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PubMed1981

Phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase of baker's yeast. Modulation of adenosine triphosphate-pyrophosphate exchange by transfer ribonucleic acid.

Native and modified phenylalanine transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNAPhe) can modulate phenylalanine-dependent adenosine triphosphate--inorganic [32P]pyrophosphate (ATP--[32P]PPi) exchange activity via inhibition of adenylate synthesis. Inhibition is visualized if concentrations of L-phenylalanine, ATP, and pyrophosphate are subsaturating. In the proposed mechanism, tRNAPhe is a noncompetitive inhibitor at conditions where only one of the two active sites per molecule of enzyme is occupied by L-phenylalanine, ATP, and pyrophosphate. At saturating concentrations of these reactants, both active sites are occupied and, according to the model, inhibition is eliminated. Occupation by these reactants is assumed to follow homotropic negative cooperativity. The type of effects depends on modification of tRNAPhe. Native tRNAPhe, tRNA2'-dAPhe, and tRNAoxi-redPhe are inhibitors, tRNAPhepCpC has no effect, and tRNAoxPhe is an activator. Kinetics of activation by tRNAoxPhe are slow, following the time course of Schiff base formation and subsequent reduction by added cyanoborohydride. Besides showing that a putative enzyme amino group is nonessential for substrate binding and adenylate synthesis, this result may suggest that an enzyme amino group could interact with the 3'-terminal adenyl group of cognate tRNA. In the case of asymmetrical occupation of the enzyme active sites by all of the small reactants ATP, L-phenylalanine, and pyrophosphate, the interaction with the amino group might trigger the observed noncompetitive inhibition of the pyrophosphate exchange by tRNAPhe.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1977

Mechanism of the prenyl-transfer reaction. Studies with (E)- and (Z)-3-trifluoromethyl-2-buten-1-yl pyrophosphate.

The prenyl-transfer reaction catalyzed by porcine farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase has been studied using (E)- and (Z)-3-trifluoromethyl-2-buten-1-yl pyrophosphates as substrates and inhibitors. The rate of condensation between isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and the allylic fluoro analogues is drastically depressed relative to the normal catalytic rate observed with dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) or geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP). A similar depression is found in the rates of solvolysis for methanesulfonate derivatives of the fluoro analogues in aqueous actone under typical SN1 reaction conditions. Prolonged incubation of [14C] IPP and (E)- or (Z)-CF3-DMAPP with the enzyme, followed by treatment with alkaline phosphatase, gave a product that comigrated with geranylgeraniol on a polystyrene column. Both fluoro analogues showed mixed linear inhibition patterns with DMAPP or GPP as the variable substrate. We interpret these results in terms of an ionization-condensation-elimination mechanism for the prenyl-transfer reaction.

Allyl Compounds↗
PubMed2002

X-ray crystal structures of D100E trichodiene synthase and its pyrophosphate complex reveal the basis for terpene product diversity.

The 2.4 A resolution X-ray crystal structure of D100E trichodiene synthase and the 2.6 A resolution structure of its complex with inorganic pyrophosphate are reported. The D100E amino acid substitution in the so-called "aspartate-rich" motif does not result in large changes to the overall structure of the enzyme. In the pyrophosphate complex, however, pyrophosphate coordinates two Mg(2+) ions at the mouth of the active site without causing large changes in the structure of the enzyme. This contrasts with pyrophosphate binding in the wild-type enzyme, where pyrophosphate coordinates three Mg(2+) ions and triggers a significant conformational change that closes the mouth of the active site and optimizes packing density in the enzyme-substrate complex. The attenuation of active site closure in D100E trichodiene synthase compromises enzyme-substrate packing density and confers additional spatial and conformational degrees of freedom on the substrate and carbocation intermediates, which in turn results in the formation of five alternate sesquiterpene products in addition to trichodiene. By extension, then, the diversity of terpene cyclases in biology may have evolved in part by amino acid substitutions that fine-tune structural changes dependent on metal-diphosphate complexation that govern the formation of the active site template and enzyme-substrate packing density.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2003

Isoprenoid pyrophosphate analogues regulate expression of Ras-related proteins.

