Evidence for tautomerism in nucleic acid base pairs. 1H NMR study of 15N labeled tRNA.

The imino proton resonances of 15N labeled tRNA appear as asymmetric doublet signals, the asymmetry being dependent on the applied magnetic field strength. Assuming a tautomerism of the type N-H...N not equal to N...H-N in the base pairs the line shapes can be simulated. The most important parameters fitted in the simulation are the rate constants of the proton transfer and the mole fractions of either tautomeric state. The rate constants are of the order of 100s-1 and the mole fractions of the non dominant tautomer about 0.1 depending on the temperature and on the nature of the base pairing. The observations are attributed to a double proton transfer in the base pairs. The unexpectedly slow rates of the double proton transfer process may be connected with a concomitant conformational change of the duplex structure.     

15N and 1H NMR evidence for multiple conformations of the complex of dihydrofolate reductase with its substrate, folate

The binding of folate to Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase in the presence and absence of NADP+ has been studied by 15N NMR, using [5-15N]folate. In the presence of NADP+, three separate signals were observed for the single 15N atom, in agreement with our earlier evidence from 1H and 13C NMR for multiple conformations of this complex [(1982) Biochemistry 21, 5831-5838]. The 15N spectra of the binary enzyme-folate complex provide evidence for the first time that this complex also exists in at least two conformational states. This is confirmed by the observation of two separate resonances for the 7-proton of bound folate, located by two-dimensional exchange spectroscopy.     

Nucleotide sequence of a spinach chloroplast valine tRNA.

The nucleotide sequence of a spinach chloroplast valine tRNA (sp. chl. tRNA Val) has been determined. This tRNA shows essentially equal homology to prokaryotic valine tRNAs (58-65% homology) and to the mitochondrial valine tRNAs of lower eukaryotes (yeast and N. crassa, 61-62% homology). Sp. chl. tRNA Val shows distinctly lower homology to mouse mitochondrial valine tRNA (53% homology) and to eukaryotic cytoplasmic valine tRNAs (47-53% homology). Sp. chl. tRNA Val, like all other chloroplast tRNAs sequenced, contains a methylated GG sequence in the dihydrouridine loop and lacks unusual structural features which have been found in several mitochondrial tRNAs.     

Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. 1H NMR studies on chemically modified HPr proteins

The low-pK tyrosyl residue present in the heat-stable proteins (HPr) of all Gram-positive bacteria studied until now has been labeled by tetranitromethane in the HPr of Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus faecalis. The nitrotyrosyl derivatives obtained are fully active in the complementation assay. The labeled tyrosyl residues could be identified as Tyr-37 in both proteins. Reinvestigation of the low-pK tyrosyl residue in HPr of Staphylococcus aureus resulted in the same assignment. In all three proteins an interaction between nitrotyrosine-37 and the active center His-15 could be observed, leading to an increase in the pK of His-15 and a change of its chemical shift parameters. The 1H NMR lines of the complete aromatic spin system of HPr of B. subtilis could be assigned by the nitration studies. Labeling of Arg-17 in HPr of S. aureus and S. faecalis by 1,2-cyclohexanedione in the presence of borate ions causes an almost complete inhibition of its enzymatic activity. In the NMR spectrum the labeling of the arginyl residue influences the resonance lines of His-15: two new resonance lines for the C-2 protons of equal intensity are observed, a fact that could be explained by two different conformations in slow exchange. The pK value of His-15 was not changed by the labeling, excluding Arg-17 as responsible for the low pK of His-15.     

