downfield shift of the third nucleotide phosphorus, P(3), in d(CpGpGp) . cisPt with respect to P(2) in d(GpG) . cisPt. The latter shift change is likely to be induced by a structural alteration, caused by stacking of C(1) on top of G(2). Also, the large chemical shift differences between the two H8 protons in d(NpGpG) . cisPt fragments is discussed; the deviation from a mirror symmetry of the two guanine bases seems to be the main origin of this effect. The chemical shift changes, observed in the proton and phosphorus NMR chemical shift temperature and chemical shift pH profiles have been explained in terms of stack-destack equilibria changes.     

Influence of N6-methylation of residue A(5) on the conformational behaviour of d(C-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-G) in solution studied by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. 2. The hairpin form

The solution conformations of the oligonucleotides d(C-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-G) and d(C-C-G-A-m6A-T-T-C-G-G) as a function of temperature and sample concentration were investigated by means of 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The NMR spectra revealed that, at certain combinations of temperature and low sample and salt concentration, both compounds exist as a B-DNA-type duplex slowly (on the 1H-NMR time scale) interconverting with a monomeric species. From chemical shift data and imino-proton spectra, it is concluded that the monomeric species consists of a mixture of a hairpin form in rapid equilibrium with the random-coil form. The double-helical stem of the hairpin is formed by the six terminal cytidine and guanine residues, whereas the four core residues, -A-(m6)A-T-T-, partake in the loop. Thermodynamic analysis of the chemical shift of the resonances of the monomeric species vs temperature profiles of the two decamers and mutual comparison of these profiles indicate the following: the influence of N6-methylation of residue A(5) upon the local structure of the hairpin must be small; methylation decreases the stability of the duplex relative to the monomeric species: the temperature at which the fraction duplex equals 0.5 was found to be 312 K for the parent compound and 305 K for the methylated decamer at 2 mM sample concentration; methylation does not significantly alter the stability of the hairpin form relative to the random coil form: the Tm of the hairp----n equilibrium random-coil equilibrium is 308 K for the parent compound and 306 K for the methylated decamer. A higher fraction hairpin-like structure for the N6-methylated compound is observed under identical conditions of temperature and sample concentration: at 300 K, 2 mM sample concentration, the fraction hairpin form is 0.12 for d(C-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-G) and 0.20 for d(C-C-G-A-m6A-T-T-C-G-G). This finding appears to be a consequence of the reduced stability of the methylated dimeric species relative to the monomeric species, and to depend upon the sodium-ion concentration: it becomes more pronounced under low-salt conditions.     

Comparison of the B- and Z-form hairpin loop structures formed by d(CG)5T4(CG)5

The partially self-complementary synthetic DNA oligonucleotide d(CG)5T4(CG)5 has been studied by using 1H and 31P NMR and circular dichroism. Results show that, under low-salt conditions (120 mM NaCl buffer), an intramolecular hairpin loop exists in which the double-helical stem region is B-form and the thymidine loop residues have predominantly southern (C2'-endo) sugar conformations. The thymidine glycosidic torsion angles are intermediate between syn and anti or exist as an equilibrium mixture of residues in the two extremes. NOESY data indicate that the structure of the loop region is very similar to that found for d(CG)2T4(CG)2 [Hare, D. R., & Reid, B. R. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 5341-5350]. Under high-salt conditions (6 M NaClO4 buffer), the dominant form (approximately equal to 85%) is an intramolecular hairpin structure in which the stem region forms a Z-form double helix. As in the B-form, the loop thymidine residues are intermediate between the syn and anti conformations or exist as an equilibrium mixture of the two, but the thymidine sugar conformations differ in that they are biased toward northern (C3'-endo) conformations.     

Crystal structure of d(GCGCGCG) with 5''-overhang G residues.

