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Presence of nonlinear excitations in DNA structure and their relationship to DNA premelting and to drug intercalation.

We propose that collectively localized nonlinear excitations (solitons) exist in DNA structure. These arise as a consequence of an intrinsic nonlinear ribose inversion instability that results in a modulated beta alternation in sugar puckering along the polymer backbone. In their bound state, soliton-antisoliton pairs contain beta premelted core regions capable of undergoing breathing motions that facilitate drug intercalation. We call such bound state structures--beta premeltons. The stability of a beta premelton is expected to reflect the collective properties of extended DNA regions and to be sensitive to temperature, pH, ionic strength and other thermodynamic factors. Its tendency to localize at specific nucleotide base sequences may serve to initiate site-specific DNA premelting and melting. We suggest that beta premeltons provide nucleation centers important for RNA polymerase-promoter recognition. Such nucleation centers could also correspond to nuclease hypersensitive sites.

DNA↗

Recognition by the DNA repair system of DNA structural alterations induced by reversible drug-DNA interactions.

Ditercalinium (NSC 335153) was synthesized as a bifunctional DNA intercalator. It is made of two 7-H pyridocarbazole rings joined by a rigid bis-ethyl bispiperidine chain. It binds to DNA with high affinity and elicits anti-tumor activity on a variety of animal tumors. 1H n.m.r. studies of ditercalinium bis-intercalated into d(CpGpCpG)2 have shown that the intercalation process occurs from the large groove of the DNA helix while the two intercalated rings are separated by two base pairs. Because of the linking chain rigidity of ditercalinium, DNA conformation has to be altered to permit the intercalation of the two rings. DNA must be bent toward the minor groove. In E. coli, ditercalinium elicits a specific toxicity on polA strains which is suppressed by an additional uvrA mutation. In vitro, the purified UvrA and UvrB proteins bind to the DNA-ditercalinium complex in an ATP dependent manner. The UvrABC complex induces single-strand nicks, but only when ditercalinium is bound to negatively supercoiled DNA. The life-time of the UvrAB-DNA-ditercalinium complex is greater than 50 min when free ditercalinium concentration is maintained constant in the incubation medium. The cytotoxicity of ditercalinium in E. coli results from the induction of a futile and abortive DNA repair. The reversible ditercalinium-DNA complex mimics a bulky DNA lesion, yet the UvrABC endonuclease is unable to cope with a reversible lesion since it cannot eliminate the causative agent. The interaction of UvrA and UvrB proteins has also been studied with DNA and other DNA-binding drugs forming high-affinity complexes such as distamycin. The Uvr protein recognition process appears to be associated with specific DNA structural alterations. In eukaryotic cells, ditercalinium is concentrated in mitochondria. Mitochondrial DNA is rapidly and totally degraded. Mitochondrial DNA coded proteins being no longer synthesized, the respiratory chain is progressively inactivated. The stimulation of the glycolytic pathway allows the cells to continue growth for several generations. Dihydro-orotate dehydrogenase is located in the inner membrane of mitochondria and its activity is dependent on mitochondria energization. It becomes inactive after ditercalinium treatment. A drop of the pyrimidine pool is then observed. Complementation of treated cells with uridine decreases 10-fold the ditercalinium toxicity. The cellular delayed toxicity of ditercalinium results from the slow induction of a pyrimidineless state associated with the progressive inactivation of mitochondria. The results show that DNA structural alterations induced by reversible drug-DNA complexes can be recognized by DNA repair enzymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

The interaction of intercalators and groove-binding agents with DNA triple-helical structures: the influence of ligand structure, DNA backbone modifications and sequence.