The isoprenoids farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) are synthetic precursors for numerous molecules essential for cellular function as well as substrates in isoprenylation reactions. We have previously demonstrated that depletion of mevalonate results in the upregulation of Ras-related proteins which can be prevented by FPP or GGPP, independent of restoration of protein isoprenylation. To better define the regulatory properties of isoprenoid pyrophosphates, we have investigated the abilities of isoprenoid analogues to regulate the expression of the Ras-related proteins. Farnesyl phosphonic acids potentiate the upregulation of these proteins induced by mevalonate depletion independent of inhibitory activity against farnesyl protein transferase, geranylgeranyl protein transferase I, FPP synthase, or GGPP synthase. The potentiation of RhoB upregulation is at both the mRNA and protein level. The ability of these analogues to serve as functional antagonists of the isoprenoid pyrophosphates is dependent on the nature of the functional group at the head of the molecule, the charge of the molecule, and the length of the isoprenoid chain. Metabolites and additional analogues of isoprenoid pyrophosphates were found to possess agonist properties relative to FPP and GGPP. Interestingly, the structurally related retinoids all-trans-retinoic acid and 9-cis-retinoic acid also display slight agonist properties. These studies provide evidence for direct roles of FPP and GGPP in regulating transcriptional and post-transcriptional events.

Diphosphates↗
PubMed2002

Synthesis and application of a fluorescent substrate analogue to study ligand interactions for undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase.

Farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) serves as a common substrate for many prenyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of isoprenoid compounds. Undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (UPPs) catalyzes the chain elongation of FPP to C(55) undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (UPP) which acts as a lipid carrier in bacterial peptidoglycan synthesis. In this study, 7-(2,6-dimethyl-8-diphospho-2,6-octadienyloxy)-8-methyl-4-trifluoromethyl-chromen-2-one geranyl pyrophosphate, a fluorescent analogue of FPP, was prepared and utilized to study ligand interactions with E. coli UPPs. This compound displays an absorbance maximum at 336 nm and emission maximum at 460 nm without interference from protein autofluorescence. It is a competitive inhibitor with respect to FPP (K(i) = 0.57 microM) and also serves as an alternative substrate (K(m) = 0.69 microM and k(cat) = 0.02 s(-)(1)), but mainly reacts with one isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) probably due to unfavorable product translocation. Fluorescence intensity of this compound is reduced when bound to the enzyme (1:1 stoichiometry), and is recovered by FPP replacement. Using stopped-flow apparatus, the interaction of enzyme with the compound was measured (k(on) = 55.3 microM(-)(1) s(-)(1) and k(off) = 31.6 s(-)(1)). The product dissociation rate constant (0.5 s(-)(1)) determined from the competition experiments is consistent with our previous prediction from kinetic simulation. Unlike several other prenyltransferase reactions in which FPP dissociates slowly, UPPs binds FPP in a rapid equilibrium manner with a fast release rate constant of 30 s(-)(1). The fluorescent analogue of FPP presented here may provide a tool to investigate the ligand interactions for a broad class of FPP-binding proteins.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗
PubMed2004

Synthesis and activity of fluorescent isoprenoid pyrophosphate analogues.

New fluorescent analogues of farnesol and geranylgeraniol have been prepared and then converted to the corresponding pyrophosphates. These analogues incorporate anthranylate or dansyl-like groups anchored to the terpenoid skeleton through amine bonds that would be expected to be relatively stable to metabolism. After addition of the alcohols or the pyrophosphates to the culture medium, their fluorescence is readily observed inside a human-derived leukemia cell line. Enzyme assays have revealed that the farnesyl pyrophosphate analogue is an inhibitor of FTase, while the corresponding alcohol is not. These results, together with Western blot analyses of cell lysates, indicate that the farnesyl pyrophosphate analogue penetrates the cells as an intact pyrophosphate and that it does so at a biologically relevant concentration.

