A reconsideration of the possibility of the specific pairing of base pairs.
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High resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ethidium bromide binding studies are used to demonstrate that poly d(G-T) forms an ordered double helical structure at low temperatures (below 24 degrees C in 0.3 M NaCl) in which G and T are hydrogen bonded together in a wobble base pair hydrogen bonding scheme as proposed earlier by Lezius and Domin. Alternative hydrogen bonding schemes involving the tautomeric form of either T or G, such as have been proposed to account for mutation rates in DNA synthesis, are eliminated.
The distal region of the tRNA1Tyr gene has been sequenced and found to have an unusual structure. It consists of a 178 base pair sequence that is repeated 3.14 times. The first repeat unit commences 19 base pairs before the end of the sequences encoding the mature tRNA, and these 19 base pairs are repeated faithfully at the beginning of each repeat unit. In the last fractional unit the repeated sequence extends only six base pairs beyond this 19 base pair sequence. Sequence information extends for 62 base pairs beyond the 3.14 repeating units, and no resemblance to the repeating sequence, or any other region of the tRNA1Tyr gene, is found. There are only 14 sites at which one of the repeats differs from the others; 11 of these are transitions, and the rest are transversions. The evolutionary implications of the differences are discussed. One of the differences, which occurs in the second repeat unit, corresponds to the location of the in vitro p-dependent transcription termination site. This is discussed along with other implications of the repeated structure.
Eight class I tRNA species have been purified to homogeneity and their proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra in the low-field region (-11 to -15 ppm) have been studied at 360 MHz. The low-field spectra contain only one low-field resonance from each base pair (the ring NH hydrogen bond) and hence directly monitor the number of long-lived secondary and tertiary base pairs in solution. The tRNA species were chosen on the basis of their sequence homology with yeast phenylalanine tRNA in the regions which form tertiary base pairs in the crystal structure of this tRNA. All of the spectra show 26 or 27 low-field resonances approximately 7 of which are derived from tertiary base pairs. These results are contrary to previous claims that the NMR spectra indicate the presence of resonances from secondary base pairs only, as well as more recent claims of only 1-3 tertiary resonances, but are in good agreement with the number of tertiary base pairs expected in solution based on the crystal structure. The tertiary base pair resonances are stable up to at least 46 degrees C. Removal of magnesium ions causes structural changes in the tRNA but does not result in the loss of any secondary or tertiary base pairs.
The number of base pairs in the solution structure of several class III D3VN tRNA species from E. coli has been determined by analyzing the number of low-field (-15 to -11 ppm) proton resonances in their nuclear magnetic resonance spectra at 360 MHz. Contrary to previous reports indicating the absence of tertiary resonances, all the spectra exhibit the expected number of secondary base pair resonances plus approximately ten extra resonances derived from tertiary base pairs in the three-dimensional folding of these molecules. The possible origins of some of these tertiary resonances are discussed; none of the spectra exhibits the characteristic resonance of the 8-14 tertiary base pair seen in class I D4V5 tRNA spectra.
The biphasic duplex-to-strand transition for the netropsin.poly(dA-dT) complex, phosphate/drug mole ratio (P/D) = 50, has been investigated by high-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy at the nonexchangeable base and sugar protons in 0.1 M cacodylate solution. The NMR spectral parameters monitor the structure and dynamics of the opening of antibiotic-free base pair regions (55 degrees-65 degrees) and the opening of base regions centered on bound netropsin (90 degrees-100 degrees). The gradual addition of netropsin to poly(dA-dT) results in structural perturbations extending into the antibiotic-free base pair regions that begin to level off above 0.02 antibiotic molecules per polynucleotide phosphate (P/D = 50). The NMR chemical shift parameters at the antibiotic-free base pair regions in the P/D = 50 complex suggest changes in the glycosidic torsion angles of the deoxyadenosine and thymidine residues and less pronounced changes in the base pair overlap geometries. The dissociation rates of the antibiotic-free base pair regions are at least an order of magnitude slower in the P/D = 50 netropsin.poly(dA-dT) complex compared to related parameters for poly(dA-dT) and the P/D = 50 ethidium bromide-poly(dA-dT) complex. There is decreased segmental mobility at the antibiotic-free strand regions in the temperature range (65 degrees-90 degrees) between the two transitions in the biphasic melting curve of the P/D = 50 netropsin-poly(dA-dT) complex. Netropsin stabilizes at least five base pairs, with their center at its binding site.