The crystal structure of the DNA heptamer d(GCGCGCG) has been solved at 1.65 A resolution by the molecular replacement method and refined to an R-value of 0.184 for 3598 reflections. The heptamer forms a Z-DNA d(CGCGCG)2 with 5'-overhang G residues instead of an A-DNA d(GCGCGC)2 with 3'-overhang G residues. The overhang G residues from parallel strands of two adjacent duplexes form a trans reverse Hoogsteen G x G basepair that stacks on the six Z-DNA basepairs to produce a pseudocontinuous helix. The reverse Hoogsteen G x G basepair is unusual in that the displacement of one G base relative to the other allows them to participate in a bifurcated (G1)N2 . . . N7(G8) and an enhanced (G8)C8-H . . . O6(G1) hydrogen bond, in addition to the two usual hydrogen bonds. The 5'-overhang G residues are anti and C2'-endo while the 3'-terminal G residues are syn and C2'-endo. The conformations of both G residues are different from the syn/C3'-endo for the guanosine in a standard Z-DNA. The two cobalt hexammine ions bind to the phosphate groups in both GpC and CpG steps in Z(I) and Z(II) conformations. The water structure motif is similar to the other Z-DNA structures.     

Proton NMR study and conformational analysis of d(CGT), d(TCG) and d(CGTCG) in aqueous solution. The effect of a dangling thymidine and of a thymidine mismatch on DNA mini-duplexes

Proton NMR studies of d(CGT), d(TCG) and d(CGTCG) were carried out at 300 and 500 MHz. The temperature and concentration dependence of the chemical shifts of various resonances indicates duplex formation only in the cases of d(TCG) and d(CGTCG). It is concluded that d(TCG) forms a mini-duplex stabilized by a 5'-dangling thymine base. Thermodynamic parameters of the duplex-to-coil equilibrium of the d(TCG) duplex are: delta H0 = -22.3 kcal/mol and delta S0 = -70 cal/mol. K, which correspond to approximately 40% duplex formation at 0 degrees C in a 2 mM nucleotide solution. Comparison of these data with thermodynamic parameters given earlier [Borer, P.N., Dengler, B., Tinoco, I. and Uhlenbeck, O.C. (1974) J. Mol. Biol. 86, 843-853] leads to the conclusion that the dangling base stabilization observed here is approximately equivalent to the stabilization caused by one or two additional A . T base pairs. The chemical shift behaviour of various resonances in d(CGTCG) indicates duplex formation without looping out of the thymine bases. The T X T mismatch does not seem to disturb the helical structure to a large extent. Analysis of the vicinal proton-proton coupling constants of the three compounds yielded geometrical data for the sugar rings. The data are interpreted in terms of N and S pseudorotational ranges. It is shown that a distinct conformation-transmission effect is exerted by the guanosine residues in a 5'----3' direction.     

Influence of dA X dT and d(2aminoA) X dT base pairs on the B in equilibrium Z transition of DNA fragments. 1H-NMR study of d(C-G-C-A-m5C-G-T-G-m5C-G), d(m5C-G-C-A-m5C-G-T-G-C-G) and d(C-2aminoA-C-G-T-G)

The Helical structures of d(C-G-C-A-m5C-G-T-G-m5C-G), d(m5C-G-C-A-m5C-G-T-G-C-G) and d(C-2aminoA-C-G-T-G) were studied in aqueous solution at various salt concentrations and temperatures by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. In 0.1 M NaCl solution only the B form was evidenced for these DNA fragments whereas in 4 M NaCl both B and Z forms, in slow exchange on the NMR time scale, were observed. Under these conditions the Z form accounted for less than 60% of the decamer conformation; conversely d(C-G)3 hexamers containing methylated cytidines were predominantly in the Z form (greater than 90%) [Tran-Dinh et al. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 1362; Cavaillès et al. (1984) J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 1, 1347-1371]. On the other hand, d(C-2aminoA-C-G-T-G) in which the d(2aminoA) X dT base pair forms three hydrogen bonds, was found to adopt the Z conformation in 4M NaCl solution which was not the case for d(C-A-C-G-T-G) (unpublished results). The present study shows that the B in equilibrium Z transition in solution is highly sequence-dependent and that correlation exists between the stability of the duplexes (essentially governed by the number of hydrogen bonds between complementary bases) and their ability to adopt the Z conformation.     