Cell Line, Tumor↗
PubMed2005

Polynuclear complexes with bridging pyrophosphate ligands: synthesis and characterisation of {[(bipy)Cu(H2O)(mu-P2O7)Na2(H2O)6] x 4H2O}, {[(bipy)Zn-(H2O)(mu-P2O7)Zn(bipy)]2 x 14H2O} and {[(bipy)(VO)2]2(mu-P2O7)] x 5H2O}.

The reaction in water of M(II) ions (M = Cu, 1; Zn, 2; VO, 3) with 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) followed by Na4P2O7 leads to the formation of three new complexes which feature the pyrophosphate anion, P2O7(4-), as a bridging ligand. Single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed 1 to be {[(bipy)Cu(H2O)(micro-P2O7)Na2(H2O)6] x 4H2O}, and 2 as a tetranuclear Zn(II) complex, {[(bipy)Zn(H2O)(micro-P2O7)Zn(bipy)]2 x 14H2O}. The structure of 1 consists of a mononuclear [(bipy)Cu(H2O)(P2O7)]2- unit that links via a pyrophosphate bridge to two Na atoms. The hydrated six-coordinate Na atoms themselves join together through bridging water molecules to generate a 2D Na-water sheet. The structure of 2 consists of a tetranuclear Zn(II) cluster (dimer-of-dimers) with two pyrophosphate ligands bridging between four metal centres. Adjacent clusters interact through face-to-face pi-pi interactions via the bipy ligands to yield a 2D sheet. Adjacent sheets pack in register to create channels, which are filled by the water molecules of crystallisation. An intricate 2D H-bonded water network separates adjacent sheets and encapsulates the tetranuclear clusters. Aspects of the pyrophosphate coordination modes in 1 and 2 are of structural relevance to those found within the inorganic pyrophosphatases. Compound 3, {[(bipy)(VO)2]2(micro-P2O7)] x 5H2O}, was isolated as an insoluble lime-green powder. Its dinuclear structure was elucidated from elemental and thermal analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement and IR spectroscopy. The latter displayed characteristic bridging pyrophosphate and signature V=O stretches, which were corroborated by contrast to the IR spectra of 1 and 2 and through comparison with those found in the structurally characterised dinuclear complex, {[(bipy)Cu(H2O)]2(micro-P2O7) x 7H2O}, 4.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1967

An improved synthesis of isopentenyl pyrophosphate.

1. Isopentenol was converted into isopentenyl phosphate with phosphoryl chloride in ether containing pyridine. 2. The isopentenyl phosphate reacted in 2-methylpropan-2-ol-water with morpholine and dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide to give isopentenyl phosphoromorpholidate. 3. The isopentenyl phosphoromorpholidate, with inorganic phosphate in pyridine containing tributylamine, gave isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The yield of pyrophosphate from monophosphate was 80-85% and the yield of pyrophosphate from isopentenol 40-60%. [1-(14)C]-Isopentenyl pyrophosphate was prepared by this method. 4. The yield of isopentenyl pyrophosphate from isopentenyl phosphate was substantially improved, in comparison with the yields obtained by published methods via the phosphoramidate, by the use of the phosphoromorpholidate.

Alkenes↗
PubMed1968

Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase from liver.

Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.3.2) was purified from extracts of pig liver by ammonium sulphate fractionation and by gel filtration. After about 20-fold purification the preparations were free of phosphatase and prenyltransferase (EC 2.5.1.1), the two enzymes that could have interfered with the assays. The isomerase has a distinct pH optimum at 6.0 and is activated by Mn(2+) in preference to Mg(2+). The K(m) value for isopentenyl pyrophosphate is 4x10(-6)m. The equilibrium of the reaction favours the formation of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate. The reversibility of the isomerase reaction was demonstrated directly by the formation of isopentenyl pyrophosphate from dimethylallyl pyrophosphate. It is suggested that two prenyl isomerases might exist, one involved in the synthesis of trans- and another in the synthesis of cis-polyprenyl substances.

Alkenes↗
PubMed1969

Analogues of ribose 5-phosphate and 5-phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate. The preparation and properties of ribose 5-phosphorothioate and 5-phosphoribosyl 1-methylenediphosphonate.