The structures of the Escherichia coli tyrosine tRNA monomer and dimer have been investigated by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). At 23 degrees C the monomer contains 26 +/- 2 base pairs and the low-field NMR spectrum (11.7-15 ppm) can be accounted for in terms of the cloverleaf structure (23 base pairs) and three additional resonances that are assigned to tertiary structure base pairs. Assignments suggested for the various resonances are consistent with thermal denaturation studies in low-salt solutions. Under these conditions the temperature dependence of the spectrum can be interpreted in terms of sequential unfolding of the cloverleaf structure with the minor and dihydrouridine stems melting first, followed by the T psi C stem, the anticodon stem, and finally the amino acceptor stem. Certain features of the tertiary structure of tRNATyr are similar to other tRNA, but some details of the folding must be different, since no resonance from the S4U8-A14 tertiary base pair is observed. The tRNATyr dimer contains only 20 +/- 2 base pairs per tRNA (40/dimer) at 23 degrees C and a good account of the low-field NMR spectrum can be given in terms of a secondary structure in which bases of the T psi C stem and loop are involved in inter-molecular base pairing. Formation of the dimer requires opening of the hU and T psi C stems, but not the anticodon or amino acid acceptor stems, and this fits well with relative stabilities observed for these stems in the monomer. The model also provides an explanation for the formation of 2n-mers, that were stable enough to be separated by gel electrophoresis at room temperature (10 mM Mg2+). Experimental conditions required for interconversion of monomer and dimer are also described.
Resonances in the low-field (11-15 ppm) nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (NMR) of tRNA molecules arise from secondary and tertiary structure base pairs (1 resonance for each base pair) as well as tertiary structure hydrogen bonds. An accurate method for integrating the low-field spectra has been developed and applied to seven different tRNA. In the presence of high levels of magnesium (10 mM free magnesium) the number of resonances (base pairs) per molecule is typically 3-4 more than the number predicted by the cloverleaf model. These results confirm our recent proposal that, under proper conditions, most tRNA exhibit 3-4 tertiary structure interactions in solution, which are also observed in x-ray diffraction studies of yeast tRNAPhe. In addition to common resonances in the 11-15 ppm region, there are common resonances at 10.5 and 9.5 ppm. A critique of methods used to integrate the low-field spectra is given and possible sources of error are indicated. The discrepancy between our present results and previous studies, which indicated that the number of base pairs per molecule was close to the number predicted by the cloverleaf model, can be attributed partly to differences in magnesium concentration and partly to inaccuracies inherent in the integration methods used.
The low-field hydrogen-bond ring NH proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of several transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNAs) related to yeast tRNAPhe have been examined in detail. Several resonances are sensitive to magnesium ion and temperature, suggesting that they are derived from tertiary base pairs. These same resonances cannot be attributed to cloverleaf base pairs as shown by experimental assignment and ring current shift calculation of the secondary base pair resonances. The crystal structure of yeast tRNAPhe reveals at least six tertiary base pairs involving ring NH hydrogen bonds, which we conclude are responsible for the extra resonances observed in the low-field NMR spectrum. In several tRNAs with the same tertiary folding potential and dihydrouridine helix sequence as yeast tRNAPhe, the extra resonances from tertiary base pairs are observed at the same position in the spectrum.
Calculations on a 20-base pair segment of DNA double helix using empirical energy functions show that DNA can be bent smoothly and uniformly into a superhelix with a small enough radius (45 A) to fit the dimensions of chromatin. The variation of energy with the twist of the base pairs about the helix axis shows the straight DNA free in solution is most stable with about 10 1/2 base pairs per turn rather than 10 as observed in the solid state, whereas superhelical DNA in chromatin is most stable with about 10 base pairs per turn. This result, which has a simple physical interpretation, explains the pattern of nuclease cuts and the linkage number changes observed for DNA arranged in chromatin.
The extent of base pairing in Escherichia coli and Bacillus stearothermophilus 5S RNAs was determined by infrared spectroscopy. From the infrared spectra taken at 20 degrees and 52 degrees C it is concluded that E. coli and B. stearothermophlius 5S RNAs possess a large number of base pairs (Table I). Comparison of our results with those previously published using other methods leads to the conclusion that the structures of prokaryotic 5S RNAs involve a large number of tertiary interactions, in which the base pairing is not necessarily solely of the Watson-Crick type.
