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Analysis of GAA/TTC DNA triplexes using nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The formation of a GAA/TTC DNA triplex has been implicated in Friedreich's ataxia. The destabilization of GAA/TTC DNA triplexes either by pH or by binding to appropriate ligands was analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and positive-ion electrospray mass spectrometry. The triplexes and duplexes were identified by changes in the NMR chemical shifts of H8, H1, H4, 15N7, and 15N4. The lowest pH at which the duplex is detectable depends upon the overall stability and the relative number of Hoogsteen C composite function G to T composite function A basepairs. A melting pH (pHm) of 7.6 was observed for the destabilization of the (GAA)2T4(TTC)2T4(CTT)2 triplex to the corresponding Watson-Crick duplex and the T4(CTT)2 overhang. The mass spectrometric analyses of (TTC)6.(GAA)6 composite function(TTC)6 triplex detected ions due to both triplex and single-stranded oligonucleotides under acidic conditions. The triplex ions disappeared completely at alkaline pH. Duplex and single strands were detectable only at neutral and alkaline pH values. Mass spectrometric analyses also showed that minor groove-binding ligands berenil, netropsin, and distamycin and the intercalating ligand acridine orange destabilize the (TTC)6.(GAA)6 composite function (TTC)6 triplex. These NMR and mass spectrometric methods may function as screening assays for the discovery of agents that destabilize GAA/TTC triplexes and as general methods for the characterization of structure, dynamics, and stability of DNA and DNA-ligand complexes.

Base Pairing↗

Albumin-protamine-oligonucleotide nanoparticles as a new antisense delivery system. Part 1: physicochemical characterization.

In this paper, a ternary system of albumin-protamine-oligonucleotide nanoparticles (AlPrO-NP) recently developed by Vogel et al. [V. Vogel, D. Lochmann, J. Weyermann, G. Mayer, C. Tziatzios, J.A. van den Broek, W. Haase, D. Wouters, U.S. Schubert, J. Kreuter, A. Zimmer, D. Schubert, Oligonucleotide-protamine-albumin nanoparticles: preparation, physical properties and intracellular processing, J. Controlled Rel. (in press)] which could serve as a potential drug delivery system for antisense oligonucleotides. Former studies of binary protamine-oligonucleotide nanoparticles showed two main disadvantages: (i) aggregation of the particles within a few minutes in the presence of salt; (ii) low intracellular dissociation between protamine and oligonucleotide, especially phosphorothioates. To overcome these problems, human serum albumin (HSA) as a non-toxic, biodegradable macromolecule was introduced as protective colloid. The assembly process of AlPrO-NP was investigated by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). 'Initial complexes' of HSA and protamine sulphate with a mean hydrodynamic diameter (dh) of about 10-14 nm were found. After adding oligonucleotides (unmodified, phosphorothioate DNA and small interfering RNA), nanoparticles (NPs) were assembled in water and in isotonic media with a dh in a range of 230-320 nm for most preparations. The chemical composition of the particles was investigated by high performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence spectrometry. The whole amount of oligonucleotides (30 microg) was entrapped into the particles at a 1:2 mass ratio (oligonucleotide/protamine). Approximately 7-10% (w/w) of the HSA was bound to the particles. The surface charge of the particles ranged from about +12 to -60 mV depending on the protamine concentration and the ionic conditions. The size and the molecular weight of the components, initial complexes and two model NP preparations were calculated from FCS data. These data verified the PCS, SEM and SAXS measurements.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Expression profiling of the schizont and trophozoite stages of Plasmodium falciparum with a long-oligonucleotide microarray.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide persistence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal variety of human malaria, is a global health concern. The P. falciparum sequencing project has brought new opportunities for identifying molecular targets for antimalarial drug and vaccine development. RESULTS: We developed a software package, ArrayOligoSelector, to design an open reading frame (ORF)-specific DNA microarray using the publicly available P. falciparum genome sequence. Each gene was represented by one or more long 70 mer oligonucleotides selected on the basis of uniqueness within the genome, exclusion of low-complexity sequence, balanced base composition and proximity to the 3' end. A first-generation microarray representing approximately 6,000 ORFs of the P. falciparum genome was constructed. Array performance was evaluated through the use of control oligonucleotide sets with increasing levels of introduced mutations, as well as traditional northern blotting. Using this array, we extensively characterized the gene-expression profile of the intraerythrocytic trophozoite and schizont stages of P. falciparum. The results revealed extensive transcriptional regulation of genes specialized for processes specific to these two stages. CONCLUSIONS: DNA microarrays based on long oligonucleotides are powerful tools for the functional annotation and exploration of the P. falciparum genome. Expression profiling of trophozoites and schizonts revealed genes associated with stage-specific processes and may serve as the basis for future drug targets and vaccine development.