1H NMR spectroscopic studies of calcium-binding proteins. 3. Solution conformations of rat apo-alpha-parvalbumin and metal-bound rat alpha-parvalbumin

Lacking the extraordinary thermal stability of its metal-bound forms, apo-alpha-parvalbumin from rat muscle assumes two distinct conformations in aqueous solution. At 25 degrees C, its highly structured form predominates (Keq = 5.7; delta G degree = -4.3 kJ X mol-1); as deduced from both 1H NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, this conformation is exceedingly similar to those of its Mg(II)-, Ca(II)-, and Lu(III)-bound forms. The temperature dependences of several well-resolved aromatic and upfield-shifted methyl 1H NMR resonances and several CD bands indicate that the native, highly helical structure of rat apo-alpha-parvalbumin is unfolded by a concerted mechanism, showing no indication of partially structured intermediates. The melting temperature, TM, of rat apo-alpha-parvalbumin is 35 +/- 0.5 degrees C as calculated by both spectroscopic techniques. By 45 degrees C, rat apo-alpha-parvalbumin unfolds entirely, losing the tertiary structure that characterizes its folded form: not only are the ring-current-shifted aromatic and methyl 1H NMR resonances leveled, but the 262- and 269-nm CD bands are also severely reduced. As judged by the decrease in the negative ellipticity of the 222-nm CD band, this less-structured form of rat apo-alpha-parvalbumin shows an approximate 50% loss in apparent alpha-helical content compared to its folded state. Several changes in the 1H NMR spectrum of rat apo-alpha-parvalbumin were exceptionally informative probes of the specific conformational changes that accompany metal ion binding and metal ion exchange. In particular, the line intensities of the ortho proton resonance of Phe-47, the unassigned downfield-shifted alpha-CH resonances from the beta-sheet contacts between the metal-binding loops, the C2H resonance of His-48, and the epsilon-CH3 resonance of an unassigned Met residue were monitored as a function of added metal to determine the stability constants of several metal ion-parvalbumin complexes. We conclude that Mg(II) binds to the CD and EF sites independently, its affinity for the EF site being almost twice that for the CD site. Mg(II)----Ca(II) exchange showed that the CD-site Mg(II) is displaced first, in contrast to Lu(III)'s preferential displacement of the EF-site Ca(II) as determined from the Ca(II)----Lu(III) exchange experiments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

NMR study of the modified base resonances of tRNA tyr- coli

220MHz NMR spectra at 28° show several resolved resonances in the high field region for D₂O solutions of tyrosine specific tRNA from E. coli. These resonances are tentatively identified as arising from protons of the modified nucleoside, 2-methylthio-N⁶-(Δ²-isopentenyl)-adenosine and from the modified guanosine of unknown structure in the “wobble position” of the anti codon loop. Assignment of resonances was aided by comparison with spectra of tRNA_su⁺III^tyr, Form II, whose sequence is closely homologous to tRNA_coli^tyr, except for changes in some modified bases. Line widths of resolved resonances indicate that, at 28°, the methyl groups of modified nucleosides are not completely restricted in their motion relative to the overall motion of the macromolecule.     

Boat conformations. Analysis and simulation of the complex 1H NMR spectrum of methyl 2,6:3,4-dianhydro-alpha-D-altropyranoside

The complex 1H NMR spectrum of methyl 2,6:3,4-dianhydro-alpha-D-altropyranoside (1) has been analyzed and simulated in detail by using input parameters derived from experimental 1H chemical shifts, long- and short-range coupling constants, spin-lattice relaxation times, and effective, spin-spin relaxation times obtained by trial and error matching of the experimental and simulated spectra. The 13C spin-lattice relaxation times of 1 have also been measured, and along with the 1H-1H long- and short-range coupling constants, have been interpreted in terms of the geometry of 1 defined by molecular dynamics with simulated annealing.     

Bisulfite-induced C changed to U transitions in yeast valine tRNA.