The 270-MHz spectra of yeast tRNA(Asp) in H2O solutions containing Mg2+ show clearly resolved resonances in the region from -15 to -9.5 ppm. Resonances between -15 and -11.5 ppm from the hydrogen-bonded protons of the acceptor stem and anticodon arm decrease in intensity with increasing temperature and disappear by 75 degrees C. Simultansously, four well-resolved resonances between -11.2 and -10.3 ppm also decrease in intensity and disappear. Because of this behavior and their positions these resonances have been assigned to the four ring NH protons of G.U base pairs 5 and 30 in the acceptor stem and anticodon arm which are thereby shown not to be hydrogen bonded by normal Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds. The five G.C base pair resonances of the T psi C arm remain visible above 70 degrees C after all other resonances have disappeared. The high-temperature tRNA spectrum agrees well with that of the isolated T psi C hairpin and CCA half-molecule fragments, each of which contains the same five hydrogen-bonded proton resonances. The root-mean-square error between the observed and calculated resonance positions for the hydrogen-bonded base pair protons of these three arms is 0.19 ppm. The dihydrouridine stem is expected to have two A.U Watson-Crick base pairs and no B.C base pairs. However, it does not contribute any hydrogen-bonded resonances to the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum below -11.5 ppm. This suggests that even at 35 degrees C this helix is not hydrogen bonded in a normal manner. In the region below -11.4 ppm there are three additional proton resonances melting earlier than the rest which cannot be assigned to a particular helix of the cloverleaf. We suggest that these resonances arise from hydrogen-bonded protons involved in stabilizing tertiary structure.
The DNA helix-coil transition in the presence of ligands interacting selectively with a certain type or types of base pairs has been considered. A calculation method for estimation the influence of lignads on the melting process for which the knowledge of DNA primary structure is not required was proposed. It has been shown that the reverse temperature shift caused by ligands bound to a given type of base pairs at given kind of regions (helix or coli) is in direct proportion to the fist derivative with respect to the degree of helicity from ratio beta ji/n, where beta ji--number of nitrogen bases of i-type at the regions of j-kind; N--total number of DNA base pairs. It was assumed earlier that this shift was in direct proportion to beta ji/Nj, where Nj--number of base pairs in DNA regions of j-kind. The specificity of lignads interaction with given kinds of bases alters the manner of the melting process of the heteropolynucleotide in comparison with homopolynucleotide only in the case when the DNA primary structure has a strong influence on the position of helix and coli regions along the DNA chain. Only when this conditions is fulfilled the inversion of thermostability of AT- and GC-pairs may affect the shape of the melting curve.
The fluorochromes Hoechst 33258 and olivomycin are base pair specific DNA binding agents. The fluorescence enhancement of Hoechst 33258 and olivomycin in the presence of DNA can be directly related to the A--T and G--C content of the interacting DNA respectively. Cytological observations of metaphase chromosomes treated with these two compounds suggest that the fluorescent banding patterns produced are the reverse of one another.--Non-fluorescent base pair specific DNA binding agents have been used as counterstains in chromosome preparations to enhance the contrast of the banding patterns produced by the base specific fluorochromes. The non-fluorescent G--C specific antibiotic actinomycin-D enhanced the resolution of fluorescent bands produced by the A--T specific fluorochrome Hoechst 33258. Similarly the non-fluorescent A--T specific antibiotic netropsin was found to enhance resolution of the bands produced by the G--C -specific fluorochrome olivomycin. Netropsin was also found to increase the differential fluorescent enhancement of complexes of olivomycin with DNAs of various base composition in solution. These findings suggest that counterstaining agents act through a base sequence dependent inhibition of subsequent binding by base pair specific fluorochromes.--The base specific DNA binding agents have been used to differentiate different types of constitutive heterochromatin in mammalian species, and to facilitate chromosome identification in somatic cell hybrids.