Infrared spectral studies of the non regularly alternating purine-pyrimidine hexamers d(m5CGGCM5CG), d(CBr8GGCCBr8G) and d(CGCGGC)

The oligonucleotides d(m5CGGCm5CG), d(CBr8GGCCBr8G) and d(CGCGGC) have been prepared and studied by infrared spectroscopy. The three sequences contain two GC pairs which are out of purine-pyrimidine alternation with the rest of the sequence. From the IR data of the d(m5CGGCm5CG) hexamer, it is shown that all of the dG residues adopt a syn conformation. The marker IR bands for the C3' endo syn conformation are at 1410, 1354, 1320 and 925 cm-1 whereas those for the C2' endo anti conformation at 1420, 1374 and 890 cm-1 are clearly absent. This result implies that the two adjacent guanines of the d(m5CGGCm5CG) sequence are in syn conformation. It is suggested that duplex formation occurs in d(CGCGGC) films and that all of the guanines are in syn conformation. In contrast, the central non-brominated guanine of the d(CBr8GGCCBr8G) hexamer is found in anti conformation, as expected in a Z type structure of the non-alternating region.     

Circular dichroism spectra of DNA quadruplexes [d(G(5)T(5))](4) as formed with G(4) and T(4) tetrads and [d(G(5)T(5)). d(A(5)C(5))]2 as formed with Watson-Crick-like (G-C)(2) and (T-A)(2) tetrads

We utilize electrophoresis and find that a thermally treated equimolar mixture of the oligonucleotide d(G(5)T(5)) and its complementary oligonucleotide d(A(5)C(5)) exhibits either two bands or a single band in one lane, depending on the conditions of the incubation solutions. The thermally treated d(G(5)T(5)) solution loaded in a different lane exhibits a single band of the parallel quadruplex [d(G(5)T(5))](4), which is composed of homocyclic hydrogen-bonded G(4) and T(4) tetrads previously proposed. For the thermally treated equimolar mixture of d(G(5)T(5)) and d(A(5)C(5)), the fast band is assigned to a Watson-Crick d(G(5)T(5)). d(A(5)C(5)) duplex, so that the slow band with the same low mobility as that of [d(G(5)T(5))](4) may be assigned to either [d(G(5)T(5))](4) itself or a [d(G(5)T(5)). d(A(5)C(5))](2) quadruplex. If the latter compound is true, this may be the antiparallel quadruplex composed of the heterocyclic hydrogen-bonded G-C-G-C and T-A-T-A tetrads proposed previously. After removing these three bands for the duplex and two kinds of hypothetical quadruplexes, we electrophoretically elute the corresponding compounds in the same electrophoresis buffer using an electroeluter. The eluted compounds are ascertained to be stable by electrophoresis. The circular dichroism (CD) and UV absorption spectra measured for the three isolated compounds are found to be clearly different. For the electrophoretic elution of the hypothetical [d(G(5)T(5))](4) quadruplex, the result of the molecularity of n = 4 obtained from the CD melting curve analysis provides further support for the formation of the parallel [d(G(5)T(5))](4) quadruplex already proposed. For the thermally treated equimolar mixture of d(G(5)T(5)) and d(C(5)A(5)), the fast band with a molecularity of n = 2 corresponds to the Watson-Crick duplex, d(G(5)T(5)). d(A(5)C(5)). The slow band with a molecularity of n = 4 indicates the antiparallel quadruplex [d(G(5)T(5)). d(A(5)C(5))](2), whose observed CD and UV spectra are different from those of [d(G(5)T(5))](4). By electrophoresis, after reannealing the eluted compound [d(G(5)T(5)). d(A(5)C(5))](2), a distinct photograph showing the band splitting of this quadruplex band into the lower duplex and upper quadruplex bands is not possible; but by a transilluminator, we occasionally observe this band splitting with the naked eye. The linear response polarizability tensor calculations for the thus determined structures of the [d(G(5)T(5))](4) quadruplex, the McGavin-like [d(G(5)T(5)). d(A(5)C(5))](2) quadruplex, and the Watson-Crick d(G(5)T(5)). d(A(5)C(5)) duplex are found to qualitatively predict the observed CD and UV spectra.     