1. 5-Phosphoribosyl 1-methylenediphosphonate was isolated after reaction of ribose 5-phosphate and O-adenylyl methylenediphosphonate with 5-phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase from Ehrlich ascites-tumour cells. 2. The analogue reacted with adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase [K(m) (analogue)/K(m) (5-phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate) 0.17, 0.19 and 6.3 respectively; V(max.) (analogue)/V(max.) (5-phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate) 0.011, 0.26 and 1.1 respectively]. 3. The analogue was not a substrate for 5-phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase or orotate phosphoribosyltransferase. 4. Ribose 5-phosphorothioate was synthesized by allowing ribose to react with thiophosphoryl chloride in triethyl phosphate. The analogue was a substrate for 5-phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase from Ehrlich ascites-tumour cells. When this reaction was coupled to either adenine phosphoribosyltransferase or hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase, adenosine 5'-phosphorothioate or inosine 5'-phosphorothioate was formed respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Identification, molecular cloning and functional characterization of an octaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase in intra-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum.

Isoprenoids play important roles in all living organisms as components of structural cholesterol, steroid hormones in mammals, carotenoids in plants, and ubiquinones. Significant differences occur in the length of the isoprenic side chains of ubiquinone between different organisms, suggesting that different enzymes are involved in the synthesis of these side chains. Whereas in Plasmodium falciparum the isoprenic side chains of ubiquinone contain 7-9 isoprenic units, 10-unit side chains are found in humans. In a search for the P. falciparum enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of isoprenic side chains attached to the benzoquinone ring of ubiquinones, we cloned and expressed a putative polyprenyl synthase. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the corresponding recombinant protein confirmed the presence of the native protein in trophozoite and schizont stages of P. falciparum. The recombinant protein, as well as P. falciparum extracts, showed an octaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase activity, with the formation of a polyisoprenoid with eight isoprenic units, as detected by reverse-phase HPLC and reverse-phase TLC, and confirmed by electrospray ionization and tandem MS analysis. The recombinant and native versions of the enzyme had similar Michaelis constants with the substrates isopentenyl pyrophosphate and farnesyl pyrophosphate. The recombinant enzyme could be competitively inhibited in the presence of the terpene nerolidol. This is the first report that directly demonstrates an octaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase activity in parasitic protozoa. Given the rather low similarity of the P. falciparum enzyme to its human counterpart, decaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase, we suggest that the identified enzyme and its recombinant version could be exploited in the screening of novel drugs.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗
PubMed1982

Pyrophosphate inhibition of rho ATPase: a mechanism of coupling to RNA polymerase activity.

The effects of pyrophosphate on RNA binding and ATPase activities of Escherichia coli transcription termination factor rho have been studied. Mutant rho-115 protein has a temperature-sensitive RNA-dependent ATPase activity due to the thermolability of binding to RNA [Kent, R.B. & Guterman, S.K. (1981) Fed. Proc. Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 40, 1765 (abstr.)]. The presence of either ATP or pyrophosphate at comparable concentrations stabilizes the binary complex of rho and poly(C) at high temperature. ADP at 8-fold greater concentration also stabilizes the mutant rho-RNA binary complex. Pyrophosphate is a noncompetitive inhibitor (Ki = 0.07 mM) of rho poly(C)-dependent ATPase, an activity that is required for rho-mediated termination. These results suggest the existence of a regulatory site on the rho molecule. We suggest that rho NTPase is regulated by RNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.6) so that during transcription elongation the RNA polymerase competes successfully with rho for substrates and inhibits rho NTPase with product pyrophosphate. Further, RNA polymerase pausing may result in reduced pyrophosphate and increased NTP concentrations, allowing rho NTPase to function.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1984

Regulation of pea seed pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase: Evidence for interconversion of two molecular forms as a glycolytic regulatory mechanism.