The effects of ligand structure and properties, DNA backbone modifications and DNA sequence on the interaction of a variety of well-known groove-binding agents and intercalators with DNA duplexes and triplexes have been evaluated by thermal melting experiments and molecular modeling. Both methylphosphonate and phosphorothioate substitutions generally destabilize DNA duplexes and triplexes. Modified duplexes can be strongly stabilized by both groove-binding agents and intercalators whereas triplexes are primarily stabilized by intercalators. Of the compounds tested, the intercalators coralyne and quinacrine provide the largest stabilization of the triplex dT19.dA19.dT19. Molecular modeling studies suggest that the large intercalating ring system of coralyne stacks well with the triplex bases whereas the alkylamino side chain of quinacrine fits snugly into the remaining space of the major groove of dT19.dA19.dT19 triplex and forms extensive van der Waals contacts with the thymine methyl groups that line the groove. Converting some of the T.A.T base triples to C+.G.C (e.g. dT19.dA19.dT19 to d(T4C+)3T4.d(A4G)3A4.(T4C)3T4) causes very significant decreases in observed Tm increases for compounds such as quinacrine and coralyne. Although removal of thymine methyl groups and addition of positive charge on substitution of C+.G.C for T.A.T should reduce binding of cationic intercalators, the large difference observed between the pure AT and the mixed sequence triplexes suggest that they may also have differences in structure and properties.

Base Sequence↗

Sequence-dependent DNA structure.

The three-dimensional structure of DNA depends subtly on its sequence, and this property is used by the proteins that regulate gene expression to locate their target sequences. Despite the large body of experimental data that has been accumulated on the relationship between sequence and DNA structure, we still do not fully understand the molecular basis for these properties, nor can we predict a three-dimensional structure from a given sequence. We have been using computer modelling to tackle these problems. Some of our results and the implications for understanding the biological role of key sequences are discussed here.

Base Sequence↗

An ultimate chemical carcinogen, N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene, detects non-B DNA structures that are reactive with chloroacetaldehyde in supercoiled plasmid DNA.

A model ultimate carcinogen, N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-acetoxy-AAF), reacts with specific DNA sites in supercoiled plasmid DNA that assume non-B DNA structures. The reaction was studied using supercoiled plasmid DNA harboring either inverted repeats or poly(dG)--poly(dC) sequences, the sequences which are known to adopt non-B DNA structure when under torsional stress. The sites of modification were determined by first digesting the chemically treated DNA with a restriction enzyme, and then by digesting the site of modification with S1 nuclease. Southern blot analysis of resulting DNA fragments revealed that N-acetoxy-AAF detects non-B DNA structures in common with another chemical carcinogen, chloroacetaldehyde, which reacts specifically with unpaired adenine and cytosine residues. These results suggest that specific DNA sites with unpaired DNA bases in supercoiled plasmid DNA, and possibly similar structures in chromatin, are hot-spots for certain chemical carcinogen attack.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

DNA structure checkpoints in fission yeast.

A DNA structure checkpoint can be defined as any checkpoint which responds to changes in the structure of the DNA either through the cell cycle, or in response to outside events such as DNA damage. Genetic analysis of DNA structure checkpoints in fission yeast has identified several distinct pathways responding to different circumstances. Three checkpoints have been identified which inhibit the onset of mitosis. (1) A radiation checkpoint which prevents mitosis after DNA damage. (2) A checkpoint linking S phase and mitosis (the S-M checkpoint) that prevents mitosis when DNA synthesis is incomplete. (3) A checkpoint linking G1 to mitosis (the G1-M checkpoint) that prevents the onset of mitosis in cells which are arrested in the G1 period of the cycle. A large number of genetic loci that are required for these checkpoints have been identified through mutant analysis, and the involvement of the relevant genes with the individual checkpoint pathways has been investigated. The largest class of checkpoint genes, known as the 'checkpoint rad' genes, are required for all the DNA structure checkpoints and the evidence suggests that they may also be involved in regulating DNA synthesis following precursor deprivation (hydroxyurea treatment) or when the replication fork encounters DNA damage. In this review, the available genetic and physiological evidence has been interpreted to suggest a close association between the 'checkpoint rad' class of gene products and the DNA-protein complexes that regulate and perform DNA synthesis. Biochemical evidence will be required in order to prove or disprove this hypothesis.

CDC2 Protein Kinase↗

[50 years after the discovery of the DNA structure its implications still have not reached clinical practice. Our genetic material is "a big tangle of nucleic acids and proteins"].

