Interaction of tRNA with Safranal,Crocetin, and Dimethylcrocetin

Abstract

Saffron is the red dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. flowers and used both as a spice and as a drug in traditional therapeutic. The biological activity of saffron in modern medicine is in development. Its numerous applications as an anti-oxidant and anti-cancer agent are due to its secondary metabolites and their derivatives (safranal, crocins, crocetin, dimethylcrocetin). The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of transfer RNA with safranal, crocetin, and dimethylcrocetin in aqueous solution at physiological conditions. Constant tRNA concentration (6.25 mM) and various drug/tRNA (phosphate) molar ratios of 1/48 to 1/8 were used. FT-IR and UV-Visible difference spectroscopic methods have been applied to determine the drug binding mode, the binding constants and the effects of drug complexation on the stability and conformation of tRNA duplex. External binding mode was observed for safranal crocetin and dimethylcrocetin, with overall binding constants K_safranal = 6.8 (± 0.34) × 10³ M^?1, K_CRT = 1.4 (± 0.31) × 10⁴ M^?1, and K_DMCRT = 3.4 (± 0.30) × 10⁴ M^?1. Transfer RNA remains in the A-family structure, upon safranal, crocetin and dimethylcrocetin complexation.     

Interaction of tRNA with ribosomes

Definition of the site of tRNA-binding to ribosomes is suggested on the basis of a free energy of tRNA-ribosome interaction. From this point of view disagreements that have arisen in recent years concerning the numbers of tRNA binding sites on the ribosome, their distribution between subunits, the properties of the third site E in ribosomes and the compatibility of new experimental data with different models of elongation cycle are discussed. The observation of the third site in the ribosome (messenger independent and with a presumably exit function) is not a refutation but an extension of Watson's model of translating ribosome.     

Interaction of chlorambucil with tRNA.

Preincubation of purified mixed tRNAs from Escherichia coli K12-MO with 2.94 mM chlorambucil (CAB) for 2 h at 37 degrees C results in the inhibition of the capacity of mixed tRNAs to accept alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine by 100, 71, 100, 100, 100, 95, 32, 88, 36, 26, 96, 78, 44, 31, 34, 98, 38, and 17% respectively. Preincubation of tRNA with 0.75 mM and 0.29 mM CAB inhibited aminoacylation by aspartic acid to the extent of 69 and 17% respectively. CAB has no apparent effect upon the capacity of ATP to function in the formation of aminoacylated tRNALeu.     

Interaction of cytochrome c with tRNA and other polynucleotides

Interaction between tRNA and other polynucleotides with cytochrome c was studied by visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and gel mobility shift assay in view of the recently reported important regulatory role of tRNA in cytochrome c mediated apoptotic pathway. Visible spectroscopy showed perturbation in the heme binding environment in cytochrome c with tRNA binding. Fluorescence titrations indicated that cytochrome c binds to different polynucleotides with differing affinities. A weak binding was observed with single stranded polyribonucleotides and polydeoxyribonuleotides and strong binding with tRNA and double stranded DNA as indicated by extent of fluorescence quenching and binding constants. Calculation of thermodynamic binding parameters from fluorescence titrations indicated that three molecules of cytochrome c bound with one tRNA molecule with binding constant of 1.9?×?10(6)?M(-1). The perturbation of cytochrome c structure caused by the binding of tRNA could be affecting its role in mediating apoptosis.     

藏红花酸及藏红花酸二甲酯的制备与抗氧化性能研究

本文首先从栀子果中提取分离出栀子黄色素,栀子黄色素分别经过水解、酯交换反应得到藏红花酸和藏红花酸二甲酯。将产物分别经过重结晶处理,得到纯度为98.2%的藏红花酸和98.8%的藏红花酸二甲酯,其IR、UV、1HNMR均与文献报道一致。采用羟基自由基体系和超氧阴离子自由基体系对藏红花酸及藏红花酸二甲酯的体外抗氧化活性进行研究,并与BHT进行比较。结果表明,在试验质量浓度范围内,藏红花酸以及藏红花酸二甲酯的清除羟基自由基与超氧自由基的能力都明显强于BHT,为优秀的天然抗氧化剂。     

Interaction of tRNA with 23S rRNA in the ribosomal A, P, and E sites

Three sets of conserved nucleotides in 23 rRNA are protected from chemical probes by binding of tRNA to the ribosomal A, P, and E sites, respectively. They are located almost exclusively in domain V, primarily in or adjacent to the loop identified with the peptidyl transferase function. Some of these sites are also protected by antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, which could explain how these drugs interfere with protein synthesis. Certain tRNA-dependent protections are abolished when the 3'-terminal A or CA or 2',3'-linked acyl group is removed, providing direct evidence for the interaction of the conserved CCA terminus of tRNA with 23S rRNA. When the EF-Tu.GTP.aminoacyl-tRNA ternary complex is bound to the ribosome, no tRNA-dependent A site protections are detected in 23S rRNA until EF-Tu is released. Thus, EF-Tu prevents interaction of the 3' terminus of the incoming aminoacyl-tRNA with the peptidyl transferase region of the ribosome during anticodon selection, thereby permitting translational proofreading.     

Interaction of eukaryotic threonyl-tRNA synthetase with high-Mr RNAs and tRNA(Thr)

Threonyl-tRNA synthetase of rabbit reticulocytes was purified to homogeneity. We have found that this enzyme can interact not only with cognate tRNA(Thr), but also with high-Mr RNAs. tRNA(Thr) removes rRNA from the complexes with threonyl-tRNA synthetase. On the other hand, rRNA is unable to dissociate tRNA(Thr) from the complexes with the enzyme. Despite its dimeric organization, threonyl-tRNA synthetase is unable to form stable ternary complexes with tRNA(Thr) and rRNA. In the extract of rabbit reticulocytes about one-third of the threonyl-tRNA synthetase molecules are in association with cognate tRNA(Thr) and thus are unable to interact with high-Mr RNAs.     