The reaction of yeast tRNAVallab with NaHSO3 at 25 degrees and pH 5.8 has been studied. Six reactive residues have been located. C-17 in loop I is the most reactive (51% conversion) and C-73 in the first base pair of the acceptor stem the least reactive (8%). Three of the remaining reactive residues (C-39 in loop II, C-75 and C-76 near the acceptor stem) react to the same extent (36 to 38%) under the conditions of the experiment. C-37 in the anticodon reacted to a lesser extent (28%) than C-39 (36%), located just 2 residues away in the anticodon loop. No other changes were detected, but kinetic data suggest one or more additional residues may react very slowly. The C changed to U change in the anticodon (iac changed to iau) is a missense change (Val changed to Ile). Both mechanistic considerations and experimental data from the literature show that HSO3--induced deamination of cytosine residues occurs only at unstacked residues. We interpret the quantitative changes in tRNAVal to indicate that C-17 spends a large portion of its lifetime in an unstacked conformation. The stacking lifetimes of C-37, C-39, C-75, and C-76 seem to be similar but not identical. All other cytidine residues are much more tightly stacked. These results are consistent with the folded cloverleaf models that have been proposed from x-ray diffraction studies of yeast tRNAPhe. Residues C-46, C-49, C-57, and C-61, which are present in the single-stranded regions of the unfolded cloverleaf structure, do not react, suggesting that they are tightly stacked in solution under the conditions of this experiment. The data also suggest that anticodon-loop conformations other than the extremes with five bases stacked on either the 3' or 5' portion of the anticodon stem exist in solution and that the anticodon loop is flexible.     

Distinguishing multiple chemotaxis Y protein conformations with laser-polarized 129Xe NMR

The chemical shift of the (129)Xe NMR signal has been shown to be extremely sensitive to the local environment around the atom and has been used to follow processes such as ligand binding by bacterial periplasmic binding proteins. Here we show that the (129)Xe shift can sense more subtle changes: magnesium binding, BeF(3)(-) activation, and peptide binding by the Escherichia coli chemotaxis Y protein. (1)H-(15)N correlation spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography were used to identify two xenon-binding cavities in CheY that are primarily responsible for the shift changes. One site is near the active site, and the other is near the peptide binding site.     

alpha and beta-glycopyranosyl phosphates and 1.2-phosphates. Assignments of conformations in solution by 13C and 1H NMR.

The 1H and 13C NMR parameters of the anomeric pairs of aldopyranosyl phosphates and their rigid 1,2-phosphate derivatives are reported.The derivatives of D-glucose, D-galactose, and D-mannose exist in the 4C1 conformation while the L-fuco derivatives are in the C4 conformation. As judged by 31P--1H and 31P--13C coupling constants, all of the alpha anomers of the aldopyranosyl phosphates have the phosphate moiety predominantly trans to C(2) while in the beta anomers other rotamers make significant contributions. This relationship remains the same for the biologically important nucleoside diphosphate sugars (UDPGlc, UDPGal, GDPMan, and GDPFuc). From the pH dependence of 13C chemical shifts, observed in 0.5 M solutions, the pK'a2 of the alpha anomers is 6.1 while the pK'a2 of the beta anomers is 0.6--0.8 pH unit lower. In the 1.2-phosphates, the chair conformation of the parent aldose is retained while an envelope conformation is formed by the cyclic phosphate. In the alpha anomers, the plane is formed between C(2), C(1), O(1), and P while O(2) is above the plane. In the beta anomers, O(1) is out of the plane formed by the other atoms. The beta anomers have phosphorus coupled to C(3) with coupling constants of 10.8--11.7 Hz, approximately 2 Hz greater than the maximum reported for trans coupling (Lapper, R. D., & Smith, I. C. P. (1973) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 95, 2880).     

Nucleotide sequence of valine tRNA mo5UAC from bacillus subtilis.

A valine tRNA was purified from Bacillus subtilis W168 by a combined use of several column chromatographic systems. The nucleotide sequence was determined to be pG-G-A-G-G-A-U-U-A-G-C-U-C-A-G-C-D-G-G-G-A-G-A-G-C-A-U-C--G-C-C-U-mo5U-A-C-m6-A -A-G-C-A-G-A-G-G-m7G-U-C-G-G-C-G-G-T-psi-C-G-A-G-C-C-C-G-U-C-A-U-C-C-U-C-C-A-C- C-AOH with the main use of of non-labeled tRNA and with the subsidiary use of [32P]-post-labeled sample. This tRNA contains 5-methoxy-uridine (mo5U) at the wobble position of the anticodon. A binding experiment of valyl-tRNA to ribosome revealed that mo5U is recognized by A and G, and fairly well by U.     