Effects of solute conditions on the relative affinities of the oligonucleotides d(G-C)5 and d(A-T)5 for the anthracycline drug 2-fluoro-4-demethoxydaunomycin

19F NMR has been used to show that changes in NaCl concentration, as well as the presence of lysine or arginine, affect the equilibrium distribution of the synthetic anthracycline 2-fluoro-4-demethoxydaunomycin (2FD) between binding sites on d(G-C)5 and d(A-T)5 in a 1:1:1 molar aqueous system: 2FD/d(G-C)5/d(A-T)5. Varying the pH between 6.2 and 7.7 had no effect. NaCl concentrations below 0.1 M led to a d(G-C)5 preference while above 0.1 M a preference for d(A-T)5 was observed. At comparable solute concentrations, use of either lysine or arginine resulted in a significant drug preference for d(G-C)5 compared to systems containing only NaCl.     

B--Z conformational transition in d(CGCGCGTTAATT), d(CGCGCGTTAA) and d(CGCGCGTT)

Conformational studies on three DNA-oligomers (d(CGCGCGTTAATT), d(CGCGTTAA) and d(CGCGCGTT) in solution by circular dichroism spectroscopy are reported. In low salt solution, all three DNA oligomers exhibit a characteristic B-conformation. However, under the influence of high salt concentration i.e. 5M NaCl, the octamer d(CGCGCGTT) exhibits 'A' conformation whereas the decamer and dodecamer retain B-conformation. On addition of millimolar amount of NiCl2 to the 5M NaCl, solution of oligodeoxynucleotides a B-Z transition is observed in octamer, decamer and dodecamer. However, NiCl2 titrations show that mid point of transition for dodecamer is at 2.25 mM, for decamer is at 13 mM NiCl2 and for octamer is 17 mM at NiCl2. In 60% alcohol all three oligonucleotides remain in the B-conformation. The melting temperatures of oligonucleotides at various salt concentration are also reported. Thermodynamic parameters calculated by melting profile using a two state model show that dodecamer and decamer are most stable in their 5M NaCl, B-form. However, octamer is more stable in its Z form than that of its 'A' form.     

Polarized Raman scattering from oriented single microcrystals of d(A5T5)2 and d(pTpT)

Polarized Raman spectra have been obtained from single microcrystals of the duplex of the decamer d(A₅T₅)₂ using a Raman microscope. This is the first report of Raman spectra from a crystal of a deoxyoligomer that contains only long, nonalternating sequences of adenine and thymine. Sequences containing d(A)_n and d(T)_n are of interest in view of recent suggestions that they induce bends in DNA and that they might exist in a nonstandard B-conformation. Polarized Raman spectra of a crystal of d(pTpT) have also been obtained. Both crystals display Raman bands whose intensities are very sensitive to the orientation of the crystal with respect to the direction of polarization of the incident laser beam. These spectra indicate that the helical axes of the oligonucleotides are parallel to the long axes of the crystals and that the d(A₅T₅)₂ is not appreciably bent in the crystal. The Raman spectrum from the d(pTpT) crystal indicates that all of the furanose ring puckers are in a C2′-endo configuration since only the C2′-endo marker band at 835 ± 5 cm^?1 is present. Crystals of d(A₅T₅)₂ show measurable Raman intensities in both the 838- and 816-cm^?1 bands. This indicates the presence of both the C2′-endo and C3′-endo, or possibly other non-C2′-endo, furanose conformations. The 816-cm^?1 band is weak so that only a small fraction of the residues are estimated to be in the non-C2′-endo conformation. In both the d(pTpT) and d(A₅T₅)₂ crystals the intensity of the bands due to vibrations of the backbone show only a small dependence on orientation of the crystals. This result is explained by the low symmetry of the puckered sugar rings. It is concluded that Raman spectra obtained from oligonucleotide crystals in which the orientation of the crystal axes to the laser polarization is not carefully controlled may contain intensity artifacts that are due to polarization effects.     

