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Molecular interaction analysis in ligand design using mass transport, kinetic and thermodynamic methods.

Ligand design in biotechnology is underpinned by the control of molecular affinity. Hence, measuring binding interactions is a key component in designing ligands for such uses as therapeutics, diagnostics, biomaterials and separation science. Mass transport, kinetic and thermodynamic methods have been used for macromolecular interaction analysis but also have potential applicability as direct methods for measuring small molecular interactions. They can enhance the ligand design process by providing the ability to choose ligands based on both their kinetic and thermodynamic binding properties.

Biosensing Techniques↗

Thermodynamic and kinetic characterization of the dissociation and assembly of quadruplex nucleic acids.

The dissociation and assembly of quadruplex DNA structures (and a few quadruplex RNAs) have been characterized at several levels of rigor, ranging from gross descriptions of factors that govern each process, to semiquantitative comparisons of the relative abilities of these factors to induce stabilization or destabilization, to quantitative studies of binding energies (thermodynamics), transformational rates (kinetics), and analysis of their transition-state energies and mechanisms. This survey classifies these factors, describes the trends and focuses on their interdependencies. Quadruplex assembly is induced most efficiently by added K(+) and elevating the strand concentration; however, Na(+), NH(4)(+), Sr(2+), and Pb(2+) are also very effective stabilizers. Quadruplex dissociation is typically accomplished by thermal denaturation, "melting"; however, when the quadruplex and monovalent cation concentrations are low enough, or the temperature is sufficiently high, several divalent cations, e.g., Ca(2+), Co(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Ni(2+) and Mg(2+) can induce dissociation. Stabilization also depends on the type of structure adopted by the strand (or strands) in question. Variants include intramolecular, two- and four-stranded quadruplexes. Other important variables include strand sequence, the size of intervening loops and pH, especially when cytosines are present, base methylation, and the replacement of backbone phosphates with phosphorothioates. Competitive equilibria can also modulate the formation of quadruplex DNAs. For example, reactions leading to Watson-Crick (WC) duplex and hairpin DNAs, triplex DNAs, and even other types of quadruplexes can compete with quadruplex association reactions for strands. Others include nonprotein catalysts, small molecules such as aromatic dyes, metalloporphyrins, and carbohydrates (osmolytes). Other nucleic acid strands have been found to drive quadruplex formation. To help reinforce the implications of each piece of information, each functional conclusion drawn from each cited piece of thermodynamic or kinetic data has been summarized briefly in a standardized table entry.

Base Pairing↗

Is "frank" DNA-strand breakage via the guanine radical thermodynamically and sterically possible?

Using the reduction potential of one-electron oxidized guanosine in water and the pKa values of the radical and of the parent, the N1-H bond energy of the 2'-deoxyguanosine moiety is determined to be (94.3+/-0.5) kcal mol(-1). Using the DFT method, the energy of the N1-centered guanosine radical is calculated and compared with those of the C1'- and C4'-radicals formed by H-abstraction from the 2'-deoxyribose moiety of the molecule. The result is that these deoxyribose-centered radicals appear to be more stable than the N1-centered one by up to 3 kcalmol(-1). Therefore, H-abstraction from a 2'-deoxyribose C-H bond by an isolated guanosine radical should be thermodynamically feasible. However, if the stabilization of a guanine radical by intrastrand pi-pi interaction with adjacent guanines and the likely lowering of the oxidation potential of guanine by interstrand proton transfer to the complementary cytosine base are taken into account, there is no more thermodynamic driving force for H-abstraction from a deoxyribose unit. As a further criterion for judging the probability of occurrence of such a reaction in DNA, the stereochemical situation that a DNA-guanosine radical faces was investigated utilizing X-ray data for relevant model oligonucleotides. The result is that the closest H-atoms from the neighboring 2'-deoxyribose units are at distances too large for efficient reaction. As a consequence, H-abstraction from 2'-deoxyribose by the DNA guanine radical leading subsequently to a "frank" DNA strand break is very unlikely. The competing reaction of the guanine radical cation with a water molecule which eventually yields 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (leading to "alkali-inducible" strand breaks) has thus a chance to proceed.