It is now 50 years since the double helical structure of DNA was discovered. Even if the knowledge about the DNA structure has had great implications for many disciplines in medical and genetic research, the big breakthrough is still to come in clinical practice. Much research is now focusing on elucidating the regulatory mechanisms controlling the activity and behaviour of the genes of our genome. Many researchers and clinicians are hoping that the tangle of nucleic acids and proteins that fills the cellular nucleus harbours interesting and potential drug targets.

DNA↗

Biochemistry and structural DNA nanotechnology: an evolving symbiotic relationship.

Structural DNA nanotechnology is derived from naturally occurring structures and phenomena in cellular biochemistry. Motifs based on branched DNA molecules are linked together by sticky ends to produce objects, periodic arrays, and nanomechanical devices. The motifs include Holliday junction analogues, double and triple crossover molecules, knots, and parallelograms. Polyhedral catenanes, such as a cube or a truncated octahedron, have been assembled from branched junctions. Stiff motifs have been used to produce periodic arrays, containing topographic features visible in atomic force microscopy; these include deliberately striped patterns and cavities whose sizes can be tuned by design. Deliberately knotted molecules have been assembled. Aperiodic arrangements of DNA tiles can be used to produce assemblies corresponding to logical computation. Both DNA structural transitions and branch migration have been used as the basis for the operation of DNA nanomechanical devices. Structural DNA nanotechnology has been used in a number of applications in biochemistry. An RNA knot has been used to establish the existence of RNA topoisomerase activity. The sequence dependence of crossover isomerization and branch migration at symmetric sites has been established through the use of symmetric immobile junctions. DNA parallelogram arrays have been used to determine the interhelical angles for a variety of DNA branched junctions. The relationship between biochemistry and structural DNA nanotechnology continues to grow.

Algorithms↗

Cationic porphyrins as probes of DNA structure.

The DNA binding specificity of a group of cationic manganese porphyrin complexes has been examined using DNase I footprinting methodology and by observing the sites of porphyrin-induced DNA strand scission in the presence of potassium superoxide. The compounds, which possess systematic changes in total charge, its distribution on the periphery on the macrocycle and ligand shape, bind in the minor groove of AT rich regions of DNA. While changes in total charge and charge arrangement do not significantly influence specificity, a shape change which blocks close ligand contact with the minor groove relaxes the original AT specificity causing the compound to cleave at both AT and GC sites. The observed changes in binding sequence specificity were interpreted in terms of electrostatic and steric factors associated with both the compounds and DNA.

Base Sequence↗

Activity of foreign proteins targeted within the bacteriophage T4 head and prohead: implications for packaged DNA structure.

The phage-derived expression, packaging, and processing (PEPP) system was used to target foreign proteins into the bacteriophage capsid to probe the intracapsid environment and the structure of packaged DNA. Small proteins with minimal requirements for activity were selected, staphylococcal nuclease (SN) and green fluorescent protein (GFP). These proteins were targeted into the T4 head by means of IPIII (internal protein III) fusions or CTS (capsid targeting sequence) fusions. Additional evidence is provided that foreign proteins are targeted into T4 by the N-terminal ten amino acid residue consensus CTS of IPIII identified in previous work. Fusion proteins were produced within host bacteria by expression from plasmids or by produc tion from recombinant phage carrying the fusion genes. Packaged fusion proteins CTS IPIII SN, CTS IPIII TSN, CTS IPIII GFP, CTS IPIII TGFP, and CTS GFP, where [symbol: see text] indicates a linkage peptide sequence Leu(Ile)-N-Glu cleaved by the T4 head morphogenetic proteinase gp21 during head maturation, are observed to exhibit intracapsid activity. SN activity within the head is demonstrated by loss of phage viability and by digested genomic DNA patterns visualized by gel electrophoresis when viable phage are incubated in Ca2+. Green fluorescent phage result immediately after packaging GFP produced at 30 degreesC and below, and continue to give green fluorescence under 470 nm light after CsCl purification. Non-fluorescent GFP-fusions are produced in bacteria at 37 degreesC, and phage packaged with these proteins achieve a fluorescent state after incubation for several months at 4 degreesC. GFP-packaged phage and proheads analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy show that the mature head and the DNA-empty prohead package identical numbers of GFP-fusion proteins. Encapsidated GFP and SN can be injected into bacteria and rapidly exhibit intracellular activity. In vivo SN digestion of encapsidated DNA gives an intriguing pattern of DNA fragments by gel analysis, predominantly a repeat pattern of 160 bp multiples, reminiscent of a nucleosome digestion ladder, This quasi-limit DNA digestion pattern, reached >100-fold more slowly than the loss of titer, is invariant over a range </=10 to 200 molecules of SN packaged per head, and independent of proteolytic cleavage of SN from the IPIII portion of the fusion, favoring a discontinuous packaged DNA structure. Rods of B-form DNA could be envisioned as protected from digestion, whereas bent or kinked DNA would be more susceptible to the diffusible SN. Such discontinuous packaged DNA structures are favored for phage T4 by a number of lines of evidence.