1H- and 31P-NMR studies of ditercalinium binding to a d(GCGC)2 and d(CCTATAGG)2 minihelices: a sequence specificity study

The structures of the complexes formed in aqueous solution between ditercalinium, a bis-intercalating drug, and both the self-complementary tetranucleotide d(GCGC)2 and octanucleotide d(CCTATAGG)2, have been investigated by 400-MHz 1H-nmr and 162-MHz 31P-nmr. All the nonexchangeable protons, as well as the exchangeable imino protons and the phosphorus signals, have been assigned. Both oligonucleotides have been shown to adopt a right-handed B-DNA type structure. The addition of ditercalinium to the oligonucleotides lead to the formation of complexes in slow exchange at the nmr time scale with the free helices. At all drug-to-helix ratios studied, the ditercalinium was found in the bound form, whereas free and complexed oligonucleotides were in slow exchange, allowing resonance assignments through two-dimensional chemical exchange experiments. for d(GCGC)2 the strong upfield shifts induced on all aromatic protons of both the bases and the drug by complexation with ditercalinium suggest an interaction by intercalation of the two rings. However, the loss of twofold symmetry upon binding, as well as the chemical shift variation of the drug proton signals of one of the chromophores with temperature and concentration, favor a model in which the drug-nucleotide complexes have one ring of the drug intercalated and the other stacked on top of the external base pair. The intermolecular contacts between drug protons and nucleotide protons give a defined geometry for complexation that is consistent with the proposed model. In contrast, with d(CCTATAGG)2 several drug-nucleotide complexes were formed and a large increase in line broadening was observed at high drug-to-DNA ratios, precluding a detailed analysis of these complexes. However, the large upfield shift in the imino proton resonances together with the shielding of the ditercalinium ring protons favor a model with bis-intercalation of ditercalinium. This model is supported by the downfield shift of at least 4 out of 14 phosphorus signals. The results are compared with those obtained on ditercalinium binding to the homologous sequences d(CGCG)2 and d(TTCGCGAA)2, and discussed in terms of sequence specificity.     

A novel end-to-end binding of two netropsins to the DNA decamers d(CCCCCIIIII)2, d(CCCBr5CCIIIII)2and d(CBr5CCCCIIIII)2.

Netropsin is bound to the DNA decamer d(CCCCCIIIII)2, the C-4 bromo derivative d(CCCBr5CCIIIII)2and the C-2 bromo derivative d(CBr5CCCCIIIII)2in a novel 2:1 mode. Complexes of the native decamer and the C-4 bromo derivative are isomorphous, space group P1, unit cell dimensions a = 32.56 A (32.66), b = 32.59 A (32.77), c = 37.64 A (37.71), alpha = 86.30 degrees (86.01 degrees), beta = 84.50 degrees (84.37 degrees), gamma = 68.58 degrees (68.90 degrees) with two independent molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit (values in parentheses are for the derivative). The C-2 bromo derivative is hexagonal P61, unit cell dimensions a = b = 32.13 A, c = 143.92, gamma = 120 degrees with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The structures were solved by the molecular replacement method. The novelty of the structures is that there are two netropsins bound end-to-end in the minor groove of each B-DNA decamer which has nearly a complete turn. The netropsins are held by hydrogen bonding interactions to the base atoms and by sandwiching van der Waal's interactions from the sugar-phosphate backbones of the double helix similar to every other drug.DNA complex. Each netropsin molecule spans approximately 5 bp. The netropsins refined with their guanidinium heads facing each other at the center, although an orientational disorder for the netropsins cannot be excluded. The amidinium ends stretch out toward the junctions and bind to the adjacent duplexes in the columns of stacked symmetry-related complexes. Both cationic ends of netropsin are bridged by water molecules in one of the independent molecules (molecule A) of the triclinic structures and also the hexagonal structure to form pseudo-continuous drug.decamer helices.     

Synthesis and characterization of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing terminal phosphates. NMR, UV spectroscopic and thermodynamic analysis of duplex formation of [d(pGGAATTCC)]2, [d(GGAATTCCp)]2 and [d(pGGAATTCCp)]2.