DNA↗

Synthesis and thermodynamic studies of oligonucleotides containing the two isomers of thymine glycol.

Thymine glycol is a major type of base damage, which is formed in DNA by reactive oxygen species. I describe the synthesis of oligonucleotides containing the 5S isomer of thymine glycol, which was not obtained by the oxidation of the oligonucleotides. Before the 5S isomer was synthesized, a building block without the protection of the tertiary hydroxy function at the C5 position of thymine glycol was tested by the use of the previously reported 5R isomer. In the presence of imidazole, migration of the silyl group between the C5 and C6 positions was observed, while the result of the oligonucleotide synthesis was identical to the case of the fully protected building block. Therefore, oligonucleotides containing the (5S)-thymine glycol were synthesized with the disilylated building block. In contrast to the 5R derivative, two products were detected in the HPLC analysis of the crude mixture after deprotection. Analysis by matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry revealed that the larger peak was the desired oligonucleotide, and it was found that the by-product was completely degraded by a short treatment with ammonium hydroxide at room temperature. I also report the application of oligonucleotides containing each isomer of thymine glycol to thermodynamic analyses of base-pair formation. The thermodynamic parameters obtained for the duplexes containing either the (5R)- or (5S)-thymine glycol indicated that the thymine glycol cannot form a base-pair with any nucleobase, regardless of the configuration at the C5 position.

Amides↗

Thermodynamic compatibility of sodium caseinate with different pectins. Influence of the milieu conditions and pectin modifications.

Combinations of pectins and caseins are ingredients of many food products. Therefore the thermodynamic compatibility of both components was examined to investigate the influences of environmental factors as well as of the structure of the pectin. High-methoxyl pectin was demethoxylated and amidated, respectively, and tested for the compatibility with sodium caseinate under varying conditions of pH and ionic strength. The compatibility increased with increasing pH and decreasing ionic strength. Demethoxylated pectins were more and amidated pectins less compatible with the caseinate. Changes in the pectin hydrophilicity, solubility and molecular weight and possibly local interactions such as electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding and calcium bridges are involved in the compatibility of the components. The type and degree of the pectin modifications as well as the type, composition and properties of the protein were found to be of great importance for the thermodynamic compatibility.

Caseins↗

Application of affinity capillary electrophoresis for the determination of binding and thermodynamic constants of enediynes with bovine serum albumin.

The binding constants and thermodynamic properties of a series of novel enediyne compounds with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were determined. The enediynes were synthesized, characterized, and then studied by affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) methods to derive these recognition parameters. Change in electrophoretic mobility of BSA as a function of enediyne concentration was determined at 25 degrees C providing binding constants of 1.76 x 10(5), 1.14 x 10(5), and 0.68 x 10(5) M(-1) for enediynephenylalanine carboxylic acid, enediynephenylalanine methyl ester, and enediyne carboxylic acid, respectively. The binding constant for the enediynephenylalanine carboxylic acid was in good agreement with that obtained using conventional methodology. Binding constants for the interaction of enediynes with BSA decreased with an increase in temperature. Van't Hoff plots showed a direct correlation between intensity of the binding constant and the sign and magnitude of various thermodynamic parameters (DeltaG, DeltaS, and/or DeltaH).

Alkynes↗

Thermodynamic study of the second-stage dissociation of N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine (bicine) in water at different ionic strength and different solvent mixtures.

The second stage dissociation constant pK2 of N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine (bicine) has been determined in aqueous solution at different ionic strengths and different temperatures, using pH-metric technique. The thermodynamic quantities (deltaG(o), deltaH(o), and deltaS(o)) have been studied and discussed. Evaluation of the effect of organic solvent of the medium on the dissociation processes have also been reported and discussed. The organic solvents used were methanol, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and dioxane. The pK2 for the ionization in water +10, +20, +30, +40, and +50 wt % dioxane has been determined at five different temperatures from 15 to 35 degrees C at intervals of 5 degrees C. The thermodynamic quantities were calculated. The implications of the results with regard to specific solute-solvent interactions (particularly stabilization of zwitterionic species) are also discussed.