Two molecular forms of pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PP(i)-PFK; pyrophosphate:D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.90) have been found whose activity depends upon association and dissociation characteristics regulated by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P(2)). PP(i)-PFK was purified 200-fold from cotyledons of germinating pea seeds and found to exist in two interconvertible molecular forms. The two forms of PP(i)-PFK have sedimentation coefficients of 6.3 and 12.7 S during ultracentrifugation in sucrose density gradients and also differ both in sensitivity to the activator Fru-2,6-P(2) and in affinity for the substrate fructose 6-phosphate. The major component of enzyme activity is in the large form (12.7 S), but the small, less-active, form (6.3 S) predominates when the enzyme preparation is extracted and stored in buffer without Fru-2,6-P(2) and glycerol. Urea (1 M) or pyrophosphate (20 mM) treatment results in at least a 50% loss of activity in the glycolytic direction, whereas these treatments had much less influence on the gluconeogenic direction activity. Concomitant with the loss of glycolytic activity the enzyme dissociates into the small form. Fru-2,6-P(2) stabilizes the large form of the enzyme against the dissociating effects of pyrophosphate and prevents the inactivation in the glycolytic direction during either urea or pyrophosphate treatment. The small molecular form of the enzyme is converted into the large form in the presence of Fru-2,6-P(2). We propose that glycolytic and gluconeogenic hexose metabolism in plants includes a regulatory mechanism induced by Fru-2,6-P(2) that involves the interconversion of two molecular forms of PP(i)-PFK.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

3-Formyl-1-butyl pyrophosphate A novel mycobacterial metabolite-activating human gammadelta T cells.

Most human blood gammadelta T cells react without major histocompatibility complex restriction to small phosphorylated nonpeptide antigens (phosphoantigens) that are abundantly produced by mycobacteria and several other microbial pathogens. Although isopentenyl pyrophosphate has been identified as a mycobacterial antigen for gammadelta T cells, the structure of several other stimulating compounds with bioactivities around 1000-fold higher than isopentenyl pyrophosphate remains to be elucidated. This paper describes the structural identification of 3-formyl-1-butyl-pyrophosphate as the core of several non-prenyl mycobacterial phosphoantigens bioactive at the nM range. Recognition of this molecule by gammadelta T cells is very selective and relies on its aldehyde and pyrophosphate groups. This novel pyrophosphorylated aldehyde most probably corresponds to a metabolic intermediate of the non-mevalonate pathway of prenyl phosphate biosynthesis in eubacteria and algae. The reactivity to 3-formyl-1-butyl-pyrophosphate supports the view that human gammadelta T cells are physiologically devoted to antimicrobial surveillance.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed2000

Phosphorylation of geranyl and farnesyl pyrophosphates by Nm23 proteins/nucleoside diphosphate kinases.

The biochemical mechanism(s) by which Nm23 proteins/nucleoside diphosphate kinases suppress tumor metastasis, inhibit cell motility, and affect cellular differentiation are not known. Here we report that Nm23 proteins can phosphorylate geranyl and farnesyl pyrophosphates to give triphosphates. Wild type Nm23-H1 had higher geranyl and farnesyl pyrophosphate kinase activities than did mutants of Nm23-H1 that do not inhibit cell motility. The phosphorylation of farnesyl pyrophosphate appears to occur in vivo as cells with an elevated level of Nm23-H1 contained more farnesyl triphosphate than did control cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report that farnesyl triphosphate exists in cells. The phosphorylation of farnesyl pyrophosphate by Nm23 proteins could alter isoprenoid metabolism, and cells with an elevated level of Nm23 proteins were found to contain more farnesylated 46- and 24-kDa proteins than did control cells. The phosphorylation of geranyl and farnesyl pyrophosphates by Nm23 proteins provides a novel mechanism by which these proteins might exert their biological effects.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Catalytic mechanism revealed by the crystal structure of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase in complex with sulfate, magnesium, and triton.

Undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (UPPs) catalyzes chain elongation of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) to undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (UPP) via condensation with eight isopentenyl pyrophosphates (IPP). UPPs from Escherichia coli is a dimer, and each subunit consists of 253 amino acid residues. The chain length of the product is modulated by a hydrophobic active site tunnel. In this paper, the crystal structure of E. coli UPPs was refined to 1.73 A resolution, which showed bound sulfate and magnesium ions as well as Triton X-100 molecules. The amino acid residues 72-82, which encompass an essential catalytic loop not seen in the previous apoenzyme structure (Ko, T.-P., Chen, Y. K., Robinson, H., Tsai, P. C., Gao, Y.-G., Chen, A. P.-C., Wang, A. H.-J., and Liang, P.-H. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 47474-47482), also became visible in one subunit. The sulfate ions suggest locations of the pyrophosphate groups of FPP and IPP in the active site. The Mg2+ is chelated by His-199 and Glu-213 from different subunits and possibly plays a structural rather than catalytic role. However, the metal ion is near the IPP-binding site, and double mutation of His-199 and Glu-213 to alanines showed a remarkable increase of Km value for IPP. Inside the tunnel, one Triton surrounds the top portion of the tunnel, and the other occupies the bottom part. These two Triton molecules may mimic the hydrocarbon moiety of the UPP product in the active site. Kinetic analysis indicated that a high concentration (>1%) of Triton inhibits the enzyme activity.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗
PubMed2004

The bacA gene of Escherichia coli encodes an undecaprenyl pyrophosphate phosphatase activity.

The bacA gene, the overexpression of which results in bacitracin resistance, was inactivated and shown to be non-essential for growth of Escherichia coli. It was proposed earlier that the bacA gene product may confer resistance to the antibiotic by phosphorylation of undecaprenol (Cain, B. D., Norton, P. J., Eubanks, W., Nick, H. S., and Allen, C. M. (1983) J. Bacteriol. 175, 3784-3789). In the present work, this extremely hydrophobic membrane protein was overproduced and purified to near homogeneity. The analysis of its catalytic properties clearly demonstrated that the purified BacA protein exhibited undecaprenyl pyrophosphate phosphatase activity but not undecaprenol phosphokinase activity. This finding was perfectly consistent with the mechanism of action of bacitracin that consists in the sequestration of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate, the BacA enzyme substrate. The level of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate phosphatase was increased by 280-fold in cells carrying bacA on a multicopy expression plasmid. It was decreased by approximately 75% but was not completely abolished in a bacA disruption mutant, suggesting that BacA is the main E. coli undecaprenyl pyrophosphate phosphatase but that other protein(s) exhibiting such an activity should exist to account for the residual activity and viability of the mutant strain. This is the first gene encoding undecaprenyl pyrophosphate phosphatase identified to date. Considering its newly identified function, we propose to rename the bacA gene uppP.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1996

Crosslinking of double-stranded oligonucleotides containing O-methyl-substituted pyrophosphate groups to the HNF1 transcription factor in nuclear cell extract.

Probing of the HNF1 (hepatocyte nuclear factor I) DNA-binding region using a set of DNA duplexes containing pyrophosphate or O-methyl-substituted pyrophosphate internucleotide groups at different positions of the HNF1 recognition sequence was performed. The histidine-tagged HNF1/1-281 DNA binding domain and nuclear extract from rat liver were used. We showed that HNF1 from these species specifically binds to modified DNA duplexes. A correlation in binding affinity of both types of duplexes was detected. Crosslinking of the HNF1 DNA-binding domain and HNF1 in nuclear liver extract to DNA duplexes carrying O-methyl-substituted pyrophosphate groups was observed. The crosslinking efficiency of HNF1 in liver extract to substituted pyrophosphate-modified DNA duplex, containing a reactive internucleotide group between nucleotides G and T of the GT dinucleotide immediately 5' to the TAAT recognition sequence, amounts to 40% of the efficiency of non-covalent association. Nonspecific crosslinking of the reactive DNA duplexes to other components of nuclear extract was not observed. These results indicate that DNA duplexes carrying substituted pyrophosphate internucleotide groups can specifically bind and crosslink with DNA-binding proteins, especially transcription factors in crude preparations and could constitute a potential tool to control the expression of disease-causing genes.

Animals↗