Interaction of antioxidant flavonoids with tRNA: intercalation or external binding and comparison with flavonoid-DNA adducts

Antioxidants are essential to good health. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants, and prevent DNA damage. The antioxidative protections are related to their binding modes to a DNA duplex and complexation with free radicals in vivo. Recently we reported the interaction of flavonoids with DNA in vitro (Kanakis et al., J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 22, 719-724, 2005), where polyphenol different binding modes were discussed. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of transfer RNA with quercetin (que), kaempferol (kae), and delphinidin (del) in aqueous solution at physiological conditions and to make a comparison with the corresponding pigment-DNA adducts. Constant tRNA concentration (6.25 mM) and various drug/RNA(phosphate) molar ratios of 1/48 to 1/8 were used. FTIR and UV-visible difference spectroscopic methods have been applied to determine the drug binding mode, the binding constants, and the effects of drug complexation on the stability and conformation of tRNA duplex. Both intercalative and external binding modes were observed. Structural analysis showed que, kae, and a del intercalate tRNA duplex with minor external binding to the major or minor groove and the backbone phosphate group with overall binding constants K (que) = 4.80 x 10(4) M(1), K (kae) = 4.65 x 10(4) M(1), and K (del) = 9.47 x 10(4) M(1). The stability of adduct formation is in the order of del > que > kae. A comparison with flavonoids-DNA adducts showed both intercalation and external bindings with the stability order K (que) = 7.25 x 10(4) M(1), K (kae) = 3.60 x 10(4) M(1), and K (del) = 1.66 x 10(4) M(1). Low flavonoid concentration induces helical stabilization, whereas high pigment content causes helix opening. A partial Bto A-DNA transition occurs at high drug concentration, while tRNA remains in the A-family structure.     

Interaction of a selenocysteine-incorporating tRNA with elongation factor Tu from E.coli.

Selenocysteine-incorporating tRNA(Sec)(UCA), the product of selC, was isolated from E.coli and aminoacylated with serine. The equilibrium dissociation constant for the interaction of Ser-tRNA(Sec)(UCA) with elongation factor Tu.GTP was determined to be 5.0 +/- 2.5 x 10(-8) M. Compared with the dissociation constants of the two elongator Ser-tRNA(Ser) species (Kd = 7 x 10(-10) M), the selenocysteine-incorporating UGA suppressor tRNA has an almost hundred fold weaker affinity for EF-Tu.GTP. This suggests a mechanism by which the Ser-tRNA(Sec) is prevented in recognition of UGA codons. This tRNA is not bound to EF-Tu.GTP and is converted to selenocysteinyl-tRNA(Sec). We also demonstrate the lack of an efficient interaction of Sec-tRNA(Sec)(UCA) with EF-Tu.GTP. The results of this work are in support of a mechanism by which the selenocysteine incorporation at UGA nonsense codons is mediated by an elongation factor other than EF-Tu.GTP.     

Interaction between Loops I and III in the Tyrosine Suppressor tRNA

A mutant G to A base change in loop I of the tyrosine suppressor tRNA alters the reactivity towards methoxyamine of cytosines in loop III. This observation favours one of the previously described models for transfer RNA.     

Safranal, a saffron constituent, attenuates retinal degeneration in P23H rats

Saffron, an extract from Crocus sativus, has been largely used in traditional medicine for its antiapoptotic and anticarcinogenic properties. In this work, we investigate the effects of safranal, a component of saffron stigmas, in attenuating retinal degeneration in the P23H rat model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. We demonstrate that administration of safranal to homozygous P23H line-3 rats preserves both photoreceptor morphology and number. Electroretinographic recordings showed higher a- and b-wave amplitudes under both photopic and scotopic conditions in safranal-treated versus non-treated animals. Furthermore, the capillary network in safranal-treated animals was preserved, unlike that found in untreated animals. Our findings indicate that dietary supplementation with safranal slows photoreceptor cell degeneration and ameliorates the loss of retinal function and vascular network disruption in P23H rats. This work also suggests that safranal could be potentially useful to retard retinal degeneration in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.     

Interaction strengths between the ribosome and tRNA at various steps of translocation

Transfer RNA (tRNA) translocates inside the ribosome during translation. We studied the interaction strengths between the ribosome and tRNA at various stages of translocation. We utilized an optical trap to measure the mechanical force to rupture tRNA from the ribosome. We measured the rupture forces of aminoacyl tRNA or peptidyl tRNA mimic from the ribosome in a prepeptidyl transfer state, the pretranslocational state, and the posttranslocational state. In addition, we measured the interaction strength between the ribosome and aminoacyl-tRNA in presence of viomycin. Based on the interaction strengths between the ribosome and tRNA under these conditions, 1), we concluded that tRNA interaction with the 30S subunit is far more important than the interaction with the 50S subunit in the mechanism of translocation; and 2), we propose a mechanism of translocation where the ribosomal ratchet motion, with the aid of EF-G, drives tRNA translocation.     

栀子黄色素制备藏红花酸研究

以栀子黄色素为原料,对其水解反应制备藏红花酸及其纯化条件进行了研究,结果表明,栀子黄色素经碱水解法制备藏红花酸的最佳条件为:KOH溶液10%、温度为60℃、反应时间120 min,水解所得藏红花酸通过甲醇除杂,重结晶后,所得结晶其mp.、uv与文献报道一致,其质谱的诱导碰撞解离技术获得碎片裂解信息均表明所得到的结晶为藏红花酸,经HPLC检测纯度达到98.43%,得率为8.42%。