Dimethyl Sulfoxide↗

Fluorescence energy transfer monitored competitive equilibria of nucleic acids: applications in thermodynamics and screening.

Precise thermodynamic characterization of nucleic acid complex stability is required to understand a variety of biologically significant events as well as to exploit the specific recognition capabilities of nucleic acids in biotechnology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The development of a database of nucleic acid thermodynamics with sufficient precision to foster further developments in these areas requires new and improved measurement techniques. The combination of a competitive equilibrium titration with fluorescence energy transfer based detection provides a method for precise measurement of differences in free energy values for nucleic acid duplexes that far exceeds in precision those accessible via conventional methods. The method can be applied to detect and to characterize any deviation in a nucleic acid that alters duplex stability. Such deviations include, but are not limited to, mismatches; single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP); chemically modified nucleotide bases, sugars or phosphates; and conformational anomalies or folding motifs, such as, loops or hairpins.

Binding, Competitive↗

Evidence that thermodynamic stability of papaya glutamine cyclase is only marginal.

Papaya glutamine cyclase (PQC), a glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 32,980 Da, is a minor constituent of the papaya latex protein fraction. In neutral aqueous solutions, PQC adopts an all-beta conformation and exhibits high resistance to both proteolysis and denaturation. Complete unfolding of PQC requires a combination of an acidic medium and chemical denaturant such as urea or guanidine hydrochloride. The unfolding process takes place through formation of an intermediate A state that accumulates in the absence of chemical denaturants and displays all the features of a molten globule state. The different conformational states-N (native), A (acid-inactivated), and U (unfolded)-have been characterized by means of circular dichroism measurements, fluorescence spectroscopies, Stokes radii determinations, and 8-anilino-1-naphtalenesulfonic acid (ANS) binding characteristics. The unfolding pathways of the enzyme was further studied to estimate thermodynamic parameters characterizing both transitions N if A and A if U. In its A state, PQC is catalytically inefficient and highly susceptible to proteolysis. Also, its thermodynamic stability is decreased by some 3-5 kcal/mol. Conversion of the native to the A state involves digging up of five amino functions together with protonation of four to five acidic groups with pK(a)s, in the native state, around 2.7. It proceeds both cooperatively and reversibly although, in vitro, the refolding process is slow. Unfolding of the A state, on the other hand, occurs with a low degree of cooperativity. The intermediate A state thus seems to be only marginally more stable than the unfolded state. The role of suspected internal ion pairs in the stabilization of the native state of this enzyme is discussed.

Aminoacyltransferases↗

Thermodynamic and structural factors in the removal of bulky DNA adducts by the nucleotide excision repair machinery.

The function of the human nucleotide excision repair (NER) apparatus is to remove bulky adducts from damaged DNA. In an effort to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the recognition and excision of bulky lesions, we investigated a series of site specifically modified oligonucleotides containing single, well-defined polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) diol epoxide-adenine adducts. Covalent adducts derived from the bay region PAH, benzo[a]pyrene, are removed by human NER enzymes in vitro. In contrast, the stereochemically analogous N(6)-dA adducts derived from the topologically different fjord region PAH, benzo[c]phenanthrene, are resistant to repair. The evasion of DNA repair may play a role in the observed higher tumorigenicity of the fjord region PAH diol epoxides. We are elucidating the structural and thermodynamic features of these adducts that may underlie their marked distinction in biologic function, employing high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance studies, measurements of thermal stabilities of the PAH diol epoxide-modified oligonucleotide duplexes, and molecular dynamics simulations with free energy calculations. Our combined findings suggest that differences in the thermodynamic properties and thermal stabilities are associated with differences in distortions to the DNA induced by the lesions. These structural effects correlate with the differential NER susceptibilities and stem from the intrinsically distinct shapes of the fjord and bay region PAH diol epoxide-N(6)-adenine adducts.

Base Sequence↗

Surface electrostatic effects in oligonucleotide microarrays: control and optimization of binding thermodynamics.