Bacteriophage T4↗

Protein-DNA interactions and alterations in the DNA structure upon UvrB-DNA preincision complex formation during nucleotide excision repair in Escherichia coli.

The UvrB-DNA preincision complex is a key intermediate in the repair of damaged DNA by the UvrABC endonuclease from Escherichia coli. DNaseI footprinting of this complex on DNA with a cis-[Pt(NH3)2[d(GpG)-N7(1),N7(2)]] adduct provided global information on the protein binding site on this substrate [Visse, R., et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 7609-7617]. By applying a method developed by Fairall and Rhodes [Fairall, L., & Rhodes, D. (1992) Nucleic Acids Res. 20, 4727-4731], who have used the size and shape of DNasI for the interpretation of a footprint, we were able to define in more detail the region where UvrB-DNA interactions in the preincision complex occur. The potential interactions with phosphate groups could be reduced to less then 14 in the damaged and to 12 in the nondamaged strand. The main UvrB-DNA interactions seem restricted to the major groove on both sides of the lesion. As a consequence UvrB crosses the minor groove just downstream of the damage. Such a binding of UvrB orients the protein away from the damage. The more detailed interpretation of UvrB-DNA interactions was supported by methylation protection experiments. The structure of the DNA in the preincision complex formed on cis-[Pt(NH3)2[GpG-N7(1),N7(2)]] is altered as could be shown diethylpyrocarbonate sensitivity of adenines just downstream of the lesion. However the adenines just downstream of another cisplatin adduct, cis-[Pt(NH3)2[d(GpCpG)-N7(1),N7(3)]], did not become diethylpyrocarbonate sensitive in the preincision complex although this complex is incision proficient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

A single trinucleotide, 5'AGC3'/5'GCT3', of the triplet-repeat disease genes confers metal ion-induced non-B DNA structure.

Expansion of (AGC)n repeats has been associated with genetic disorders called triplet-repeat diseases such as Huntington's disease (HD), myotonic muscular dystrophy (DM) and Kennedy's disease. To gain insight into the abnormal behavior of these repeats, we studied their structural properties in supercoiled DNA. Chemical probing revealed that, under physiological salt and pH conditions, Zn2+ or Co2+ ions induce (AGC)n repeats to adopt a novel non-B DNA structure in which all cytosine but none of adenine residues in either strand become unpaired. The minimum size of (AGC)n repeat that could form this structure independently of neighboring sequences is a single unit of double-stranded trinucleotide, 5'AGC3'/5'GCT3'. Other trinucleotide units of the same nucleotide composition, 5'CAG3'/5'CTG3' or 5'GCA3'/5'TGC3', do not form non-B DNA structures. This unusual DNA structural properly adopted by a single 5'AGC3'/5'GCT3' trinucleotide may contribute to expansion of (AGC)n sequences in triplet-repeat diseases.

Base Sequence↗

Specific binding of o-phenanthroline at a DNA structural lesion.