1H NMR studies of the solution conformations of an analogue of the C-peptide of ribonuclease A

Two-dimensional NMR experiments have been performed on a peptide, succinyl-AE-TAAAKFLRAHA-NH2, related to the amino-terminal sequence of ribonuclease A. This peptide contains 50-60% helix in 0.1 M NaCl solution, pH 5.2, 3 degrees C, as measured by circular dichroism. NOESY spectra of the peptide in aqueous solution at low temperatures show a number of NOE connectivities that are used to determine the highly populated conformations of the peptide in solution. Short-range dNN(i, i + 1) and d alpha N(i, i + 1) connectivities and medium-range d alpha beta(i, i + 3) and d alpha N(i, i + 3) connectivities are detected. The pattern of NOE connectivities unambiguously establishes the presence of helix in this peptide. The magnitudes of the 3JHN alpha coupling constants and the intensities of the dNN(i, i + 1) and d alpha N(i,i + 1) NOEs allow the evaluation of the position of the helix along the peptide backbone. These data indicate that the amino terminus of the peptide is less helical than the remainder of the peptide. The observation of several long-range NOEs that are atypical of helices indicates the presence of a high population of peptide molecules in which the first three residues are distorted out of the helical conformation. The absence of these NOEs in a related peptide, RN-31, in which Arg 10 has been changed to Ala, suggests that this distortion at the amino-terminal end of the peptide arises from the formation of a salt bridge between Glu 2 and Arg 10.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A rapid cytosine-specific modification of E. coli tRNA Leu 1 by semicarbazide-bisulfite, a probe for polynucleotide conformations.

Cytosine residues in 32P-labeled E. coli tRNA Leu 1 were modified by treatment of the tRNA with the semicarbazide-bisulfite reagents [Hayatsu, H. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 2677-2682]. Analysis of the modification sites showed that only four cytidine residues, i.e. C35, C53, C85 and C86, reacted. They were identical with the cytidines of this tRNA accessible to methoxyamine [Chang, S. E. and Ish-Horowicz, D. (1974) J. Mol. Biol. 84, 375-388] and the accessibility was consistent with the conformational features recognized for tRNA in general. The rapidity and the simple nature of this modification demonstrate that the semicarbazide-bisulfite reaction is a useful tool in studying conformations of polynucleotides.     

Synthesis of fragments of the D-branch of yeast valine tRNA1 and their analogs

Nonanucleotide GpUpCpUpApGpDpCpGp corresponding to the fragment 10-18 of the yeast tRNA1Val with pseudouridine-13 replaced by uridine has been synthesized. Dihydrouridine derivatives were studied as substrated of ribonucleases with various specificity and of RNA ligase.     

Evidence for metalloenzyme character of tRNA nucleotidyl transferase.

Previous studies (1–5) have shown that several nucleotidyl transferases are metalloenzymes and in a few cases (1–3) the metal has been identified as zinc. In all instances these enzymes are specifically inhibited by incubation with the chelating agent 1,10-phenanthroline but are not affected by the structurally similar 1,7-phenanthroline which does not chelate metals. We report here that tRNA nucleotidyl transferase from E. coli is inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline and that only the initial rate of incorporation of AMP is affected; CMP incorporation is not specifically inhibited by this chelator. This finding is in conflict with a previous study (5) in which it was claimed that tRNA nucleotidyl transferase from Rous sarcoma virus and from yeast was unaffected by 1,10-phenanthroline and suggests that the E. coli tRNA nucleotidyl transferase is a metalloenzyme.