We present a theoretical thermodynamic framework for the design of more efficient oligonucleotide microarrays. A general thermodynamic relation is derived to describe the electrostatic surface effects on the binding of the assayed biomolecule to a surface-tethered molecular probe. The relation is applied to analyze how the nucleic acid target, the oligonuleotide probe, and their DNA duplex electrostatic interactions with the surface affect the hybridization on DNA arrays. Taking advantage of a closed form exact solution of the linear Poisson-Boltzmann equation for a charged ion-penetrable sphere in electrolyte solution interacting with a plane wall, we study the effects of the surface and solution conditions. Binding free energy is found as a function of the surface material, dielectric or metal, the surface charge density, linker molecule length, temperature, and added salt content. The charge or electric potential of the dielectric or metal surface, respectively, is shown to dominate the hybridization, especially at low added salt or short linker length. We predict that substantial enhancement of sensitivity, selectivity, and reliability of microarrays can be achieved by control of the surface conditions. As examples, we discuss how to overcome two limitations of current technologies: nonequal sensitivity of the probes with different GC and AT bases content, and poor match/mismatch discrimination. In addition, we suggest the design of microarray conditions where the tested nucleic acid is unfolded, thus making possible the screening of a larger sequence with single nucleotide resolution. These promising findings are discussed and further experimental tests suggested.

Base Sequence↗

Thermodynamics of aminoglycoside-rRNA recognition.

2-Deoxystreptamine (2-DOS) aminoglycosides are a family of structurally related broad-spectrum antibiotics that are used widely in the treatment of infections caused by aerobic Gram-negative bacilli. Their antibiotic activities are ascribed to their abilities to bind a highly conserved A site in the 16 S rRNA of the 30 S ribosomal subunit and interfere with protein synthesis. The abilities of the 2-DOS aminoglycosides to recognize a specific subdomain of a large RNA molecule make these compounds archetypical models for RNA-targeting drugs. This article presents a series of calorimetric, spectroscopic, osmotic stress, and computational studies designed to evaluate the thermodynamics (DeltaG, DeltaH, DeltaS, DeltaCp) of aminoglycoside-rRNA interactions, as well as the hydration changes that accompany these interactions. In conjunction with the current structural database, the results of these studies provide important insights into the molecular forces that dictate and control the rRNA binding affinities and specificities of the aminoglycosides. Significantly, identification of these molecular driving forces [which include binding-linked drug protonation reactions, polyelectrolyte contributions from counterion release, conformational changes, hydration effects, and molecular interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions)], as well as the relative magnitudes of their contributions to the binding free energy, could not be achieved by consideration of structural data alone, highlighting the importance of acquiring both thermodynamic and structural information for developing a complete understanding of the drug-RNA binding process. The results presented here begin to establish a database that can be used to predict, over a range of conditions, the relative affinity of a given aminoglycoside or aminoglycoside mimetic for a targeted RNA site vs binding to potential competing secondary sites. This type of predictive capability is essential for establishment of a rational design approach to the development of new RNA-targeted drugs.

Aminoglycosides↗

Thermodynamic cycle-perturbation study of the binding of trifluoroacetyl dipeptide anilide inhibitors with porcine pancreatic elastase.

The variety of results of crystallographic studies of the serine proteases complexed with isocoumarin inhibitors presents a challenging problem to modeling methods and molecular energetics. Therefore, the thermodynamic cycle-perturbation technique has been used to study a model system of elastase and two peptidic inhibitors. Using the program AMBER, the technique correctly predicts changes of the binding constants for the trifluoroacetyl dipeptide inhibitors in comparison with available experimental (kinetic and crystallographic) data. However, the absolute values obtained are shown to be sensitive to the specific electrostatic interaction potential parameters used in the simulations. The reader and user are cautioned that thermodynamic cycle-perturbation results may be too optimistic by underestimating the accuracy of free energy values. This is especially a matter of concern for those cases where a direct comparison with experimental values is not possible, viz., (1) the stimulation of binding of novel compounds, (2) structurally uncertain binding sites, or (3) structurally different binding modes. With our best 4-31G* ESP (electrostatic potential) charges we were able to reproduce experimentally determined free energy differences (delta delta A) with an accuracy of about 1.5 kcal/mol. Dynamically induced structural changes in the binding site of elastase, and particularly changes in hydrogen-bond patterns of the binding site, are also reported.