DNA intercalators are found to recognize a DNA lesion as a high affinity receptor site. This lesion-specific binding is observed when one strand of a DNA double helix contains an extra, unpaired nucleotide. Our assay for binding controls for the effects of sequence with a series of oligodeoxynucleotide duplexes which are identical except for the location of the lesion, an extra cytidine. Scission of the series of oligodeoxynucleotides by the cuprous complex of ortho-phenanthroline (OP-Cu) indicates that OP-Cu binds at the lesion-specific stable intercalation site, suggesting that OP-Cu intercalates into DNA. The dispersion of OP-Cu scission sites over three residues is consistent with scission via a diffusible intermediate. The location of the scission sites, directly on the 3' side of the lesion, is consistent with minor groove binding in B DNA.

Base Sequence↗

Conformational flexibility in DNA structure and its implications in understanding the organization of DNA in chromatin.

X-ray crystallographic studies of drug-nucleic acid crystalline complexes have suggested that DNA first bends or 'kinks' before accepting an intercalative drug or dye. This flexibility in DNA structure is made possible by altering the normal C2' endo deoxyribose sugar puckering in B DNA to a mixed sugar puckering pattern of the type C3' endo (3'-5') C2' endo and partially unstacking base pairs. A kinking scheme such as this would require minimal sterochemical rearrangement and would also involve small energies. This has prompted us to ask more generally if a conformational change such as this could be used by proteins in their interactions with DNA. Here we describe an interesting superhelical DNA structure formed by kinking DNA every ten base pairs. This structure may be used in the organization of DNA within the nucleosome structure in chromatin.

Base Sequence↗

Recognition of sequence-directed DNA structure by the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I.

Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy was used to investigate the influence of sequence-directed DNA structure upon the interaction between the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I and a series of defined oligonucleotide primer/templates. 17/27-mer (primer/template) oligonucleotides containing a dansyl fluorophore conjugated to a modified deoxyuridine residue within the primer strand were used as substrates for binding to Klenow fragment. The time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay of the dansyl probe was analyzed in terms of two local environments, either solvent-exposed or buried, corresponding to primer/templates positioned with the primer 3' terminus in the polymerase site or the 3'-5' exonuclease site of the enzyme, respectively. Equilibrium constants for partitioning of DNA between the two sites were evaluated from the anisotropy decay data for primer/templates having different (A + T)-rich sequences flanking the primer 3' terminus. Primer/templates with AAAATG/TTTTAC and CGATAT/GCTATA terminal sequences (the nucleotides on the left refer to the last six bases at the 3' end of the primer, and the nucleotides on the right are the corresponding bases in the template) were bound mostly at the polymerase site. The introduction of single mismatches opposite the primer 3' terminus of these DNA substrates increased their partitioning into the 3'-5' exonuclease site, in accord with the results of an earlier study [Carver, T.E., Hochstrasser, R.A., and Millar, D.P. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 10670-10674]. In contrast, a primer/template with the terminal sequence CAATTT/GTTAAA, containing an A-tract element AATTT, exhibited a surprising preference for binding at the 3'-5' exonuclease site, despite the absence of mismatched bases in the DNA substrate. Interruption of the A-tract with a single AG step, to give the terminal sequence CAGTTT/GTCAAA, reversed the effect of the A-tract, causing the DNA to partition in favor of the polymerase site. Moreover, the presence of a single mismatch opposite the primer 3' terminus was also sufficient to reverse the effect of the A-tract, resulting in a distribution of DNA between polymerase and 3'-5' exonuclease sites that was similar to that observed for the other mismatched DNA substrates. Taken together, these results suggest that the A-tract adopts an unusual conformation that is disruptive to binding at the polymerase site. The effect of the A-tract on binding of DNA to the polymerase site is discussed in terms of the unusual helix structural parameters associated with these sequence elements and the difference between the local geometry of the A-tract and the conformation adopted by duplex DNA within the polymerase cleft. The results of this study show that in addition to base mismatches, Klenow fragment can also recognize irregularities in the helix geometry of perfectly base-paired DNA.

Base Composition↗

Sequence-dependent DNA structure. The role of base stacking interactions.