Derivatives of the oligomer [d(GGAATTCC)]2 with 5' (5'-P), 3' (3'-P) and both 5' and 3' (5',3'-P2) terminal phosphate groups have been synthesized and studied by temperature dependent UV and NMR spectroscopic methods. Thermodynamic studies of the helix to strand transition indicate that addition of 3' phosphate groups has very little effect on the delta G degree for helix formation at 37 degrees C while addition of 5' phosphate groups adds approximately -0.5 kcal/mole to the delta G degree for duplex formation. The helix stabilization by 5' phosphate groups occurs at salt concentrations of 0.1 M and above, and is primarily enthalpic in origin. Tm studies as a function of ionic strength also indicate that the oligomers fall into two groups with the parent and 3'-P derivatives being similar but less stable than the 5'-P and 5',3'-P2 derivatives. Imino proton and 31P NMR studies also divide the oligomers into these same two groups based on spectral comparisons and temperature induced chemical shift and linewidth changes. 31P NMR analysis suggests that addition of 5' phosphate groups results in a small change in phosphodiester torsional angles in the g,t to g,g direction, indicating improved base stacking at the 5' end of the modified oligomer. No such changes are seen at the 3' end of the oligomer on adding 3' phosphate groups.     

Characterization and calculation of a cytochrome c-cytochrome b5 complex using NMR data

To identify the binding site for bovine cytochrome b(5) (cyt b(5)) on horse cytochrome c (cyt c), cross-saturation transfer NMR experiments were performed with (2)H- and (15)N-enriched cyt c and unlabeled cyt b(5). In addition, chemical shift changes of the cyt c backbone amide and side chain methyl resonances were monitored as a function of cyt b(5) concentration. The chemical shift changes indicate that the complex is in fast exchange, and are consistent with a 1:1 stoichiometry. A K(a) of (4 +/- 3) x 10(5) M(-)(1) was obtained with a lower limit of 855 s(-)(1) for the dissociation rate of the complex. Mapping of the chemical shift variations and intensity changes upon cross-saturation NMR experiments in the complex reveals a single, contiguous interaction interface on cyt c. Using NMR data as constraints, a protein docking program was used to calculate two low-energy model complex clusters. Independent calculations of the effect of the cyt b(5) heme ring current-induced magnetic dipole on cyt c were used to discriminate between the different models. The interaction surface of horse cyt c in the current experimentally constrained model of the cyt c-cyt b(5) complex is similar but not identical to the interface predicted in yeast cyt c by Brownian dynamics and docking calculations. The occurrence of different amino acids at the protein-protein interface and the dissimilar assumptions employed in the calculations can largely account for the nonidentical interfaces.     

Fluorescence of meso-tetrakis(4-(carboxy)phenyl)porphine covalently bound to oligonucleotides d(CG)5 and d(TA)5

The amino-reactive derivative of tetraphenylporphine meso-tetrakis[4-(carboxy)phenyl]porphine (TCPP) was synthesized, which is characterized by a high molar absorption coefficient (epsilon 416 = 36,500 M-1.cm-1). TCPP was covalently attached to oligonucleotides d(CG)5 [d(CG)5-TCPP] and d(TA)5 [d(TA)5-TCPP]. The spectral characteristics of these complexes were studied in 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7 at 23 degrees C. UV-visible absorption spectra of these complexes have a clearly pronounced Soret band at (414 +/- 1) nm for d(CG)5-TCPP and at (412 +/- 1) nm for d(TA)5-TCPP. The fluorescence spectra of these complexes have maxima at (648 +/- 2) nm for d(CG)5-TCPP and at (658 +/- 2) nm for d(TA)5-TCPP. In this study we also determined fluorescence quantum yields q and fluorescence lifetimes tau [q = 0.099 +/- 0.011, tau = (9.0 +/- 0.3) ns for d(CG)5-TCPP and q = 0.080 +/- 0.011, tau = (8.7 +/- 0.3) ns for d(TA)5-TCPP]. A temperature rise from 5 to 50 degrees C produced only slight (within 23%) emission changes in both samples studied. Taking into account: a) high fluorescence yields (q), b) weak dependence of q on temperature, c) weak q dependence of q on the oligonucleotide type, we conclude that TCPP may be used as a sensitive fluorescence label in DNA studies.