Anilides↗

Thermodynamics of drug-DNA interactions: entropy-driven intercalation and enthalpy-driven outside binding in the ellipticine series.

Viscosimetric and kinetic results allow one to characterize three modes of DNA binding in the ellipticine series: (1) Ellipticine and its 9 methoxy derivative, which present maximal DNA lengthening properties and bind DNA through a single step mechanism, can be considered as pure intercalators. (2) Ellipticinium derivatives and short-chain substituted oxazolopyridocarbazoles, which present intermediate DNA lengthening properties, bind DNA through a two-step mechanism, one being intercalation. (3) Long-chain substituted oxazolopyridocarbazole derivatives, which display the smallest DNA lengthening properties, bind DNA through a single-step mechanism, probably resulting from an outside binding mode. The viscosimetric and kinetic results are compared with the thermodynamic results obtained from the temperature dependence of the binding constants. It appears that drugs binding on the outside of the DNA double helix tend to have large enthalpy and small entropy contributions, whereas pure intercalating drugs have contributions from both enthalpy and entropy, with entropy dominating by about 2:1. Drugs showing two binding modes exhibit a continuum between the aforementioned extremes, with no breaks in behavior. From this comparison, a correlation between thermodynamic data and DNA binding modes is proposed. Possible molecular implications of both enthalpy and entropy to DNA binding free energy are discussed.

Buffers↗

A molecular dynamics study of thermodynamic and structural aspects of the hydration of cavities in proteins.

The structure and activity of a protein molecule are strongly influenced by the extent of hydration of its cavities. This is, in turn, related to the free energy change on transfer of a water molecule from bulk solvent into a cavity. Such free energy changes have been calculated for two cavities in a sulfate-binding protein. One of these cavities contains a crystallographically observed water molecule while the other does not. Thermodynamic integration and perturbation methods were used to calculate free energies of hydration for each of the cavities from molecular dynamics simulations of two separate events: the removal of a water molecule from pure water, and the introduction of a water molecule into each protein cavity. From the simulations for the pure water system, the excess chemical potential of water was computed to be -6.4 +/- 0.4 kcal/mol, in accord with experiment and with other recent theoretical calculations. For the protein cavity containing an experimentally observed water molecule, the free energy change on hydrating it with one water molecule was calculated as -10.0 +/- 1.3 kcal/mol, indicating the high probability that this cavity is occupied by a water molecule. By contrast, for the cavity in which no water molecules were experimentally observed, the free energy change on hydrating it with one water molecule was calculated as 0.2 +/- 1.5 kcal/mol, indicating its low occupancy by water. The agreement of these results with experiment suggests that thermodynamic simulation methods may become useful for the prediction and analysis of internal hydration in proteins.

Hydrogen Bonding↗

Thermodynamic strategies for stabilizing intermediate states of proteins.

This paper presents three theorems pertaining to thermodynamic properties of the intermediate (e.g., molten globule) state of proteins exhibiting such a conformation in the presence of GuHCl or urea. The theorems are proved for the three-state case using the denaturant binding model and the linear extrapolation model; their utility is illustrated via applications to examples in the literature. Theorem One states that the denaturant activity that maximizes the population of a partly folded conformation is at any temperature independent of the Gibbs free energy difference between the intermediate and native states. This result holds for both models of protein-denaturant interaction. The second theorem claims that the population maximum is independent of the denaturant association constant for the denaturant binding model. Theorem Three, which also applies to both models considered here, states that at the temperatures corresponding to the extrema in the population of the intermediate, the enthalpy change of the intermediate is equal to the excess enthalpy function, an experimentally accessible quantity. In the absence of denaturant, the enthalpy change of the intermediate state at the population extrema can be written as a function of the thermodynamic parameters of the unfolded state alone. These results, which can be applied to systems of any number of states under certain conditions, should aid in the optimization of conditions employed for experimental studies of partly organized states of proteins.