Animals↗

[Isolation of oligonucleotides from partial hydrolysates of DNA using template chromatography].

Purine oligonucleotides are adsorbed at 0 degree C on poly(vinyl alcohol)-p(dC)n-DEAE-cellulose, and pyrimidine oligonucleotides on oligo(guanylic acid) gel according to the base-pairing mechanism, if their sequences contain at least three or more homologous, consecutive guanylic or cytidylic moieties. By increasing the temperature all base-paired oligonucleotides are desorbed. With this template chromatography mixtures of defined purine- or pyrimidine oligonucleotides could be isolated from fractionated partial hydrolyzates of herring sperm DNA. Afterwards these mixtures are rechromatographed on QAE-Sephadex and/or Nucleosil C18. Using this approach oligonucleotides up to nine monomer units can be isolated either as single substances or as mixtures with defined composition on a preparative scale, which would be not possible with the already existing separation procedures when partial hydrolyzates of herring sperm DNA as starting material are used. Purity and sequence of the isolated oligonucleotides are determined by the "fingerprint" method.

Animals↗

Relationship between G+C content, ORF-length and mRNA concentration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

RNA biogenesis is a tightly-regulated process. The levels and timing of expression of a gene depends on its particular function. However, gene expression levels may also depend on structural features. Here we describe the analysis of gene expression of 4977 ORFs using DNA microarrays covering the whole genome of three different S. cerevisiae strains, wild-type and tho2 and thp1 mutants with a general effect on mRNA biogenesis. We show that transcripts from G+C-rich ORFs accumulate at higher concentrations than those from G+C-poor ones, in different ORF-length categories in all strains tested. In addition, we found a negative correlation between ORF length and G+C content. Our results indicate that length and G+C content of a gene have a clear effect on its levels of expression. We discuss the biological relevance of these results, as well as different ways that these structural features could modulate mRNA biogenesis.

Base Composition↗

A method for multiple sequence alignment with gaps.

A method that performs multiple sequence alignment by cyclical use of the standard pairwise Needleman-Wunsch algorithm is presented. The required central processor unit time is of the same order of magnitude as the standard Needleman-Wunsch pairwise implementation. Comparison with the one known case where the optimal multiple sequence alignment has been rigorously determined shows that in practice the proposed method finds the mathematically optimal solution. The more interesting question of the biological usefulness of such multiple sequence alignment over pairwise approaches is assessed using protein families whose X-ray structures are known. The two such cases studied, the subdomains of the ricin B-chain and the S-domains of virus coat proteins, have low pairwise similarity and thus fail to align correctly under standard pairwise sequence comparison. In both cases the multiple sequence alignment produced by the proposed technique, apart from minor deviations at loop regions, correctly predicts the true structural alignment. Thus, given many sequences of low pairwise similarity, the proposed multiple sequence method, can extract any familial similarity and so produce a sequence alignment consistent with the underlying structural homology.

Algorithms↗

Influence of sequence on the conformation of the B-DNA helix.

We have tried to ascertain whether the variability found in the conformational features of the 10 base steps in B-DNA is mainly due to the flanking sequences or to interactions with the environment. From an analysis of the twist parameter of the base-pair steps available from crystals of oligonucleotides and protein/oligonucleotide complexes, we conclude that in most cases the flanking sequences show little influence: the conformation of a DNA region results from the combination of the independent intrinsic features of each base step (average conformation and intrinsic variability), modulated by their interactions with the environment. Only in some cases (YR steps, in particular CG and CA/TG) does it appear that flanking sequences have an influence on the conformation of the central base step. The values obtained allow an approximation to the parameters expected for repetitive DNA sequences. In particular, it is found that poly[d(AG/CT)] should have a strongly alternating conformation, in agreement with recently reported oligonucleotide structures.

Base Composition↗

Circular dichroism of DNA frayed wires.

Ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra are reported for the oligonucleotide d(A15G15) in aqueous solutions containing 5 mM MgCl2 at several temperatures and in the presence of partially complementary oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides with several consecutive terminal guanine residues self-associate to form aggregates, called frayed wires, that consist of integer numbers of strands. A "stem" is formed through interactions between the guanine residues of the associated oligonucleotides, whereas the adenine "arms" remain single stranded. Upon subtracting the circular dichroism spectrum of d(A15) from that of d(A15G15), one obtains a spectrum that closely resembles previously published spectra of poly(G). Subtracting spectra measured at temperatures between 10 degrees C and 60 degrees C reveals the resultant spectra to be independent of temperature, consistent with the extreme thermal stability observed for the aggregated structures. Upon the addition of d(T15) to the solution, complexes with the adenine portion of the d(A15G15) frayed wires are formed. Subtraction of d(A15):d(T15) spectra measured at several temperatures from those of the d(A15G15):d(T15) does not significantly alter the spectrum of the guanines. The helix-coil transition temperature of d(A15):d(T15) duplex is identical to that of the unbinding of d(T15) from d(A15G15):d(T15) complexes. Experiments using oligonucleotides in which the adenines were replaced with sequences of bases yielded similar results. By varying the length of the nonguanine tract, it is shown that the solubility of the complexes increases with the length of the nonguanine region of the oligonucleotide.

Adenine↗

The solution structure of the loop E region of the 5S rRNA from spinach chloroplasts.

A structure has been obtained for the loop E region of the 5S rRNA from Spinacia oleracia chloroplast ribosomes using residual dipolar coupling data as well as NOE, J coupling and chemical shift information. Even though the loop E sequence of this chloroplast 5S rRNA differs from that of Escherichia coli loop E at approximately 40% of its positions, its conformation is remarkably similar to that of E.coli loop E. Consistent with this conclusion, ribosomal protein L25 from E.coli, which binds to the loop E region of both intact E.coli 5S rRNA and to oligonucleotides containing that sequence, also binds to the chloroplast-derived oligonucleotide discussed here.

Base Composition↗

Compositional structure of repetitive elements is quantitatively related to co-expression of gene pairs.

A sequence similarity metric operating on 10 kb upstream regions of gene pairs quantitatively predicts a portion of co-variation of expression of gene pairs in large-scale gene expression studies in human tumors and tumor-derived cell lines. The signal on which the metric depends most strongly originates in the compositional structure of repetitive genomic sequences (particularly Alu elements) present in these upstream regions. This effect is completely separable from effects of isochore composition on gene expression. The results implicate repetitive elements with some functional role in transcriptional regulation of the specific genes in whose promoter regions they reside and lend credence to suggestions that the general phenomenon of repetitive element insertions may be a fundamental evolutionary mechanism for modulating gene transcription.

Base Composition↗

Thermodynamics-structure relationship of single mismatches in RNA/DNA duplexes.

Thermodynamics of 66 RNA/DNA duplexes containing single mismatches were measured by UV melting methods. Stability enhancements for rG. dT mismatches were the largest of all mismatches examined here, while rU.dG mismatches were not as stable. The methyl group on C5 of thymine enhanced the stability by 0.12 approximately 0.53 kcal mol(-)(1) depending on the identity of adjacent Watson-Crick base pairs, whereas the 2'-hydroxyl group in ribouridine stabilized the duplex by approximately 0.6 kcal mol(-)(1) regardless of the adjacent base pairs. Stabilities induced by the methyl group in thymine, the 2'-hydroxyl group of ribouridine, and an nucleotide exchange at rG.dT and rU.dG mismatches were found to be independent of each other. The order for the mismatch stabilities is rG.dT >> rU. dG approximately rG.dG > rA.dG approximately rG.dA approximately rA. dC > rA.dA approximately rU.dT approximately rU.dC > rC.dA approximately rC.dT, although the identity of the adjacent base pairs slightly altered the order. The pH dependence stability and structural changes were suggested for the rA.dG but not for rG.dA mismatches. Comparisons of trinucleotide stabilities for G.T and G.U pairs in RNA, DNA, and RNA/DNA duplexes indicate that stable RNA/DNA mismatches exhibit a stability similar to RNA mismatches while unstable RNA/DNA mismatches show a stability similar to that of DNA mismatches. These results would be useful for the design of antisense oligonucleotides.