The sequence-dependent structure of DNA is analysed on the basis of the energetics of the base stacking (pi-pi) interactions. The conformational preferences of the ten possible base-pair steps in double-helical DNA have been calculated and compared with experimental data from X-ray fibre diffraction, X-ray crystal structures and gel-running experiments. The calculations account for many features of sequence-dependent DNA structure, including polymorphism in DNA, the lack of polymorphism in RNA, the structure of Z-DNA, bistability in pyrimidine-purine (YR) steps, the origin of propeller twist and buckle and the role of TATA sequences at the sites of origin of replication. The computational model used specifically allows for the charge distribution associated with the out-of-plane pi-electron density of the bases. The results obtained are rationalized on the basis of the shapes and charge distributions of the bases. Calladine's cross-strand steric clashes at pyrimidine-purine (YR) and CX/XG steps are reproduced. In AX/XT steps, same-strand steric clashes occur between the thymine methyl group and the 5'-neighbouring sugar. They are the cause of the large negative propeller twist observed in A.T base-pairs. Steric clashes between the thymine methyl group and the 5'-neighbouring base block A-DNA conformations in AX/XT steps. Electrostatic interactions between partial atomic charges are most important for C.G base-pairs which are highly polarized. They lead to strong preferences for positive slide and negative slide conformations in CG and GC steps, respectively. This combination can be accommodated in poly(CG) by left-handed Z-DNA. Many of the more subtle sequence-dependent effects are caused by electrostatic interactions between the partial atomic charges on one base-pair and the out-of-plane pi-electron density on another. The effect is most important in CX-XG steps and leads to bistability. In general, electrostatic interactions cause non-zero slide. This is opposed by the hydrophobic effect which favours the zero slide B-type conformation. Thus, B-DNA is observed at high water content in fibres and electrostatic interactions force high or low slide A or C-DNA conformations at low water content. If two juxtaposed steps have very different conformational preferences, this incompatibility can lead to unusual structures such as Z-DNA or strain such as in TATA sequences.

Base Sequence↗

Probing of unusual DNA structures in topologically constrained form V DNA: use of restriction enzymes as structural probe.

The ability of DNA sequences to adopt unusual structures under the superhelical torsional stress has been studied. Sequences that are forced to adopt unusual conformation in topologically constrained pBR322 form V DNA (Lk = 0) were mapped using restriction enzymes as probes. Restriction enzymes such as BamHI, PstI, AvaI and HindIII could not cleave their recognition sequences. The removal of topological constraint relieved this inhibition. The influence of neighbouring sequences on the ability of a given sequence to adopt unusual DNA structure, presumably left handed Z conformation, was studied through single hit analysis. Using multiple cut restriction enzymes such as NarI and FspI, it could be shown that under identical topological strain, the extent of structural alteration is greatly influenced by the neighbouring sequences. In the light of the variety of sequences and locations that could be mapped to adopt non-B conformation in pBR322 form V DNA, restriction enzymes appear as potential structural probes for natural DNA sequences.

Base Sequence↗

Structured DNA promotes phosphorylation of p53 by DNA-dependent protein kinase at serine 9 and threonine 18.

Phosphorylation at multiple sites within the N-terminus of p53 promotes its dissociation from hdm2/mdm2 and stimulates its transcriptional regulatory potential. The large phosphoinositide 3-kinase-like kinases ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene product and the ataxia telangectasia and RAD-3-related kinase promote phosphorylation of human p53 at Ser15 and Ser20, and are required for the activation of p53 following DNA damage. DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is another large phosphoinositide 3-kinase-like kinase with the potential to phosphorylate p53 at Ser15, and has been proposed to enhance phosphorylation of these sites in vivo. Moreover, recent studies support a role for DNA-PK in the regulation of p53-mediated apoptosis. We have shown previously that colocalization of p53 and DNA-PK to structured single-stranded DNA dramatically enhances the potential for p53 phosphorylation by DNA-PK. We report here the identification of p53 phosphorylation at two novel sites for DNA-PK, Thr18 and Ser9. Colocalization of p53 and DNA-PK on structured DNA was required for efficient phosphorylation of p53 at multiple sites, while specific recognition of Ser9 and Thr18 appeared to be dependent upon additional determinants of p53 beyond the N-terminal 65 amino acids. Our results suggest a role for DNA-PK in the modulation of p53 activity resultant from the convergence of p53 and DNA-PK on structured DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