Drug Stability↗

Thermodynamics of melting of the circular dumbbell d .

The conformational behavior of DNA minihairpin loops is sensitive to the directionality of the base pair that closes the loop. Especially tailored circular dumbbells, consisting of a stem of three Watson-Crick base pairs capped on each side with a minihairpin loop, serve as excellent model compounds by means of which deeper insight is gained into the relative stability and melting properties of hairpin loops that differ only in directionality of the closing pair: C-G vs G-C. For this reason the thermodynamic properties of the circular DNA decamers 5'-d -3' (I) and reference compounds 5'-d -3' (II) and 5'-d(GCG-TC-CGC)-3' (III) are studied by means of nmr spectroscopy. Molecules I and II adopt dumbbell structures closed on both sides by a two-membered hairpin loop. At low temperature I consists of a mixture of two slowly exchanging forms, denoted L2L2 and L2L4. The low-temperature L2L2 form is the fully intact minihairpin structure with three Watson-Crick C-G base pairs. The high-temperature form, L2L4, contains a partially disrupted closing G-C base pair in the 5'-GTTC-3' loop, with the cytosine base placed in a syn orientation. The opposite 5'-CTTG-3' loop remains stable. A study of the noncircular hairpin structure III shows similar conformational behavior for the 5'-GTTC-3' loop as found in I; a syn orientation for C(6) and two slowly exchanging imino proton signals for G(3). The melting point Tm of II was estimated to lie above 365 K. The Tm value of the duplex stem and the 5'-CTTG-3' loop of the L2L4 form of I is 352 +/- 2 K. The delta H0 is calculated as -89 +/- 10 kJ/mol. The Tm value determined for the individual residues of the 5'-GTTC-3' loop lies 4 degrees-11 degrees lower. The enthalpy delta H0 of melting the thymine residues in the 5'-GTTC-3' loop is calculated to be -61 +/- 7 kJ/mol. Thermodynamic data of the equilibrium between the slowly exchanging two- and four-membered loop conformers of I reveal an upper limit for delta H0 of +30 kJ/mol in going from a two-membered to a four-membered loop, in agreement with the enthalpy difference of +28 kJ/mol between the two loops at the Tm midpoint. For hairpin III the upper limit for delta H0 in going from a two-membered to a four-membered loop amounts to +/- 21 kJ/mol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗

Microbial growth by a net heat up-take: a calorimetric and thermodynamic study on acetotrophic methanogenesis by Methanosarcina barkeri.

To answer the intriguing question whether or not endothermic microbial growth exists, and in particular, to verify Heijnen and van Dijken's prediction (1992), acetotrophic methanogen, Methanosarcina barkeri, has been cultivated in a highly sensitive bench-scale calorimeter (an improved Bio-RC1 reaction calorimeter) in a pH auxostat fashion. A growth yield of 0.043 C-mol C-mol(-1) has been obtained and a cell density as high as 3 g L(-1) was attained. Heat uptake during growth has indeed been quantitatively measured with calorimetry, resulting in a heat yield of +145 kJ C-mol(-1). Thermodynamics of the growth of acetotrophic methanogens was analyzed in detail. The changes in Gibbs energy, enthalpy, and entropy during growth of M. barkeri were compared with some typical aerobic and anaerobic growth processes of different microorganisms on various substrates. In the growth of M. barkeri on acetate, the retarding effect of the positive enthalpy change on the driving force of growth is overcompensated by the large positive entropy change, resulting from converting one organic molecule (acetic acid) to two gaseous products, CH(4) and CO(2). Both the enthalpy and the entropy increases are due partially to the transition of these two products into the gaseous phase. The thermodynamic role of this phase transition for the growth process is analyzed. Microbial growth characterized by enthalpy increase and correspondingly by a large increase in entropy may be called enthalpy-retarded growth.

Acetic Acid↗