A model for the junction of contiguous DNA segments having A-DNA and B-DNA conformations is generated using a computerized linked-atom, least-squares model building program. The junction region comprises one base pair and the two neighboring internucleotide linkages and exhibits full hydrogen-bonded base-pairing, full base-stacking, and unexceptional stereochemistry. In addition, the junction has a mixed sugar ring pucker with the junction base pair adopting C2-endo and C3-endo furanose sugar rings in the complementary strands. Since the junction is fully base-stacked, the differences in base tilt between A-DNA and B-DNA result in a bend of 26 degrees in the duplex at the junction. The results of this study indicate: 1) a correlation of the B leads to A transition with several features of the initiation of RNA transcription, 2) possible structural roles of alternating AT and GC sequences in protein recognition, and 3) the possibility of dynamic conformational discontinuities in a DNA helix.
Proton nuclear magnetic resonance has been used to examine the effect of both noncomplementary and G.U oppositions in the duplexes formed by the synthetic pentaribonucleotides CpApApUpG, CpApUpUpG, CpApGpUpG, and CpApCpUpG. The lack of any sigmoidal behavior in the chemical shift vs. temperature plots of the base protons in the individual pentaribonucleotides indicates that duplexes with noncomplementary base oppositions of the type: formula: (see text), (where X = A, U, G, or C) do not form. Variable temperature spectra of the mixture of CpApGpUpG and CpApUpUpG were recorded over the range of 70--10 degrees C. The chemical shift vs. temperature plot of the purine aromatic protons displayed sigmoidal curves. This demonstrated both duplex formation and the presence of a G.U. base pair. The average Tm of the duplex was found to be 23.4 +/- 2.0 degrees C. This is similar to that of the duplex formed by CpApUpG (24.0 +/- 1.0 degrees C) but less than the Tm of the following duplexes: CpApApUpG:CpApUpUpG (Tm = 28.5 +/- 2.1 degrees C), CpApGpUpG:CpApCpUpG (Tm = 38.4 +/- 0.6 degrees C) and CpApUpApUpG (Tm = 41.5 +/- 1.1 degrees C). The G.U base pair has a Tm (20.0 degrees C) significantly lower than the rest of the duplex (24 +/- 1 degree C) and is a region of local instability within the double helix. This 1H NMR study is the first to investigate both the formation and relative stability of an internal G.U. base pair neighboring regular Watson--Crick base pairs.
In contrast to all other known tRNAs, mammalian tRNA1Val contains two adenosines A59 and A60, opposite to U54 and psi 55 in the U psi CG sequence of the T psi C loop, which could form unusual A:U (or A: psi pairs in addition to the five "normal" G:C pairs. In order to measure the number of G:C and A:U (A: psi) pairs in the T psi C stem, we prepared the 30 nucleotide long 3'-terminal fragment of this tRNA by "m7G-cleavage". From differentiated melting curves and temperature jump experiments it was concluded that the T psi C stem in this fragment is in fact extended by an additional A60:U54 pair. A dimer of this fragment with 14 base pairs was characterized by gel electrophoresis and by the same physical methods. An additional A:U pair in the tRNA1Val fragment does not necessarily mean that this is also true for intact tRNA. However, we showed that U54 is far less available for enzymatic methylation in mammalian tRNA1Val compared to tRNA from T-E. coli. This clear difference in U54 reactivity, together with the identification of an extra A60:U54 pair in the U psi CG containing fragment suggests the presence of a 6 base pair T psi C stem and a 5 nucleotide T psi C loop in this tRNA.
We have determined DNA sequences surrounding the termini of the Escherichia coli insertion element gamma delta, both at its normal locus on the F (fertility) factor and at three different sites of insertion into the plasmid pBR322. After transposition, a five-base-pair pBR322 sequence is duplicated and appears in direct orientation adjacent to each end of the element. No such duplication flanks the ends of gamma delta in F, and there is no apparent homology between the sequences surrounding gamma delta in F and the five-base-pair duplications generated by insertion. These findings suggest that the duplications are not essential for transposition and that they do not act to direct gamma delta to a homologous site in the target chromosome. In addition, we find that the 35-base-pair inverted repeat that comprises the termini of gamma delta is strikingly similar in sequence to the ends of both the ampicillin-resistance transposon Tn3 and a 200-nucleotide-long sequence on the plasmid pSC101 which has been shown to mediate recombination with phage f1 replicative form. Within the terminal region, there is a specific heptanucleotide sequence common to each of the above elements and to bacteriophage Mu, all of which generate five-base-pair repeats upon insertion.