Base Composition↗

Cloning and characterization of cDNAs encoding the complete sequence of decay-accelerating factor of human complement.

cDNAs encoding the complement decay-accelerating factor (DAF) were isolated from HeLa and differentiated HL-60 lambda gt cDNA libraries by screening with a codon preference oligonucleotide corresponding to DAF NH2-terminal amino acids 3-14. The composite cDNA sequence showed a 347-amino acid protein preceded by an NH2-terminal leader peptide sequence. The translated sequence beginning at the DAF NH2 terminus encodes four contiguous approximately equal to 61-amino acid long repetitive units of internal homology. The repetitive regions contain four conserved cysteines, one proline, one glycine, one glycine/alanine, four leucines/isoleucines/valines, one serine, three tyrosines/phenylalanines, and one tryptophan and show striking homology to similar regions previously identified in factor B, C2, C4 binding protein, factor H, C1r, factor XIII, interleukin 2 receptor, and serum beta 2-glycoprotein I. The consensus repeats are attached to a 70-amino acid long segment rich in serine and threonine (potential O-glycosylation sites), which is in turn followed by a stretch of hydrophobic amino acids. RNA blot analysis of HeLa and HL-60 RNA revealed three DAF mRNA species of 3.1, 2.7, and 2.0 kilobases. The results indicate that portions of the DAF gene may have evolved from a DNA element common to the above proteins, that DAF cDNA predicts a COOH-terminal anchoring polypeptide, and that distinct species of DAF message are elaborated in cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

M13 repeat probe detects DNA minisatellite-like sequences in gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Several kinds of minisatellite DNA, all of which are composed of low to moderately repetitive DNA, have been identified in tetrapod genomes. While the repeating oligonucleotide elements (subrepeats) of a given minisatellite are virtually identical, subrepeat nucleotide composition differs between different minisatellites. Several minisatellites have exhibited moderate to high levels of restriction length polymorphism in a number of tetrapods. Such hypervariable markers provide powerful tools for genetic analyses in several fields of biology. Minisatellite applications have been restricted to tetrapods, but here we demonstrate that one probe, the M13 repeat probe previously used to detect minisatellites in humans and bovines, also reveals minisatellite-bearing endonuclease fragments in gymnosperms and angiosperms. While the plant minisatellites appear to be somatically stable within an individual, they often vary within species in potentially useful ways. These results demonstrate that minisatellite-like families may be distributed over a wide taxonomic range in eukaryotes, opening the possibility of a commensurately wide utility of minisatellite probes in genetic analyses.

DNA Probes↗

Structure of poly d(A).poly d(T).

On the basis of the x-ray data from polycrystalline and well oriented fibers of the sodium salt of poly d(A).poly d(T) (Arnott et al, Nucl. Acids Res. 11, 4141-4155 (1983), a revised B'-DNA model incorporating B-like adenine and thymine strands is shown to give a much better x-ray agreement (R = 0.25) than the previously assigned model consisting of mixed sugar conformations in the two strands. The narrowing of the minor and the widening of the major grooves are promiscuous features of B'-DNA, which are common to all poly d(purine).poly d(pyrimidine) duplexes with two hydrogen bonded base-pairs and are in marked contrast with classical B-DNA. Due to modest propeller (-15 degrees), the cross strand diagonal hydrogen bonds (0.37 nm) in this duplex are not as strong as those in A,T-rich oligonucleotide crystal structures.

Base Composition↗

Computer program for calculating the melting temperature of degenerate oligonucleotides used in PCR or hybridization.

Degenerate primers or probes have been widely used in molecular cloning, but the calculation of their melting temperatures could not simply be done using thermodynamic parameters because of degeneracy and the lack of a computer program. We present here a simple computer program named dPrimer for the calculation of melting temperature of degenerate oligonucleotides based on the nearest-neighbor model. The program was written in C+2 computer language and implemented in Macintosh with a Symantec C+2 compiler. The degenerate sequencing data were read into a graph data structure. All possible oligonucleotide sequences were then determined by a depth-first search algorithm. Their melting temperature (Tm) values were individually calculated, and output was given as Tm range, mean and standard deviation. These data could help one in the selection of PCR annealing and hybridization temperatures as well as in the design of degenerate oligonucleotides with a desired range of Tm.

Algorithms↗

[Interaction of nucleic acid bases with water molecules and formation of mismatched nucleotide pairs].

The possibility of the inclusion of water molecules in the formation of mismatched nucleotide pairs was considered in relation to the mechanisms of point errors in template directed biosynthesis. Calculations of the intermolecular interaction energy for systems containing two bases and one water molecule were carried out by the method of atom-atom potential functions. There exist energy minima for each base pair, corresponding to a single N--H...O or N--H...N H-bond between the bases and H-bonding of the water molecule with both bases. The relative positions of glycosyl bonds in some of these minima are closer to those for Watson--Crick pairs, than the positions of minima for these pairs without water. For other minima, the H-bond formation between the water molecule and the two bases additionally stabilizes the relative base position in wobble-pairs with two H-bonds between the bases. The base and water positions in energy minima are compared with the positions in some pairs proposed on the basis of NMR and X-ray data for double helical oligonucleotides.

Base Composition↗